Gray Mantis Did 4 VR Games In 100 Days…
First of all, these are all flat-to-VR conversions, and for the most part they are fairly direct ports. In my view, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. As long as developers continue to support, or at least attempt to support, the VR platform, I’m all for it. In fact, I probably would never have discovered these games if it hadn’t been for their VR adaptations.
None of the four games are what I would consider top-tier releases, but three of them fill a gap in the PS VR2 library that has existed since launch. That alone makes them much easier to appreciate.
Whether Gray Mantis will continue bringing these kinds of games to VR remains to be seen. However, I felt it was time to give him some recognition here on the blog for his efforts. Hopefully, a little acknowledgment might even encourage him to keep producing these hybrid VR conversions in the future.
One of the most frustrating aspects of the PlayStation Store is how new releases are often buried at the bottom of the listings, underneath much older titles. As a result, many players never even notice when new games arrive, which is a real shame for smaller releases that could easily slip under the radar.
SlipVector…
SlipVector is essentially a Tempest-style third-person shoot ’em up, and visually it certainly knows how to make an impression. It is incredibly flashy, with some fantastic OLED/HDR effects that really pop inside the headset. The headset haptics are also surprisingly strong and add quite a bit to the experience.
The controls work well, and the game comes with a good Trophy list, including a Platinum Trophy.
Your main weapon, fired with L1, can be upgraded as you progress, while your secondary weapon — rockets fired with L2 — cannot. You also have a useful jump mechanic, allowing you to dodge enemies and hazards on the outer ring, as well as a smart bomb for those moments when everything gets a little too hectic.
There are three fairly long worlds to battle through, complete with boss fights, so there is a decent amount of game here.
Both flat-screen and VR versions are included, although somewhat unusually, both versions are played exclusively with the standard PS5 DualSense controller rather than the PS VR2 Sense controllers.
Fast, flashy and very arcade-like, SlipVector is certainly one of the more immediately eye-catching games in this collection.
” Should You Buy? – Yes, If you’re into retro games, even moreso if you like Tempest or the the Amiga Classic Vector Storm“.
Dungeons of the Deep VR…
Unlike some of the other games here, Dungeons of the Deep VR isn’t a combined flat-screen and VR release. The VR edition is a separate version, and it is played exclusively with the PS5 DualSense controller.
The good news is that the controller implementation is excellent. The haptics are awesome, and there is some really nice use of the adaptive triggers too. Out of the Gray Matter VR games I have played, this is probably the one that looks and feels the most like a game actually designed with VR in mind rather than simply being a flat-screen title viewed through a headset.
Gameplay-wise, this is an old-school dungeon crawler. You move around using the D-pad, attack with the triggers and use the face buttons for things such as health, potions and other functions.
There is also a good Trophy list to work through.
My biggest problem is the difficulty. I find this game really hard and keep dying over and over again. Then again, knowing my luck, somebody else will pick it up and think it is dead easy!
Either way, there is definitely something here for fans of old-school dungeon crawlers.
” Should You Buy? – Maybe, Dungeon Crawlers in VR is not a common thing on PS VR2, give it a go if you like the genre “.
DEVIDICON…
DEVIDICON includes both flat-screen and VR modes, but there is an interesting difference between the two.
In flat-screen mode, the game is presented from a traditional top-down perspective, while VR gives you something closer to an isometric viewpoint. Personally, I actually find the game easier to play in VR because you can physically look around and get a much better overview of what is happening around you.
And you will need that extra awareness because this is not an easy game.
The whole thing has a very strong Alien Breed-style feel to it, which immediately appealed to me. It looks good, has some cool music and comes with a great Trophy list as well.
It is another fairly straightforward flat-to-VR conversion, but the change in perspective actually benefits the gameplay here and makes the VR version my preferred way to play it.
” Should You Buy? – Yes, if you’re into Retro top-down dual stick shooters, if not buy with caution “.
Zerion 12
Zerion 12 is another flat-to-VR conversion from Gray Mantis, this time tackling the tower defence genre. That is a pretty tough category to stand out in, especially after games such as the Iron Guard series, but Zerion 12 still manages to offer something worthwhile.
For the price, there is a decent amount here. At its core, this is essentially a flat-screen game adapted for VR, with the game’s camera perspective placed inside the headset. You play using the standard PS5 DualSense controller rather than the PS VR2 Sense controllers, and the game runs at a native 90Hz.
It also includes a Platinum Trophy, which is always a welcome bonus.
Those are definitely some of its strengths, although there are a few negatives too — and the biggest one for me is the difficulty.
I found Zerion 12 absolutely brutal. I was overwhelmed almost immediately, and it took me several attempts just to figure out how to survive some of the early enemy waves. I am sure this is the type of game that can be mastered with enough practice, but personally, the difficulty ended up putting me off continuing.
There are 12 levels in total, and if the difficulty continues to escalate the way it does throughout the first five, then you had better prepare yourself for some seriously intense tower defence action.
Presentation-wise, it does the job well enough. The visuals are functional rather than spectacular, while the audio can become a little annoying at times, although never to the point where it actively ruins the experience.
Overall, Zerion 12 is a competent VR adaptation that offers reasonable value for its asking price, provided you are prepared for its rather steep difficulty curve.
” Should You Buy? – Maybe. If you are already into tower defence games, Zerion 12 should feel familiar enough and probably won’t push you too far outside your comfort zone.
That said, I would personally suggest picking it up in a sale “.
