Virtual Galaxies offers an excellent VR social experience

I've felt for a while that VR entertainment centres can play a fundamental part in the adoption and growth of the medium. VR isn't exactly an accessible technology, both in terms of ease-of-use and price, which makes the prospect of public pay-to-use VR all the more appealing.

That'southward where places like Virtual Galaxies coms in. I've been to several VR arcades before, equally well as The Void at the Cineplex-owned Toronto Rec Room, merely I've never quite seen something similar this.

Located in Mississauga, Ontario, the facility sports a 2,200 square foot gaming area ripe for all kinds of free-roam VR experiences. Specifically, the broad warehouse infinite means that eight-player VR games tin be played, which you probable won't find at most other places.

Virtual Galaxies warehouse

Having only opened at the terminate of 2018, Virtual Galaxies currently only has iv experiences:Singularity (a sci-fi shooter set in space), Outbreak Origins(a zombie survival shooter), Engineerium (a combat-free run a risk focused on exploration) and Zombie Survival(a belfry defence-style zombie shooter).

Throughout all of these experiences, you and the other players are provided a backpack and connected VR headset to vesture, likewise as a headset to communicate with each other. For the purposes of our demo, my two friends and I were able to endeavor outEngineeriumandSingularity.

The former, which we started our demo with, is a very good way to ease you into this blazon of free-roaming experience, especially if you're a VR newcomer. Engineeriumis set in a mystical, tropical world that you and your friends must navigate through. The experience features very little in the way of gameplay, outside of walking effectually and stepping on tiles to open up up pathways.

Instead, the real highlight comes from the sense of immersion in the cute surround, as well equally the social interactions that come about in it. It's always great to hear the reactions of people who haven't tried VR, equally was the case with one of my friends. This was particularly agreeable whenEngineerium has yous walk on winding pathways in zero gravity. Of course, you're but walking on flat terrain in the real world, but the VR tech does a clever job of tricking you into thinking y'all're sideways or upside downwardly. Information technology'south quite a trippy experience and makes for some thrilling moments, although it'southward a bit on the curt side.

Our more meaty VR experience came in the form ofSingularity.In anAlien-manner premise, you and your friends volition assume the role of space marines that are investigating a derelict space ship. At the start of the game, you're given a physical toy gun that y'all're able to use to aim and shoot in the game. Different ammo types (which includes a shotgun, rifle and railgun) and a shield that can be brought upward past raising your gun in the air offer some nice variety. This brings a welcome level of tension toSingularity since y'all demand to be quick not just in your aiming merely as well in your ability to swap between gun types on the fly.

The actual ship itself is likewise surprisingly varied in terms of blueprint. Many areas have several bits of comprehend that y'all can duck behind and popular out from accordingly, while even the more scripted moments offer their ain level of dynamism. In one encounter, in that location was a control room connected to multiple doorways that kept spawning enemies. Every bit a result, we had to piece of work together to repel the incoming hordes while also working on the control panel. This was particularly important if one of united states took too much damage and got downed, forcing us to expect a number of seconds to respawn.

Another area had us separated until we reached a large Phantom Menace-way conductor room, with two of us navigating ane narrow energy platform while the other had to do the same further upwards ahead. Roofing each other as we slowly walked along the path made for a wonderful sort of team synergy that I've never really gotten in traditional multiplayer experiences. At the aforementioned time, there's a bit of friendly competition at play since you each get rankings at the end. From starting time to finish,Singularityis a rollicking skilful time.

While Virtual Galaxies' games certainly lack The Void'south big-proper noun appeal of experiences based on the likes ofStar Wars, Ghostbusters and Wreck-It Ralph, they more than make up for that with a greater sense of freedom and engagement. All the while, the precise torso tracking tech ensures that you lot get ample alert each fourth dimension you go too close to a wall or some other actor.

There are a few quibbles and uncertainties, to exist certain. To outset, i of my friends and I habiliment glasses and have rather poor vision without them. Unfortunately, though, we weren't allowed to wear them in the Virtual Galaxies experiences equally the company says they may scratch the VR headsets' lenses.

For the most part, the visuals are nonetheless solid otherwise, given that the headset'due south lenses are so close to your optics. Nevertheless, it would exist nice to find a glasses-friendly solution, especially when this isn't a problem at The Void or when using consumer products like the PlayStation VR at home.

Further, every bit noted, nosotros but tried two of the four games, so I can't speak to the quality of those other two experiences. It likewise remains to be seen just how frequently Virtual Galaxies will refresh its catalogue with new and compelling experiences.

Virtual Galaxies score

Based on what I accept tried, though, I can definitely recommend giving this a shot, especially with a group of friends. I just had a party of three and still had a swell time, so with fifty-fifty larger squads, I tin can imagine it being even more of a blast.

Sessions also final betwixt 15 and 45 minutes depending on the game, giving you lot significantly more time than you finish up having in The Void or other venues.

Game sessions are $49.99 per person, with discounted rates available if you lot purchase tickets for multiple experiences at in one case. Bookings can be fabricated hither.

Image credit: Virtual Galaxies