As reported by Braden last night, Sony has finally officially unveiled their virtual reality headset, codenamed Project Morpheus. As a console gamer, I’ve been jealously stealing glances at the PC-only Oculus Rift headset that’s been edging closer to consumers over the last year and am greatly relieved I’m not going to have to invest in a high-tech PC to enjoy some VR gaming.
We’re still waiting on details such as price, release date and of course what games will be compatible with Project Morpheus, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a look at some likely suspects and speculate on what else would be a good fit for Sony’s step into virtual reality gaming.
[promo title=”Sports Games”][/promo]
With many sports titles providing excellent wish fulfilment in the form of playing for our favourite teams, winning tournaments or righting the wrongs of terrible referee choices at the weekend, playing them in first-person perspective via the Project Morpheus headset seems like a no-brainer. Even if we just get to look around a bit more via the head tracking in third-person in something like FIFA’s Be a Pro mode (you play as a single player on the field) it would feel great. But ideally, we want first-person. Perhaps an easier to fit for developers to start with though would be baseball, and with Sony’s own MLB: The Show proving to be a bestseller, this seems like an ideal sport to implement along with some PS Move controls. I’m from England and I’d play it. But not cricket, never cricket.
[promo title=”Battlefield 4″][/promo]
Sorry COD, but Battlefield’s massive multiplayer scale would be insane with a VR headset thanks to the added degree of verticality the game revels in. Head tracking while flying jets and choppers would pull you in like nothing else out there. The same goes for on-foot sections where you’re constantly scanning every ledge or window for targets.
[promo title=”Boxing Games”][/promo]
You can’t expect to have full-body tracking in a game when you’re wearing a massive headset, so UFC-style games are never going to work properly with Project Morpheus. However, boxing games would require less leg movement and it’s about time someone made a proper boxing game with a motion controller in each hand. EA’s first-person mode in one of the older Fight Night games was surprisingly solid and as we know, first-person is going to be the way forward with VR.
[promo title=”The Witness”][/promo]
Jonathan Blow’s upcoming first person puzzle adventure is looking fantastic and the relaxed change of pace could be most welcome compared to the action-heavy games Project Morpheus may focus on. We’re going to want to sit down at some point you know.
[promo title=”Fallout 4″][/promo]
Ok, I’m getting ahead of myself with this one, but Fallout’s first-person perspective and exploratory nature that just eats away entire weekends is begging for the extra sense of immersion that Project Morpheus would offer. We just need Bethesda to admit they’re making it first though.
[promo title=”DriveClub”][/promo]
Come on Sony; give us a reason to love the driving game you keep pulling away from us at the last minute. In-car views aren’t for everyone, but a VR headset is as close as many of us are going to get to sitting behind the wheel of a supercar. Project Morpheus’s promised head tracking would make more sense for looking out the side windows too. It sounds better than looking away from your TV for the same function with the Kinect in Forza.