PS VR2 | Wonder, but in small doses

Virtual reality has never been so impressive and easy to use than with PS VR2. But ten years after the prototypes, we are still sometimes in experimental technology. Drink in moderation, especially at this price.

Available from February 22, the brand new PS VR2 represents a huge technological step forward compared to the first generation released in 2016 for the PS4. We have been able to try it since the beginning of the week.

First observation: the image delivered when you dive into this virtual universe is clearer than ever, the details well defined and the colors vibrant. It is not perfect, a certain vagueness remains all the same perceptible. But this is one of the most polished experiences from this point of view that we’ve ever had, with the exception of the three times more expensive Meta Quest Pro headset that we tested in Facebook’s Montreal offices in early February.

The PS VR2’s tech specs are now top-notch, with two 4K OLED displays giving 2000 pixels by 2040 per eye resolution, a 110-degree field of view, 120Hz refresh rate, and four cameras for motion tracking. movements.

read eyes

This monitoring is rather fast and efficient, but imposes a constraint: the room must be well lit. Otherwise, movements and gestures in games become imprecise.

And we offer a mind-boggling novelty: two infrared sensors in the helmet for eye tracking. Just roll your eyes at a menu choice to see it activate. Sometimes useful, this function is however so difficult to master that we will sometimes choose to deactivate it.

As the main trademark of consoles, setting up and using the PS VR2 is relatively easy compared to computer-connected headsets. We plug a USB-C cable into the PS5 – no wireless here, unfortunately – and we do the same the first time to pair the two Sense controllers. These no longer need a cable afterwards and have a rechargeable battery which gives about 5 hours of play. Which is a lot in virtual reality, but still requires keeping them well charged since the batteries are not removable.

The helmet itself is of good quality, rather comfortable with an adjustable headband that hugs the head. We must, at the installation, add a pair of wired headphones rather well designed: mounted on a rounded plastic frame, they fit into the helmet leaving about ten centimeters of cable. We do not tangle them too much with each installation.

Lots of choice

Before embarking on the first experiments, it is necessary to delimit the playing area. The helmet then turns into an augmented reality device, where you can see the surrounding space on which blue lines are applied. We must choose the playing position, sitting or standing with movements. The first is more relaxing, but has many limitations, as we have noticed.

Now is the time to take action. We were spoiled for choice: we received 13 game download codes from a dozen different studios. Clearly, Sony has an ecosystem of developers eager to get into VR. Impossible in two days to go around it, our ability to test virtual reality has limits. We focused on the introductions of two most important productions, Horizon Call of the Mountain And Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge Enhanced Edition, from Sony Interactive Entertainment and Disney Interactive Studios. We will come back to the other experiments next week.

Mountaineering and archery

Horizon begins very strongly, when we are trapped in a canoe led by two menacing characters who look us in the eye, on a river of disturbing realism. The infernal machines in the shapes of birds, antelopes and dinosaurs parade around us and end up getting the better of our boat.

By moving the joysticks, you have to swim then, with the appropriate key combinations, climb cliffs and vines to reach the top of a mountain. The exercise is fascinating and demanding, with both Sense featuring a variable pressure trigger. To walk, you also have to shake the joysticks up and down to simulate normal arm gestures.

We can disable this method to return to joystick navigation, but the result was not happy in our case. We had a headache after two minutes.

Where we were treated to undivided pleasure was after finding our first arc. It is stored and retrieved behind its back by raising the bow above the left shoulder, and an arrow is drawn by doing the same above the right shoulder. You then shoot in a very realistic way, pulling the bowstring and aiming. A dozen shots are enough to master the technique.

Immersive, but temperamental

Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge in virtual reality version also starts very well: we wake up in one of these big, slightly filthy cargo ships typical of this universe. You can even see space and the surrounding planets through poorly washed windows. Lowering your head a little, you have a holster slung across your chest that holds your inventory and, further down, a belt for your weapons and all-purpose tool.

First bug: the adjustment to see these fasteners is difficult, you can hardly see the belt and the case is oddly placed. In a seated position, manipulation is impossible. Standing, she is problematic.

We then walk around in the freighter, reaching out to press the red button opening doors, picking up credits placed in our case, unscrewing a panel whose lever has exploded. The first mission is to scan three containers in which droids have been placed. After circling around for two hours and bumping into an obviously faulty electrical panel that we couldn’t see how to fix, we gave up. More hours will be needed to honestly review this game.

We were thus able, in a short time all the same, to touch the best and at least attractive of what virtual reality offers. The PS VR2 is clearly one of the best headsets on the market and the experiences already offered allow moments of pure wonder, sometimes total immersion, sound and visual, in imaginary worlds.

But for a video game, mastery of the controls is very far from reaching what you can have on a classic screen, even if you improve quickly and the reflexes linked to VR become more natural. Some functions are ingenious, but obviously still experimental. You won’t spend many consecutive hours scrolling through missions and tables, virtual reality requires more moderation.

In short, we don’t have the platform here that will replace the video game as we know it. There are possibilities of new experiences, sometimes bewildering, which add to the pleasure of the game. If you are ready to pay the price, all the same quite heavy.