There are many different types of genres when it comes to the games we play. Some enjoy the horror and seeing if they can get scared, others enjoy the action and adventure of being their favorite hero, and some even enjoy the side-scrolling action. But there are some who enjoy the Science Fiction aspect of gaming. I like it when games explore the time and space that allows you to escape within the escape. So does developer, Ivanovich Games give us the action while allowing us to explore the Multiverse? Let’s find out with 2076: Midway Multiverse for PCVR.
2076: Midway Multiverse is a VR game that pays homage to classic side-scrolling shooters and offers the ultimate space combat simulation experience as you take command of your starship and fight waves of enemies that will attack you from any possible angle. Before we begin there are a few things that you will want to know about. First, this really is a seated experience. You could stand, but might as well be comfortable while going across the multiverse. Second, make sure your Touch Controllers are not about to die (you can use other controllers, but I went with the Touch controllers which worked very well) and then you end up losing a life and having to start over. And finally, just have some fun. There are some funny references in here, so enjoy. With that said, let’s continue…
Before we really get into 2076: Midway Madness, I will say that it really helps (not a requirement) if you play 1976: Back to Midway first so you can understand some of the references of why you are here as I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone. Now, that we are here, we are in the year 2022 (not that far off, but we traveled a great distance and time to get there (again, 1976) and it seems that whatever happened from 1943 altered and we are treated not only with the good Dr. Ivanovich, but an alternative robotic version of him called Dr. Novichiva and it’s our job to try and defeat all the alternate versions of Hitler and there are some wild ones from Mariachi Hitler to Bat Hitler.
Before you begin, you do have a couple of different options to select from. We have Story Mode, Arcade Mode, Nostalgic Arcade, and Settings.
In Story Mode, you are in your starship defeating waves of enemy ships, collecting coins and any powerups you come across. As a reminder, enemies can come from any angle. Luckily, you do have a sphere that you can move to help deflect enemy power as well as interact with different objects such as blocks and handles to help move things along. So depending on which hand you selected to control the ship, the other hand will control the sphere. Each level is a different part of the Multiverse, which again, you will need to try and destroy an alternative version of Hitler and this is where Ivanovich Games has added humor to not only the communication that you hear but to the end bosses that you will face.
The different levels of the Multiverse include things like Star Wars and Back to the Future, but remember, these are just references. Before starting, you do get to see the objectives that you need to aim for. As you go through each of the levels, there will be two immersive zones that put you in the pilot seat where you have objectives like shooting down a certain amount of enemy ships or collecting a certain amount of coins for example which you can see in the lower left of the ship. At the end of each level, you are presented with how well you are done as well as to see if you are placed on the leaderboards.
Arcade mode is like Story Mode, however, instead of you controlling the ship, it’s you controlling Dr. Novichiva which has the sphere that you can rotate around to shoot at different angles and gives that familiar original retro game feel. And I have to say that it brought a different style to playing the different levels.
Nostalgic Arcade brings a lineup of games from Innovich Games in arcade cabinets into one area. If you have any of these games in your collection you can play them, however, if you do not, it will open up Steam to that page, which is really an interesting way of doing things. I do know that the Quest version of 2076: Midway Multiverse will have all the demos available to play.
Let’s talk about the graphics and sound. Being inside the ship and seeing everything in detail to reading the writing on the flight stick is really impressive. Each level is beautifully designed and you can tell there was a lot of love that went into making this and it really shows. Sound is also on par from when your ship loses that final life and you hear Game Over to just the comedy that Dr. Ivanovich and Dr. Novichiva have with each other while referencing so many iconic moments from movies.
If there was anything that I would love to see added is more levels as there are so many things in the multiverse that could be explored, it really could be endless in a way. Second, an online co-op option would be a great thing to have here and a new addition to the leaderboards. And finally, I did really enjoy the Immersion Zones, but would have loved for there to have been more of an opportunity to be in this mode or maybe have an Immersion Zone Mode where you play through the whole story in this way
Ivonovich Games has found a formula that works with bringing the graphics and immersion and switching between what is already immersive in VR to another level in 2076: Midway Multiverse with the Immersion Zones with continues with the perspective as a reminder of the fun times we always had playing these types of games and further justifies why playing games in Virtual Reality takes what we love and the time that we can escape to the next level. And at this point in our lives and all that is going on in the world, couldn’t we all use more time with what we love, even if that means we need to escape reality to get there?
2076: Midway Multiverse is out now on Steam and coming soon to the Oculus Store and PlayStation VR platform. A review code was provided.
To learn more about Ivanovich Games please visit their site, like them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, and subscribe to their YouTube channel.
Also, check out the 2076: Midway Multiverse interview.
In case you missed the trailer, please enjoy. Until next time, I have some leaderboards to try and climb.
