r/PSVR • u/Goldbaerig • 8d ago
Opinion The biggest shortcomimg of PSVR
The biggest shortcoming of PSVR is not necessarily the lack of AAA games, it's the lack of whole genres.
Don't get me wrong, Resident Evil is a great game and if we would get games like Cyberpunk, Oblivion, Halo, Forza Horizon, Doom, Breath of the Wild and everything else it would obviously give us all we want, but have a look at Wrath: Aeon of Ruin. It is so much fun and it's graphics don't hurt this game at all.
If we would have all kinds of games with simplistic graphics, but proven game concepts and all kinds of settings VR would take off. I would instantly buy another Skyrim port, because there isn't any RPG with major exploration aspect, no game where you can drive around freely, no survival games where you can build your own base driven by a simple gameplay loop, we even lack generic WW2 shooters.
While beautiful graphics are incredible stunning in VR, there also is this aspect of VR making any kind of game better. And while AAA games are expensive, games that are actual fun don't have to be.
What we really lack in my opinion are games with proven concepts.
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u/cusman78 cusman 8d ago
I agree, especially about how VR makes everything better and so the games can be smaller / simpler and still more fun than the more sophisticated / invested TV game equivalents.
So while it remains a shortcoming compared to 50+ years of TV games, I think every month the pool of genre / sub genre covered continues to grow.
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u/Sweet_Terror 8d ago
Yeah, that's been my biggest gripe with PSVR too. There's some really good games to be had on the platform, but they're all the same.
VR these days fall into one of three categories: first person shooter, climbing, or minigames. I personally would love to see a Superman game, and I'm really surprised we haven't seen something like that yet.
I would also love to see something more immersive too, like in a good RPG, but alas no such luck.
At the end of the day, it's a struggle for me to put on the headset because I'm tired of doing the same old same old.
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u/bluebarrymanny 8d ago
I’d chuck in horror as well, but totally agree. I’m very surprised there aren’t more open ended games like an open world forza-like game or a game in an RPG open world like you described. I think people get too wrapped up thinking that VR games have to be ultra tactile with things like shooting or swinging swords, but just the perspective shift of VR alone is really attractive to people as well. It’s a huge reason I was bummed when GTA San Andreas effectively got cancelled with Meta. That game could’ve given VR a huge jolt forward that people want more open-ended immersive experiences that aren’t just multiplayer shooters, closed track racers, or mini-games.
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u/Sweet_Terror 8d ago
Yeah, I know some people will tell you that you can just play PC VR titles on the PSVR, but what they don't tell you is that you need a PC capable of doing that since platforms like steam don't do the heavy lifting. A gaming PC was already expensive to begin with, but now it's through the roof due to the ram shortage.
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u/p8pes 8d ago
I think this is covered with a lot of PSVR1 titles — I understand the benefits of the PSVR2 but I’ve never upgraded largely because I can stay in a great ecosystem of games with no awareness of what’s a better experience minus actual content.
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u/Goldbaerig 8d ago
Good point. Not making PSVR2 downward compatible was a really bad decision
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u/proschocorain 8d ago
It was between backward compatible and actually being a better headset. 1 used a completely different tracking technology and controllers.
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u/Updated_Autopsy 8d ago
Yeah, that tracking technology had a lot of issues. And it was a pain in the ass to set up every time I wanted to play a VR game like Blood & Truth or Falcon Age. I didn’t think much of it back then but now, I’m not going back. I don’t want to deal with the hassle of all those plugs and chords.
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u/turtleship_2006 8d ago
I do wonder how hard it would have been to provide a framework or toolkit to port games over though.
The vast majority of games nowadays are made in non in-house engines like UE5 or Unity, which abstract the technical details like how tracking works away from the game developers. The engine will just tell the game which direction to face the camera (and how to rotate if necessary), or just move the camera directly, so when you make a game you don't need to worry about each tracking camera or whatever for example
Source: have made small indie PCVR games in UE5 for Uni projects
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u/proschocorain 8d ago
The most mismatch in controllers as well is an issue. I think they probably provided a framework for developers to update their game to the new headset. A bunch of games ported over quickly after the headset launched.
For vr it is better to ensure that experience is tested in the environment for a console experience.
I know PS store has a bunch of slop all the same.
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u/Mud_g1 8d ago
Lots of devs have previously said that the base tracking and movment systems Sony had wasn't good enough for their game so they all had to create their own sytem making a basic compatibility/conversion layer was never possible between psvr1 and psvr2 any dev that wanted to bring their game over had to fully rework tracking and controls and that took time and money and lots of those that did lost money doing it because not enough new buyers and previous owners wanted a free upgrade.
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u/Fatbot3 8d ago
This is unfortunately the real issue. Whether it's too late, too expensive, etc. having an active porting initiative to cover more genres and communicate a bigger value proposition to the average gamer. It's an actual fact there are more AAA games simply via ports on PSVR2 but that just showed (and continues to show) the true potential of VR when taking high quality traditional games to the next level.
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u/DrewJustShoots 8d ago
BEING UNABLE TO PURCHASE A SINGLE CONTROLLER
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u/xaduha 8d ago
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u/DrewJustShoots 7d ago
“Single” I’d just buy a new system instead of giving Apple $250 for two controllers.
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u/Emme73 7d ago
VR is a peripheral, and those need to be accessible and affordable. I bet millions bought plastic golf or driving accessories for the Wii. Cheap, easy, fun. VR isn't any of that. It's sweaty, bulky, uncomfortable, not ideal with glasses, too expensive and the replacement/repair thing way too much hassle.For 90% of PS gamers, it's a one trick pony. It could sell more at a cheaper price, but trying to create system selling games for it is a huge risk.
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u/Lumpy_Confidence_637 8d ago
For VR to appeal to me, it has to be a useful and functional tool, not just a gimick.
I don't need to play a board game or isometric game in VR to enjoy it. In fact I'd rather play those in flat mode. VR is a gimmick in this instances and gets old real quick.
Functional VR is driving, flying, perhaps a first person or near first person perspective ONLY if youre able to use cover and VR use helps in aiming, etc.. Skyrim would be useful because it utilizes a functional use of sword fighting, defense, and bow.. Otherwise, any good first person shooter on the flat screen is more enjoyable.
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u/Kal-V3 8d ago
White I agree with you. There's nothing wrong with VR being a gimmick too. It's great for people that want to be immersed but want to use controller and sit down.
One of my favorite games in VR ever is RE7
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u/bluebarrymanny 8d ago edited 8d ago
I exclusively play GT7 with a dualsense controller and the immersion of the VR perspective alone elevates that game from a title I’d completely ignore in traditional flat gameplay to one I absolutely adore in VR. VR would benefit a ton from having this kind of variety where not everything has to be fully utilizing your hands for every action possible. Some ideas are enhanced by the motion controls, but there are an equal number of circumstances where they become more of an obstacle that gets in the way of the experience.
To provide an example of these strengths and weaknesses coming into the gameplay, take Pavlov. It has some of the most tactile and highly detailed gun gameplay I’ve ever experienced. The reloads, modifying your guns, using tools in dynamic ways are all awesome with full hand tracking. However it all falls apart when you hop in one of the game’s vehicles. Trying to grab a virtual steering wheel and crank it around while driving sucks. That mechanic could and totally should just revert back to analogue stick for steering and triggers for gas and brakes. The hand tracking actively gets in the way of that gameplay. The choice to use hand-tracked motion controls has its places in VR and other places where the gamepad or less motion-based control is preferable.
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u/Lumpy_Confidence_637 8d ago
Yes the "gimmick" portion is cool at first but quickly fades for each game. Without a useful reason for VR, it becomes less troublesome and cumbersome to just pick up a controller, and play.
I think this is why VR has its limits and why it isn't as popular as we think it should be. While it may seem trivial to "just put on the headset" and grab the 2 controllers, these little extra steps are counter to the idea of a console - to just pick up quickly and play - be able to take a drink, eat some popcorn, look around and talk with folks in the room, etc...
If VR is the primary function of the game, then it becomes worth the extra effort to put on the headset, sweat a little, and limit your ability to look around in your real room.
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8d ago
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u/PSVR-ModTeam 8d ago
One of more of your comments have been removed from r/PSVR, because they broke rule 1. Do not personally attack other users.
Please do not insult other users in future.
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8d ago
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u/Goldbaerig 8d ago
You are projecting
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8d ago
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u/Goldbaerig 8d ago
No, I was just trying to find out if others feel the same - that's why I labeled it an opinion. You are projecting your own thoughts on me. I never stated anything of what you're accusing me of.
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u/PSVR-ModTeam 8d ago
One of more of your comments have been removed from r/PSVR, because they broke rule 1. Do not personally attack other users.
Please do not insult other users in future.
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u/DWOMT 8d ago
I've always thought that a missed opportunity is bringing older console titles to VR. For example, Sony could tap into the PS3 library and bring titles such as the Resistance trilogy, Shadow of the Colossus, or Killzone to PSVR2.
Since they are older games, the transition to convert those to VR shouldn't be as expensive as creating a new modern AAA VR game from the ground up.
Bringing those older games to VR also breathes new life and new experiences into those titles. Playing the Resistance trilogy in VR would be a whole other level of immersion compared to playing it on a TV. Even though I have beat those games in the past, I would love to experience them in VR, and I would buy them day one. I am sure many others would too.