Why FarPoint Is The Real Deal and True Killer App for PlayStation VR

Now that the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive have both been released, albeit to a rather lukewarm reception, all eyes are on Sony as they get ready to launch their own headset: PlayStation VR. Launching on October 13th worldwide, Sony is promising at least 50 games between launch and the end of the year and the launch lineup is quite impressive. From Batman: Arkham VR to RIGS: Mechanized Combat League, PlayStation VR looks to hit the ground running but are any of their launch titles a killer app? Would you rush out to buy a PlayStation VR to play BattleZone or Eve: Valkrie? They’re both incredibly fun games but are you willing to shell out $399-$499 just to play them? Having played FarPoint quite extensively, this is a title worth keeping an eye on and the one true killer app for PlayStation VR.

FarPoint has the player stranded on a strange, alien planet while you search for the rest of your crew after an unfortunate crash landing. The planet is teeming with creepy spiders and dangerous landforms and the folks over at Impulse Gear have done a tremendous job of setting the tone with music and art direction.

One of the first things you notice about FarPoint is the incredible visual fidelity. It’s one the most graphically impressive VR games to date, if not the best. The planet you’re on feels unnervingly realistic and the attention to detail like your footsteps leaving behind footprints on the sand adds a whole new level of immersion. Footprints aren’t new to games but when you turn back and see your steps in VR, it’s a whole new ballgame. The game looks like a PS4 AAA title and that’s quite impressive for VR at this stage in the game.

farpoint-screen-04-ps4-us-13jun16

Farpoint can be played with the PlayStation Aim, a gun peripheral that looks and plays like a dream. Comparisons to the Sharpshooter from 2011 are to be expected but this thing is miles better and a lot more accurate. There’s nothing like examining your gun in Farpoint; once you have it in your hand and you start rotating it and firing a few rounds as the haptic feedback takes over, it truly feels like you’re in this world with a gun ready to fend off against terrifying creatures.

The Aim has all the buttons of a DualShock 4, including the Share Button, Options, and even the touch pad. The two sticks are even clickable which took me by surprise. In Farpoint, you’re movement is done via the stick and the headset itself to move the camera around. It takes a few seconds to get used to the sensation of moving because you’re actually standing but your character is strolling right along as you explore the planet.

farpoint

It’s one of the many challenges of VR, how to move the player around but Impulse Gear have found an intuitive way that feels right especially if you’re used to first-person shooters. From picking up a new weapon by laying forward the Aim to switching weapons by moving the aim over the shoulder, these intuitive ways for gameplay really make Farpoint feel real and non-gamers should be able to pick up on the control scheme rather quickly.

Shooting in Farpoint is quite exhilarating. Spiders are jumping at you frantically as you try to maintain your composure. The game really forces you to take in the environment and assess the situation before you go in guns blazing. Different enemies attack differently. From poison-spewing creatures to giant crab-like monsters that take a ton of firepower to take down, FarPoint delivers a world teeming with danger at every corner.

Aiming down the sights in FarPoint is quite possibly one of the coolest things ever and I have no idea how they’ve managed to make it happen. By simply holding up the Aim controller, the game somehow knows you’re doing this and you’re able to actually see the reticle in-game and take better shots at your enemies. I’m convinced it’s voodoo and Impulse Gear can’t tell me otherwise, it feels so intuitive and natural that sometimes you forget you’re doing it.

FarPoint is a visually-striking game that evokes Starship Troopers in the way that it blends non-stop action with a gorgeous backdrop of a strange planet. It’s full immersion as sometimes you can almost feel the powerful wind knock you in the face especially when you’re scaling gargantuan cliffs. This is a game you guys need to keep an eye on, this one is special.

Share this article:

Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on linkedin
LinkedIn
Share on tumblr
Tumblr
Share on email
Email
Share on whatsapp
WhatsApp

Recent Posts

Three fortnite character overlooking the map Features

How Fortnite Hurt The Gaming Industry

When Fortnite was initially released in 2017, it was a PVE defense game that didn’t seem like it would be around for long. With the growing popularity of games in …

Master Chief holding his helmet. Halo Infinite Features

What Halo Infinite Should Have Been

https://youtu.be/Cagxj2RchQI?si=_fFf3fs_fsh7d0Fq Many people have a gaming franchise that changed their life in some way. I have life-long friendships that have been formed while playing games like Mario Kart and Golden …

Gaming News

Should You Buy A Meta Quest 3S?

https://youtu.be/EVSbA2Yxx2k?si=G2KXmPguAB_45u5n Meta recencetly heald their Meta Connect conference and announced some excited things if you’re into VR and AR. The Meta Quest 2 was once the hottest item in their …

Halo Project Foundry Gaming News

What Is The Future of Halo?

https://youtu.be/a2CCRgycbLI?si=3juhSUwirUTpKWoJ There have been rumors for years about what is next for Halo. Today during the Halo World Championships, we got our answers. 343 Industries will now be known as …

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita's Rewind Gaming News

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind | Developer Interview

It may surprise many, but there has never been a Power Rangers arcade beat ’em up game. (I know right!?!?!) Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind is a passion project …

Jay and Silent Bob: Chronic Blunt Punch Gaming News

Jay and Silent Bob: The Chronic Blunt Punch | PAX West 2024

Going into PAX West 2024, I knew that I was going to enjoy ‘Jay and Silent Bob: The Chronic Blunt Punch’, but I did not know it was going to be …