Previews

Could Rez Infinite be the PSVR’s killer app?

A classic is given a new lease of life through VR

Could Rez Infinite be the PSVR’s killer app?

If ever there was a game that was waiting for virtual reality to complete the experience, it's Rez.

yt
Subscribe to Pocket Gamer on

Originally released back in 2001 on the Dreamcast, Rez brought with it a gaming experience like no other, fusing highly stylised aesthetics and old school shooting mechanics, with one hell of a soundtrack.

This time around all of that is back once again, as is the original creator Tetsuya Mizuguchi. In fact, for Mizuguchi, virtual reality finally allows him to finish his true vision.

For those not in the know, the game itself is set within Project-K, a futuristic supercomputer controlled by an AI named Eden.

However, as the game begins, Eden has begun a shutdown sequence threatening the entire network.

The player enters as a hacker who is tasked with rebooting Eden, while preventing any viruses or firewalls from stopping your progress.

All of this action then takes place via an on-the rails shooter mechanic. One in which you enemies will fly at you from all directions.

It’s all very stylised, with the action taking place through a grid based texture system that changes with each play, complimented by the aforementioned soundtrack.

So how exactly does VR transform what was already a well loved experience?

Well firstly, in the original the aiming was understandably controlled through the use of an analog stick, and whilst this worked extremely well, Rez Infinite’s transfer of the aiming controls to the PlayStation VR headset, completely transforms the game.

Rez Infinite really is as simple as a control scheme gets. Aim with your head, then hold down the X button to target enemies, before finally press the X button one more time to trigger one almighty explosion.

Within moments I was flying through the supercomputer’s network and blasting eight enemies at once. All of which creates some fantastic explosions.

Again, just another aspect that was improved by my ability to turn my head and marvel in every direction.

In fact, this ability to turn around completely, is something that transformed my gameplay experience, and I soon found myself fighting on all fronts, and having to constantly switch my focus in 360 degrees.

Alongside the action, I also found myself in awe of the world I was placed in, and of everything that was going on around me.

This is especially true of the transitions that occur between stages, which is arguably my most lasting impression from all of my various virtual reality hands-ons. They were so mesmerising it sent chills down my spine.

I found that Rez Infinite’s world worked so well in VR, that one of the most remarkable aspects of my hands-on, is something that I never gave a second thought.

Namely the fact that not once was I taken out of the all encompassing experience, and furthermore the fact that I didn’t receive even a hint of virtual reality sickness.

This is something quite remarkable given both how much is going on, and how fast the world is moving around you.

It’s also important to note that unlike many virtual reality games, Rez Infinite can happily be played from the comfort of your favourite chair.

It may seem like a small thing, but this is definitely a strength of the title, as it encourages you to play for a lot longer than other more active VR titles.

All in all I found Rez Infinite to be one the most immersive and enjoyable VR experiences I've had to date.

It was certainly the one that took me to another world and made me forget where and when I was the most.

Not only can Rez finally fulfil its potential through PlayStation VR, but from what I’ve seen, it already surpasses it.

Make no mistakes, Rez Infinite is already a contender for the most essential PSVR day one purchase you could make.

Sophia Aubrey Drake
Sophia Aubrey Drake
A lifelong gamer with a fanatical love of all things Nintendo and Japan. So much so that she's written a thesis on one and lived in the other. She's also currently on a quest to catch every last Pokemon.