After years of waiting , VR adaptations of iconic picture game franchises are at a turning point with the vent ofBatman : Arkham ShadowandMetro Awakening .
While it has been over a decade since the Oculus Rift seriously kvetch off VR gaming as a worthwhile subsect of this spiritualist , it has taken a while for it to strike console table and PC gaming ’s AAA caliber tier . If a flatscreen game or serial got adapted for VR , it was with a short and round-eyed tech demo - like release or a VR spiritual rebirth of an older game beholden to the design constraint of a classic . This still yield some good results , but it meant VR gaming lacked an indistinguishability within hard-core gaming franchises and was bump to novelty spinoff status .
Within the last month , Batman : Arkham ShadowandMetro Awakeningboth released , indicate that something has changed . These full - fledge AAA VR experience are n’t just novelty VR spiritual rebirth of beloved cabinet franchises , but worthwhile games of their own . If VR play is go to persist in to stay relevant , it needs more games likeBatmanandMetro .
The best kind of VR adaptation
To see how far VR gaming has amount , we merely take to compare 2016’sBatman : Arkham VRto 2024’sBatman : Arkham Shadow . AlthoughArkham VRwas developed by Rocksteady and featured some cool moments , it could be beat in just a couple of hours and did not twin the biz flow of form of address likeArkham CityorArkham Knight . A game like that certainly had its post in the early day of VR , but in 2024 , prospect are much high .
Thankfully , Arkham Shadowdelivered . It is still much more running thanArkham Knight , but from a gameplay and narrative position , it does a significantly better task at match the heights of Rocksteady ’s trilogy . Combat is emphasized and still has a rhythmic quality to it , stealth and police detective modality section are peppered throughout , and it delivers a compelling Batman story about teaching the Caped Crusader empathy .
Then there ’s Vertigo Games’Metro Awakening . The developers could have go the route of refashion a plot likeMetro 2033for VR or adding a VR mode to 4A Games’Metro Exodus . We ’ve seen many developer go down that itinerary when making VR unveiling of flatscreen dealership . These can be great , likeResident Evil 4’sMeta Quest dismission , but they come off as one - annotation distractions and are not the true way to play these classic games .
Instead , Metro Awakeningis a distinct entry in the Metro serial , a prequel bring out the backstory of Khan . It translates the hamper tunnels and endurance shooter mechanics of the flatscreen Metro games to VR , and both work well within the technical school medium with very few change . LikeArkham Shadow , it also supports a cabinet - quality narrative suitable of Dmitry Glukhovsky ’s enfranchisement . These are two of the best VR game I ’ve ever played , and they both do the same thing ripe while bringing a flatscreen gaming franchise to VR .
More than a novelty
Arkham ShadowandMetro Awakeningwork well because they feel like equals to their twin . Too often , VR games either feel too simple in how they play , do n’t feature quality narratives , and fail to go up to the standards of console play . MetroandBatmannot only buck all of those trend , but do so while faithfully adjust well - known play IP to VR . If VR is go to evolve as a play medium , it needs to not only show breakout fresh franchises likeAsgard ’s Wrath , but evidence how darling , be franchises can make a full modulation to virtual reality .
Half - Life Alyxshowed us all of these things in 2020 . you’re able to find success in VR by using a fantastic flatscreen plot as a base , home in on the portion that could immerse the players in a VR experience , and delivering a complete narrative experience with it . plot development takes time , so it take other VR developers a while to catch up , but games likeArkham ShadowandMetro Awakeningindicate that we ’ve turned a nook for VR biz ; the quality cake has been put up and it ’s not all too far off from traditional gaming anymore .
At this point , VR is very unlikely to replace console , personal computer , or mobile gaming as the master room to play . Flatscreen play is simply more commodious and less filter out on the body . That does n’t mean it should be classify to dependable tech demos or ambitionless modes and remasters . VR can be home to AAA - quality games , include ones that can stand up toe - to - toe with their console similitude . I hopeArkham ShadowandMetro Awakeningare more than just a minute for VR gaming ; I go for they do as a reminder of a standard that all developers and franchises entering the VR space should meet .
Batman : Arkham ShadowandMetro Awakeningare both usable on Meta Quest 3.Metro Awakeningis also available through PC VR and PlayStation VR2 .
