Stuff - UK (2021-08)

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HOT

BUY

HOT

BUY

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Pistol Whip

++++,from £16 / Oculus, Vive, PSVR

Like John Wick meets EDM, this rhythmic

blaster makes you feel like a master assassin.

HTC Vive Cosmos

+++,,£699 / stuff.tv/Cosmos

A simple setup with potential for upgrades,

but tough to recommend at this price.

Population: One

++++,from £23 / Oculus, Vive

Not as polished as Fortnite, but still a ripping

battle-royale shooter with chaotic action.

PlayStation VR

+++,,from £260 / stuff.tv/PSVR

Held back by niggling issues... let’s hope the

upcoming second-gen PSVR will fix those.

Half-Life: Alyx

from £40 / Oculus, Vive, Valve Index

Announcing Alyx as not only a ‘midquel’ but a VR exclusive got

some Half-Life diehards riled up... but in classic Valve fashion,

the end result is utterly brilliant. Alyx succeeds because its

universe just happens to be a perfect fit for the format. It’s also

larger and much more robust than most VR games, at a meaty

12-15 hours. And though it unfolds at a different kind of cadence

to past Half-Life games, it feels like a fully fledged solo campaign

and a key part of the franchise narrative.

Oculus Quest 2

from £299 / stuff.tv/Quest2

The original Quest felt almost too good to be true. Its successor

lacks the same wow factor, but you can’t argue with a better

display and processor – not to mention a lighter, more

comfortable build – for less money. Are there more powerful

headsets? Is motion sickness still an issue? Yes to both, but

superb tracking and a total absence of wires make this the VR

package to get... that is, unless you’re boycotting Facebook,

because you have to be logged in to use it.

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Stuff says +++++

Valve’s beloved series returns... and offers one of the

strongest arguments to date for VR gaming

Stuff says +++++

Not a complete reinvention, but our favourite VR

headset is now even better... and cheaper!

Stuff says +++++

A mesmerising musical melee

Stuff says ++++,

The best of the performance-PC VR options

Stuff says ++++,

Spacey fun... and even better with a joystick

Stuff says ++++,

Impressive, but not the best around in 2021

Beat Saber

from £23 / Oculus, Vive, PSVR

Gleefully swing your twin lightsabers to

chop blocks that are flung your way to the

thumping beat of a song. This game has

reinvented the rhythm genre for VR and it’s

glorious, especially on the cable-free Quest.

Valve Index

£919 / stuff.tv/ValveIndex

While not revolutionary, the Index carries

enough subtle upgrades to put it atop the

PC-based headset pack. Everything looks

fabulous and the controllers deliver the most

fluid-feeling VR interactions to date.

Star Wars: Squadrons

from £15 / Oculus, Vive, PSVR

Suit up and enter the cockpit in this dazzling

dogfighter, a robust Star Wars sim that

you can play fully in VR across the entire

experience – campaign missions and online

shootouts alike.

HTC Vive Pro

£599 (headset only) / stuff.tv/HTCVivePro

No longer the top dog for high-end VR

using a PC, the Vive Pro remains a strong

headset thanks to its crisp screens and

comfy fit. We can’t wait to try the new and

improved Pro 2...

TOP TENS VR HEADSETS 94 VR GAMES TOP TENS