The 90’s. It gave us The Matrix, The Mighty Ducks, Wayne’s World, and it even gave us arcades. Arcades that allowed us to test our skills, to see who could get the highest score, and it even gave us the ones who never knew when to leave and felt that they had to stay and beat the younger generation of players. But then one day, something new comes in to play. Something so futuristic that allows that it allows the one to gain new power…Virtual Reality. Yes, Virtual Reality. And just as the technology gives us the ability to enter a Virtual Reality, Secret Location and Archiact Interactives have joined forces to give us bullet hell in Blasters of the Universe for PlayStation VR.
When I first heard about Blasters of the Universe I smiled on the inside. A throwback to an arcade played in VR where you get transformed into a world within a game. I thought to myself “If that doesn’t describe what Virtual Reality is”. So when I started it, my inside smiles greatly came through as a vision of something I love, Virtual Reality gaming and bringing me into the world, only to then be within the game in VR to then be brought to another world in VR within VR.
The game starts out as you see the local arcade. There he is, the one that wins every time. The one you have to beat. Seeing the old stand up games brought some memories of how my friends and I would do the same exact thing, have fun and see who could get the highest score. Then here it comes something new…Virtual Reality. That one that had to beat everyone took it upon himself to enter a world to become the self-proclaimed Grand Master Alwyn, Virtual Space Lord and take his infinite throne He has decided to build a digital army and to insult you along the way. Honestly, to be thrown into VR within VR is a blast to play.
Make sure you grab both Move Controllers as one will be used as a shield and the other will be your gun. Now other games and experiences you may play may give you a gun and you may be able to upgrade so said gun with a newer gun. Not Blasters of the Universe. No, in fact, it does something refreshing, it allows you to customize pretty much everything about the gun from the barrel to the clips and with over 130,000+ weapon combos. It really adds to the replayability of the game.
Once you are locked and loaded it’s time to get ready for some bullet hell. Now you can either sit or you can stand. If you sit, you may not have as much movement to dodge the bullets. If you stand, be prepared to move. You will be dodging left and right and duck and covering (just don’t stop, drop, and roll) as the enemies will be firing every which way. The thing is you will want to shoot them as fast as possible. Wait too long and more enemies will join the bullet-hell express and when you think you have your left covered…bam…your right is being invaded and just when you think you have that taken care of…here it is from above…so again you will be moving and shooting.
But be prepared to die, it’s expected. I, in fact, have learned to embrace my death, until I head back to the armory and customize my weapon in a different way. That will show his evil digital forces. But even when you die, you don’t want to give up. You want to get back and you want to win. A game that can make you frustrated, but yet makes you want to keep coming back for more…thank you!
Playing Blasters of the Universe made me think about something. It has this feel to it, this familiarity but it didn’t hit me at first until I died a few times. Then it hit me. What if Tron escaped on foot and he had a customizable blaster and a shield? Then somehow I had to get back and keep playing, it was just too much fun not to.
But even with all the bullets coming at you, remember this, getting hit in the head is where it hurts. See those patterns of bullets? Well, find the clear spot and try to aim your head where it won’t seem so bad with all the bullets. Did this work every time? No…because this is bullet hell and it shows. The further you progress in the game, the more unlockables you will gain which means more customizable options.
I will recommend you start in casual mode if only to get the feel of the game or if you have people around you. Hell mode is more of if you are alone and no one can hear what you may or may not normally say. When you add the neon lights, the 90’s throwback, endless modes, daily challenges, and leaderboards, there is just something that is too sweet and something to look forward to when you play Blasters of the Universe.
Blasters of the Universe is out now on PlayStation VR and is also available on the Oculus Store, Steam, and Viveport. A review copy was provided.
To learn more about Secret Location, please visit the site, like them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, and follow them on Instagram. To learn more about Archiact visit their site, like them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, follow them on Instagram and subscribe to their YouTube channel.
In case you missed the trailer, please enjoy. Until next time, I’m going back in lock and loaded for some bullet-hell.
Mr. PSVR, March 2, 2018, theplaystationbrahs.com
