oVRShot brings the frenetic pacing of Halo multiplayer to VR, but replaces the rifles and space weapons with bows.
oVRShot has a very familiar aesthetic about it, from the way the countdown timer sounds to the maps themselves, I got the distinct feeling throughout my session that it was trying to bring Halo to VR. With three classes to choose from and objective-based gameplay, oVRShot is borrowing from some of the best in multiplayer action to create an exciting experience in VR.
Matches pit teams either disarming a bomb or defending a “hill” in one of six arenas. Don’t let that simplicity fool you. oVRshot offers team coordination and class-based warfare with a physical fitness twist.
oVRShot’s 3v3 action is a wonderful addition to multiplayer VR that will leave you feeling drained and hyped.
Preparation
I used my trusty FitBit Charge 2 and hopped right in. oVRShot has a comprehensive tutorial that teaches everything from movement to special abilities. Your left-hand controls movement. Hold it in front of you, then press on the trackpad in the direction you want to travel.
Your right hand is like a quick turn button, but I found it unnecessary.
If it feels like you’re not moving in the direction you intend to with the default controls, check the orientation of your left hand. Mid-match, you might have dropped it to your side or may not be holding it straight.
For me, teleportation was a disadvantage and I preferred not to use it. This may be a good game for those of you who struggle with motion sickness as a tool to overcome it.
Menus and navigation are fairly straightforward. You point at the list of maps, choose the one you want to load, then that Halo-esque timer I’d mentioned counts you down. Fortunately, you can browse for multiplayer games mid bot match, so you’re always feeling warmed up and ready. On the left, you can customize bot intensity and fiddle with your settings (there are three kinds of locomotion available to you, including:
- Teleportation
- Blink teleportation
- Free Locomotion
You can also customize how your quick turn works, but I found the default settings were very intuitive for me.
Intensity 6/10
I played roughly 6 matches, with a replay of King of the Hill (since it was a fun game mode). oVRShot’s biggest immediate shortcoming for me is the lack of a proper singleplayer. More like playing a shooter game with bots, oVRShot’s lack of story or context may turn off some gamers who want more to do when opponents can’t be found.
What oVRShot lacks in singleplayer content is made up by excellent bow physics and a fun multiplayer premise. With teams and class-based abilities, you have a lot of freedom about how to approach situations. Although I prefer the Scout’s grappling hook approach, Assault offers blinding counter attacks and defense offers excellent tools for stopping the other team from getting the objective.
Those discoveries fuel interesting gameplay and that inventiveness will keep players queued up for more and more rounds. It’s also team-based so the pacing is much faster.
oVRShot won’t have you running and jumping, and I didn’t feel like dodging helped escape certain doom. If an arrow was destined for me, nothing short of a miracle would stop it. That doesn’t mean the game can’t test you physically.
Here are my counts for the session:
Calories Burned: 161
Average Heart Rate: 98
Max Heart Rate: 108
Arms 7/10
This game is all about arms and shoulders. Be prepared for a lot of natural resistance while you hunt for your next target. Coupled with the knock and fire action you get with archery games and you have a recipe for a good arm and shoulder workout.
Abilities also don’t give a dramatic edge, they are for players who may not be as skilled with the bow. They offer supporting or attacking edges that give coordinated teams the boost they need to win.
Legs 2/10
At under 1,000 steps in my session, I didn’t feel oVRShot offered an excellent leg workout. The free motion is solid and I experienced no motion sickness when playing. I used steps to turn faster and to maintain awareness, so I could be walking forward, but circling in place to cover all angles.
Core and Balance 2/10
I was excited to use squats to dodge in oVRShot, as I do in other shooters/archery style games, but it appears that player models largely stay in the same location at the same height. Meaning you can peak around barrels or obstacles, but there’s no crouching beneath arrows meant for your face.
As a result, I score this low for core and balance work as you never feel like you’re using your body to maneuver.
Time Perception 7/10
oVRShot feels great once you’re in the swing, but the training session can feel a bit disorienting at first. Controls are explained well, but you paradoxically need to move through the arena to read their descriptions.
The game also has a lot of natural breaks built into the experience as you find your next match, or set the game rules (and bot difficulty) for your next set. It’s during these times where your heart rate will drop the most, but it’s easy to shuffle in place to keep the pacing up.
Replayability 7/10
oVRShot offers a great multiplayer premise, but I wasn’t able to find too many partners online.
Maps are well designed, there are always multiple ways to approach a situation. You might run off the edge of the platform and drop in an opponent, or use the high ground to prevent an enemy team from passing you and stealing your hill.
However, I was able to grief an opponent with my rapid-fire arrows by scoring a triple kill after I pointed them at their spawn point. Allowing players to exit the spawn point from more than one location could fix that, but free movement means players can strafe and dodge as well.
I notice also that the developers have made a push for arcades. I feel that would be the ideal place to experience a multiplayer match of oVRShot, and it’s nice you can take that feeling home with you to play with your friends.
Fitness Scalability 5/10
oVRShot isn’t a physical fitness test, but it will sort those of us who are out of shape from the rest. The constant natural resistance, coupled with the frantic pacing will put a strain on the body. This game sneaks up on you because it doesn’t feel like it would be exercise until you’re trying to find a corner to hide out in while your arms stop burning.
Social Competition 10/10
When you can find matches with players, oVRShot is a dream to play. You can easily sink several hours exploring the maps and finding new strategies to win. Bot matches offer players a taste of multiplayer and a decent challenge when the difficulty is high enough. The real fun is duking it out online or at an arcade.
VRFI Final Score 7.5/10
The Good
When the community is on, the gameplay is tight and exhilarating. oVRShot takes the best from your favorite VR archery titles, and popular FPS gameplay, to create a fun and frantic team-based shooter.
The Bad
A lack of singleplayer content means oVRShot might spend some time collecting dust between sets with friends.
