Experienced parkour sensations in Virtual Reality while playing Reach, not once doubting my dominance.
Take a dive into the future of VR gaming with Reach, an upcoming action-adventure game by nDreams – a studio renowned for crafting immersive experiences. This next-gen VR juggernaut takes the spotlight next to the likes of Batman: Arkham Shadow, Horizon Call of the Mountain, and Alien: Rogue Incursion – although Reach aims to surpass them all.
Having built its foundation in Unreal Engine 5, Reach steers clear of flashy illusions to sell the sense of immersion found in VR. Instead, it focuses on delivering gripping gameplay allowing you to become the hero, complete with all the tension and excitement that comes with it.
Speaking with studio head of Elevation, Glenn Brace, he emphasized the importance of heightening emotions with one-to-one motion and eradicating abstraction like buttons to foster a more natural and immersive experience. This commitment to physicality is one of the cornerstones of Reach.
Platforming mechanics, for instance, are no ordinary jumps or traversals. Reach requires you to swing your arm upwards and bend your knees for a genuine upward propulsion, making every movement feel incredibly authentic. Maneuvering through the environment is as simple as controlling the left stick to move and clicking in to run.
Climbing and traversing aren't just about reaching one hold after the other, either. Reach offers a refreshing blend of fluid and dynamic gameplay, inviting you to fling yourself across gaps or grab onto ledges to pull yourself up – think of it as John McClane in the VR world.
Interspersed between these platforming challenges are combat sections, where you'll wield a special bow firing off an infinite stream of energy arrows and a handgun, with the potential for more guns and aggressive melee actions against bipedal robots in the final game.
Saddled with a generic warehouse as the tutorial level, Reach excels in creating a sense of immersion without resorting to attention-grabbing vistas or intricate, expressive characters. Brace credits the 'full-body awareness' concept, which allows you to see your full body during gameplay, as a key factor in creating this immersive atmosphere.
The quest to outshine Half-Life: Alyx may still be too early to call, but with a solid foundation in motion-based gameplay, storytelling, and seamless VR integration, Reach is definitely a VR contender to keep an eye on. Get ready to take on breathtaking adventures and jaw-dropping action in late 2025 when Reach launches on Meta Quest 3, PlayStation VR2, and Steam VR. So buckle up, VR denizens! The future of immersive gaming awaits.
- In the immersive world of VR gaming, nDreams' upcoming action-adventure game, Reach, showcases its commitment to natural and authentic gameplay, shaping up to surpass other VR juggernauts.
- In crafting Reach, the studio uses Unreal Engine 5, avoiding flashy illusions, and instead focusing on motion-based gameplay that fosters a more immersive experience.
- Because of its focus on one-to-one motion, movements in Reach feel incredibly authentic, from upward propulsion to traversing gaps and grabbing ledges.
- Reach offers a dynamic blend of fluid gameplay, inviting players to fling themselves across gaps or pull up on ledges, creating a VR experience reminiscent of John McClane's action-packed adventures.
- When it comes to combat, Reach features a special energy bow and handgun, with potential for more weapons and melee actions against bipedal robots in the final game.
- As players learn the ropes with a generic warehouse as the tutorial level, Reach proves its ability to create a sense of immersion without relying on attention-grabbing vistas or intricate characters, thanks in part to the 'full-body awareness' concept.
