Back on June 23, 2017, I had the opportunity to review an experience that made me appreciate the nature of the animals. To see how they interacted not only with each other but how they were in their natural habitat. It made really appreciate life and journey. It allowed me to relax and just become one with nature. That experience was Virry VR: Feel the Wild (which you can read about it here). So when I heard Fountain Digital Labs was allowing the opportunity to go back with Virry VR: Wild Encounters for the PlayStation VR and experience the new adventures, I was more than happy, not only for the chance to reconnect with the animals but to find that inner peace that somehow Virry VR allows to come out.
Like Virry VR: Feel the Wild, Virry VR: Wild Encounters is not a game. This is an experience like no other. You will be encountering the wild and in return will be encountering you or at least trying to figure out what to make of the camera. I want to also say that this is a beautiful experience and it should be with being filmed in 4K at the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya.
When you start your wild encounter you are giving some choices:
- Tutorial – will show you how you will interact as well as get back to the main menu, share pics and footage of the game (all the pics in this review were taken from within Virry VR: Wild Encounters).
- Music will allow you to select your music from services like Spotify, so you can chill out and relax with some good music.
- Chat will allow you to start a party chat within the PlayStation 4 so you and your friends can experience Virry VR together.
- Progress will show you what you have and have not completed.
- V/O will allow you to turn on or off the voice-overs
- Mood-O-Meter will allow you to set your mood.
Once you are ready to go, it’s time to go and select your encounter…
You do have some amazing choices. Do you want to feed a giraffe or see some rhinos? How about some elephants or hyaenas? The choice is all yours. Each one is special in its own way. With each encounter comes a quiz that where I learned some interesting facts that, honestly I appreciate as it never hurts to learn something new every day.
One thing I really enjoy is how you can interact. For example, in the pic above, I was told that after I shook the Dualshock 4 controller to feed some oranges, that I would need to call out her name which is Nditu. It’s an interaction like this with Virtual Reality that really adds to the experience. As I mentioned, you will learn some interesting facts. But it really is interesting to see how the magnificent animals of nature move and react.
If you want to take a break and relax you are more than welcome to just enjoy the scenery while on a walking rope bridge and you relax and regain your energy from a tough day. Another great feature is the live feed cameras. Keep in mind the live feed cameras are not in VR, but it is still nice to see the beautiful area and just relax. You just never know what you may see.
Some might think about why they should get Virry VR: Wild Encounters. Well, for one nature is very inspiring to be able to hear the sounds of nature is really relaxing. Second, you get a chance not only to be inspired by the relaxation, but you get to learn and discover. And third, it’s a great experience for the family, plus it just makes you happy. I do wish that there were more settings to just sit back and relax. Don’t get me wrong, the rope bridge is an amazing site to view from, but I kinda wish there was that flowing river from Virry VR: Feel the Wild was available here.
Overall, I did enjoy my experience. From the way you get up and close with these animals to even just watching the live feed and just watching the animals. There were times where I would just want to hear the sounds, close my eyes, and I could just imagine actually being there with the wind hitting me with that fresh air. But when you add that type of experience with Virtual Reality, you don’t have to imagine being there, you are there. And isn’t that what we need at times in our lives, a chance to escape and just visit another place?
Virry VR: Wild Encounters is out now for PlayStation VR and is also available on the Oculus Store. A review copy was provided.
Also, check out the interview with CEO of Fountain Digital Labs, Svetlana Dragayeva.
To learn more about Virry VR and learn how you can help out, please visit the site and make sure like them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, follow them on Instagram, and subscribe to their YouTube channel. For other opportunities and ways to contribute with Conservation, please visit www.tusk.org, vhil.stanford.edu, and www.gorillas.org.
In case you missed the trailer, please enjoy. Until next time, I am going back for more wild encounters.
