Virtual Virtual Reality is a game about virtual reality. You play as an employee of the company that makes virtual reality games, who gets trapped in an infinite loop of working at his desk, switching between virtual realities to play them through, and coming back again tomorrow. Once you start moving around your office space, it’s clear that this game has some very interesting mechanics surrounding what it means to enter virtual or digital spaces. It also manages to be self-referential while also making fun of its own subject; there are plenty of references to ongoing debates about whether VR headsets are really immersive enough compared to AR (augmented reality) like the HoloLens — but at the same time, there’s no question that games within games can sometimes get a little exhausting to play through.
VR is everywhere in Virtual Virtual Reality.
Virtual Virtual Reality was released on the Oculus Quest yesterday, and I was lucky enough to get a pre-release copy from the developer for this review. While it’s still not perfect, with several gameplay mechanics that feel a little clunky at times, VVR manages to be a fascinating work about life within digital spaces. Let’s see how it stacks up!
(Note: the header image is from Within, which you might recognize as one of VR’s biggest “Netflix Originals” right now.)
How does it Hold Up In VR?
It feels like most people who have played Virtual Virtual Reality have been playing with an HTC Vive or Windows Mixed Reality headset — but this game works very well in VR on Quest, which is powered by an all-in-one 6DOF controller.
Virtual Virtual Reality utilizes the 6DOF controller to its full potential.
The game itself has two primary mechanics: exploring digital spaces through your virtual reality headset, and moving around within the boundaries of your own real-life room as you play. In both cases, though, it works really well as a Quest title — just as much as games like Beat Saber or Superhot do. And with plenty of fun little Easter eggs hidden throughout these digital worlds that reference both classic and slightly more obscure games from the past, there’s a lot here for those who have played many games before to come back for once you’ve beaten the main story!
How do the Controls Work?
If you haven’t played Virtual Virtual Reality before, it’s a little hard to explain! It’s actually very simple once you get it down — but even then, there are two types of control methods that the game offers. There’s the 6DOF mode, which uses your hand controllers to move around in real space, and teleporting gives you movement while restricting where you can go. Then there’s joystick mode , which allows for strafing, turning on centered axes, and free-form shoulder centered analog movement. Using one over the other is up to personal preference; neither feels “superior” or more immersive than the other for this game. I find that trying both out will help you figure out what you like more.
How long is it? And how much does it cost?
The first playthrough should take you between one and two hours, depending on how fast you move through the stages. But because this game has so many Easter eggs to find, it’s easy to run back through levels multiple times for additional content — including a secret ending! If you want to find everything there is in Virtual Virtual Reality, expect at least an extra hour or two of playtime. The price for this delightful little adventure story is $14.99 USD — only a small increase from the original Vive/WMR version that came out last year. Anything Else I Should Remember?
Virtual Virtual Reality was designed with large open-spaced rooms in mind; if you have a small room for playing VR, you may run into some issues with the user interface (UI) and placement of objects within your environment.
Virtual Virtual Reality is designed to keep track of where you are in the game with its own UI — but this can sometimes get graphics mixed up if it’s not lined up correctly.
Explore Virtual Virtual Reality on Oculus Quest today!
Thank you so much for checking out my review of this wonderful new VR adventure — I hope that it was helpful to you, either as somebody who already has an Oculus Quest headset or somebody interested in buying one soon!