It's been 1 year and 2 months since I bought “PSVR2” with my own money…I talk about the gameplay, dissatisfied with it, and what's lacking without any bias!Pay attention to “two points” that will change the current situation

“Virtual Reality” allows you to enjoy a simulated experience of entering a virtual space. Although it has a surprisingly long history, it was only in the 2010s that it became easy to enjoy on an individual level.

It can be said that the first opportunity to experience it on a home game console was with the release of “PlayStation VR'' in 2016.

PSVR was attracting great expectations and attention, but because supply could not keep up with demand and there were resale issues, it did not become popular among users as expected, and years passed without it gaining momentum. .

Approximately seven years later, in February 2023, “PlayStation VR2” was released as a device for PS5. This time, the supply is sufficient, and there are almost no situations where we will face purchase difficulties.

I am one of the users who got PSVR2 on the day it was released without any problems. Since then, I have been working with this VR device for 1 year and 2 months.

This time, while looking back on the progress, I will freely talk about my personal perspective, from the usability of PSVR2 to the value of the experience.

■The experience has irreplaceable value.
VR experiences are still exciting and appealing. I've tried using PSVR and Meta Quest 2, and had memorable experiences with each, but I had just as much fun with PSVR2, if not more.

First of all, I feel that the performance as a device is sufficient even if I look at it again now. Basic performance such as resolution, refresh rate, and viewing angle can be said to be on par with one of its rivals, the Meta Quest 3.

In terms of functionality, “eye tracking'' is particularly comfortable, and it can be said that the experience in which the line of sight is directly connected to the gameplay is unique to VR.

I also felt that the headset's vibrations, when used well as part of the game's presentation, increased the sense of immersion.

Compared to PSVR, there is no need for a camera to be installed, and there is only one connection cord. Thanks to this, the burden of setup was considerably reduced. Although it takes more effort than a standalone VR device, the ability to leave the game processing to the PS5 is definitely an advantage.

A simple comparison between a PC and a VR device that can be connected wirelessly depends on the performance of the PC itself, so it is difficult to make a simple comparison. The wireless connection with the PC is quite convenient for playing, but it requires some settings, so I got the impression that it might be a bit difficult for people who are unfamiliar with it.

Although PSVR2 is bound by wires, it is superior in terms of stability. Also, if you play while sitting, you won't feel the hassle of wired connections.

By simply improving performance, the expression has been upgraded and the experience has become even richer compared to the PSVR era. Opinions are divided as to whether or not there is a cord, but other than that, it is a wonderful device with no major complaints in terms of performance.

■So is “PSVR2” recommended?
The overall feel of PSVR2 is good, and I have no major complaints regarding performance. However, to be honest, I'm having a hard time deciding whether I should buy it.

PSVR2 also has a number of issues, many of which are unrelated to performance. First of all, I can't shake the impression that the price is high. There are some aspects that make sense considering the performance, but 74,980 yen (tax included) is not a price that can be easily paid.

I decided to purchase it because I would be using it for work, but if it was for strictly private use, I might have waited and waited until I could get it a little cheaper. Even if you already own a PS5, 74,980 yen is quite expensive. Depending on the model, you could probably replace your smartphone with a new one, so you'll need a strong will to spend just on the VR experience.

Also, even if there were no price issues, I am concerned about the lack of exclusive software and the weakness of the attractive lineup. There are quite a lot of software available on the PS Store, but many of them can be played with VR devices on PCs, so I feel like it's lacking in the depth that PSVR2 can offer.

Money is also a big bottleneck, but the most important thing when purchasing a gaming device is to feel a strong urge to play this game. The existence of killer software has long been a major factor in the spread of game consoles, such as the Famicom era when Super Mario Bros. was shocking, and the Super Famicom era when masterpieces such as Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy, and The Legend of Zelda were popular. It's still the same today.

At the time of PSVR, one of the most representative works was “Summer Lesson.'' Although the game content itself may not be to everyone's taste, the experience of “communicating alone with an attractive woman'', with the added sense of realism that only VR can provide, gave it unprecedented stimulation and charm. .

There are many people who purchased PSVR just for this work.

There are also interesting works in VR compatible software, such as “Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown,'' which allows you to enjoy a simulated pilot experience that even feels the atmosphere, and “Resident Evil: Resident Evil,'' which successfully demonstrates the compatibility between VR and horror. have appeared several times.

I personally feel strongly that titles with a strong presence like this are missing in PSVR2. There are many other detailed reasons, but the “high price” and “weak lineup” are probably the biggest problems preventing the spread of PSVR2.

■Is there no killer software for “PSVR2”?
If you look at each work, PSVR2 also has a number of great games. “Horizon Call of the Mountain,'' which was released at the same time as PSVR2, faced the difficult challenge of expressing the world of “Horizon'' in VR, and successfully completed that task.

Since it incorporates “traveling at high places,'' which is one of the popular VR experiences, there are many scenes of cliff climbing, but the sense of realism is still full of stimulation. In addition, the battles, which can be enjoyed with actions similar to actually drawing a bow, have a sense of sameness and are highly satisfying.

I also thought that Synapse would be a typical FPS, but I was able to enjoy a simulated experience of becoming a psychic, and I was excited by the feeling of playing this, which is unique to VR.

A supernatural ability that allows you to select enemies with your gaze and restrain them simply by clasping your hands. If you throw it high into the air, the enemy will take damage as it falls, you can also aim at the enemy with a gun while stationary in the air, and if you throw it down a cliff or into the sea, you will instantly die. The controls are simple, the effects are incredible, and you'll feel like a psychic. There are few gaming experiences as luxurious as this.

And Soul Covenant, which was just released the other day, has become one of my personal favorite VR software. It was developed mainly by the creators of Soul Sacrifice, and the construction of the post-apocalyptic worldview is a masterpiece. This work combines such a unique setting with the sense of realism that is unique to VR, giving us a simulated experience of “becoming a character in that world'' in the literal sense of the word.

If the action is too intense, it can easily lead to “VR sickness,” but if there are only monotonous movements, the game will not be as responsive. This is a work that bravely faced this difficult problem and established a game that can only be experienced in VR by combining the skill and spirit of challenge to create an action game with close combat such as swords and sickles in VR, and adding a highly unique world view to it. .

There are many attractive PSVR2 games that will make you lose track of time and become immersed. However, most of these games are “fun that you'll understand once you play.'' The existence of games like this is essential to support PSVR2, but what is most needed right now is nothing but “powerful games that stimulate the desire to purchase without any questions asked before playing.''

We all know that this is a vague and unreasonable request, but when we think about what is currently lacking, this conclusion is the first thing that comes to mind. Currently, PSVR2 cannot be said to be very lively, and in order to completely change this atmosphere and the current situation, a punchy development is urgently needed.

■“Two clues” to expect from PSVR2
Whether or not killer software that will lead PSVR2 will appear, we can only hope for the efforts of SIE and the developers. However, if you ask me if there are any other clues or possibilities for PSVR2 to become popular, I personally focus on two points.

One is the existence of the already installed function “Cinematic Mode”. This is not directly related to the VR experience, but is a mode that utilizes the performance of PSVR2 to enjoy games and videos on a display that feels like a large screen.

From the name of the function, some people may assume that it is for watching videos, but it is also possible to play games in this mode. I wouldn't go so far as to call it a movie theater, but the game played on a large screen that could barely be seen within the field of vision felt more direct and overwhelming than the real-world TV or monitor.

Also, in cinematic mode, everything other than the game or video is painted black, which naturally makes it easier to concentrate, which I think helps improve the sense of immersion. You can fully enjoy videos and games on a large screen and in an immersive environment that is difficult to match in real life. If you can properly promote this benefit, you have a good chance of appealing to non-traditional demographics.

This time, I played the non-VR version of “Stellar Blade” in cinematic mode, and the power, drawing, movement, and buttocks were amazing. Even compared to the 32-inch monitor I usually use, the pressure was on a whole other level.

However, gameplay in cinematic mode can be irritating for some people if the game has a lot of movement. There is a possibility that VR sickness can be induced by things other than VR games, so it is essential to assess your own constitution and the games you play.

And one more thing, although it has not yet been implemented at this stage, PSVR2 is planned to be compatible with PC. If this becomes a reality, there should be a flow of users who are looking to connect to a PC to purchase PSVR2. At that time, if there is a powerful exclusive title, it may be an opportunity to change the current situation.

“PlayStation.Blog'', which reported the plans for PC compatibility, stated, “For those who own PS VR2, in addition to the PSVR2 titles that can be enjoyed on PlayStation 5, we are currently updating the functionality so that you can enjoy a wider range of games on PC. “We are conducting tests,” and even as a user, my expectations are only increasing.

However, details such as what form it will take, including the connection method, and whether it will also support VR games for PC are still unknown. They say, “We hope to have a solution by the end of the year,'' so for now, let's wait and hope for good news.

If you were to ask me whether I would recommend PSVR2 at this point, I would say, without being too presumptuous, that I would just wait and see. It's well worth the experience, but the price and lineup aren't balanced, and we can't guarantee future developments yet.

But this answer also means that it's worth waiting and seeing. New developments may arise from PC compatibility, and its performance is sufficient. The performance of VR devices varies depending on the price, and there are many devices that are higher than PSVR2, so the balance between price and performance is not bad.

For better or worse, the future of PSVR2 is still uncertain, but that's why we can't take our eyes off the future. Now, I need to find the PSVR2 software to play next!