All:
So I was asked to review this game using my DK2 kit, so I'll try to make it a quick one by only reviewing 3 features that change using the Oculus Rift .
Oculus Rift DK2 Impressions (7/10):
The kit is definitely a lot more polished than the earlier version. It does have a few things however, that I don't like. People with glasses may feel that the kit is a little uncomfortable as you have to make room for them and they may not fit well on your nose with the glasses. I didn't have much problems once I got used to it. I did have to move my lenses around a little to line up with the internal lens of the Oculus but that was pretty easy to do. The main thing that I hate about the Rift is the cable that connects to the computer. It is something you'll have to get used to as it got in the way for me and I had to continuously move it to the side. Drivers are easy to install. Be careful with SLI configurations as this was very confusing to get to work as you turn on/off the Oculus Rift when you game. The pixel resolution is another detractor for games as it's not nearly as refined enough. Text becomes hard to read and the overall image clarity is pretty grainy. Overall, the Rift needs some more polish before it hits release.
Gameplay (10/10):
This is where the experience with the OR is worthwhile. I have never been so immersed in a game before. You literally *feel* like you are there. The sense of scale is enormous! People that walk up and talk to you are literally scaled to be real life so they appear very big. The ship interior and all the props are scaled appropriately. The Alien is enormous! And you will absolutely cringe everytime he kills you! One of the levels in the game (I think level 11) where you get to explore a past scene from the original Alien is mind-boggling accurate and to scale. It was literally the best level I've played all year of any game! I'm a 3D gamer nut having 3D TVs and monitors, but this new VR experience is like apples and oranges compared to 3D. It's simply amazing. Now the bad side, you will get motion sickness due to the head tracking movement with the joystick. There were several times that I had to put the controller down due to getting nauseated. I came back a couple of days later and was fine. This experience is not for those that want to rush through the game. You will have to take your time.
Graphics (9/10):
Aside from the resolution disparity with using the Oculus Rift, the framerate is very smooth using a GTX 980 videocard. All the graphics features work with the exception of some FX (textures) that are rendered in 2D. You won't notice this much as it's only on a couple of levels. The head trackign is the most detracting from the graphics as you continuously have to press the <LB> and <RB> buttons on the Xbox controller to level the head. Reading terminals gives you a feeling that you are too close to the terminal to read, but I found it fine as I didn't have to strain my eyes reading the text. All the advanced lighting, textures, etc.. are present viewing through the Oculus Rift so you'll experience pretty much everything the 2D mode gives with the exception of the quality. This is tolerable though, when you get to see planets that appear larger than your own house!
Overall:
This game was already good without the Rift support, but adding the Rift made this gaming experience second to no other game released this year. It was a lesson in patience, immersion, and admiring literally being on an Alien ship. Something that clearly made it 2014 Game Of The Year for me and worth the nausea I occasionally experienced.
So I was asked to review this game using my DK2 kit, so I'll try to make it a quick one by only reviewing 3 features that change using the Oculus Rift .
Oculus Rift DK2 Impressions (7/10):
The kit is definitely a lot more polished than the earlier version. It does have a few things however, that I don't like. People with glasses may feel that the kit is a little uncomfortable as you have to make room for them and they may not fit well on your nose with the glasses. I didn't have much problems once I got used to it. I did have to move my lenses around a little to line up with the internal lens of the Oculus but that was pretty easy to do. The main thing that I hate about the Rift is the cable that connects to the computer. It is something you'll have to get used to as it got in the way for me and I had to continuously move it to the side. Drivers are easy to install. Be careful with SLI configurations as this was very confusing to get to work as you turn on/off the Oculus Rift when you game. The pixel resolution is another detractor for games as it's not nearly as refined enough. Text becomes hard to read and the overall image clarity is pretty grainy. Overall, the Rift needs some more polish before it hits release.
Gameplay (10/10):
This is where the experience with the OR is worthwhile. I have never been so immersed in a game before. You literally *feel* like you are there. The sense of scale is enormous! People that walk up and talk to you are literally scaled to be real life so they appear very big. The ship interior and all the props are scaled appropriately. The Alien is enormous! And you will absolutely cringe everytime he kills you! One of the levels in the game (I think level 11) where you get to explore a past scene from the original Alien is mind-boggling accurate and to scale. It was literally the best level I've played all year of any game! I'm a 3D gamer nut having 3D TVs and monitors, but this new VR experience is like apples and oranges compared to 3D. It's simply amazing. Now the bad side, you will get motion sickness due to the head tracking movement with the joystick. There were several times that I had to put the controller down due to getting nauseated. I came back a couple of days later and was fine. This experience is not for those that want to rush through the game. You will have to take your time.
Graphics (9/10):
Aside from the resolution disparity with using the Oculus Rift, the framerate is very smooth using a GTX 980 videocard. All the graphics features work with the exception of some FX (textures) that are rendered in 2D. You won't notice this much as it's only on a couple of levels. The head trackign is the most detracting from the graphics as you continuously have to press the <LB> and <RB> buttons on the Xbox controller to level the head. Reading terminals gives you a feeling that you are too close to the terminal to read, but I found it fine as I didn't have to strain my eyes reading the text. All the advanced lighting, textures, etc.. are present viewing through the Oculus Rift so you'll experience pretty much everything the 2D mode gives with the exception of the quality. This is tolerable though, when you get to see planets that appear larger than your own house!
Overall:
This game was already good without the Rift support, but adding the Rift made this gaming experience second to no other game released this year. It was a lesson in patience, immersion, and admiring literally being on an Alien ship. Something that clearly made it 2014 Game Of The Year for me and worth the nausea I occasionally experienced.
