Video Game Review: Contagion VR: Outbreak

Contagion VR: Outbreak

Monochrome Games

Action, First Person Shooter

PSVR

It’s hard to find solid singleplayer shooters on PSVR due to the current limitations of the platforms. Few games have succeeded in giving truly exciting action experiences like Blood and Truth, Superhot, and Until Dawn: Rush of Blood. You can even make the case that all of these games only succeed because they limit player movements, thus allowing them to focus on creating fantastic mechanics instead. A few games like Arizona Sunshine and Firewall Zero Hour nail shooting and movement controls while still giving players a satisfying product. Can Contagion VR: Outbreak do the same?

Contagion VR: Outbreak has a simple enough premise: Kill zombies and live out a few survivor scenarios. It’s a first-person shooter in which players will use guns, melee weapons, and other tools to dispose of waves of zombies. Players are given access to a variety of guns, and there are a surprising amount of objects that can be used. There are a handful of scenarios for players to enjoy, and they vary in both storytelling methods and quality. The game is fun, giving a decent amount of freedom to the players.

Contagion VR: Outbreak utilizes the Move controllers with support of the 3D Rudder. Players are given a variety of control and comfort options that make the game simple and intuitive. Guns are reloaded in a fairly realistic manner, which is both entertaining and stressful under the right circumstances. While movement and combat feel good, picking up items can be clunky sometimes. Grabbing a gun or ammunition doesn’t always work the way it should, which can be annoying at times. Having a few nitpicky controls can ruin the immersion in an otherwise enjoyable game.

Speaking of immersion, the environments and character designs certainly do a decent job of taking players out of the game. The textures are muddy and sometimes downright ugly. This is especially noticeable in outdoor environments. I’ve seen uglier VR games, but it is disappointing to see the sometimes ugly graphics when you consider how fun the game can be to play sometimes. The voice acting also damages the immersion, as the quality is as hit or miss as possible. There is a lot of talking since the protagonists tend to talk to themselves, and it is detrimental to the experience. I was also disappointed in the lack of zombie hoards. There are a lot of zombies but the player will never feel overwhelmed. This is likely due to performance issues and is understandable, but it would have been nice to make the game just a bit more thrilling.

The first scenario is a tease at how good Contagion VR: Outbreak can be. It’s enjoyable, has decent pacing, and features a variety of environments and tools. Unfortunately, the second and third scenarios experience a drop in quality. The second scenario is full of the ugly outdoor environments I mentioned earlier. The voice acting is awful and the story is uninteresting, making it a chore to play. The third scenario is full of puzzles and minimal contact, making it feel like it belongs in a different game. A fourth scenario is promised to be released as dlc, so maybe it can realize Contagion VR: Outbreak‘s true potential.

Contagion VR: Outbreak is an enjoyable PSVR title that will serve players well if they are desperate for an entertaining shooter. The production values and stories can be overwhelming, but the core of the game is solid. Fans of the genre should consider picking this one up, especially if it gets the promised support.