Virtual Reality and FPS games should go hand-in-hand; it’s pretty much what the technology was invented for. However, we’ve seen few VR games that have lived up to our ludicrously high expectations.
They’re often vomit-inducing jank-fests, clunky with both the controls and movement. There are some stand-out games, however; Farpoint, Arizona Sunshine, and Resident Evil 7 all made it on our list of the best VR games.
And now we’re pleased to report that Firewall: Zero Hour meets, and in many instances exceeds, the level of these games. In this post, we take a look at what makes the PlayStation VR title so intriguing and discuss what we loved and how it could be improved.
Firewall: Zero Hour Basics
The game’s premise isn’t a particularly new one. It’s a team-based shooter which sees two teams of four facing off; one attacks and one defends. The aim of the game’s only online mode, Contract, sees one team trying to uncover the location of an encrypted laptop to destroy it, while the other aims to stop them.
Firewall takes inspiration from games such as Rainbow Six: Siege. It’s fairly slow-paced and highly tactical. It’s a formula that translates very well to VR, particularly when using the PlayStation Aim controller. Although players can use the motion tracking of the DualShock, with the Aim, you feel totally immersed in the action.
What We Loved
The gameplay is absolutely spectacular; we’ve not played anything like it in VR before. You genuinely feel like your contribution matters to the team, as you duck and fire from cover at the enemy. The game isn’t a one trick pony either; the multiple levels, customisation, and skill sets mean that there is a good amount of depth to Firewall.
One surprisingly nice feature that multiple reviewers have noted is that the community seems genuinely invested in the game. Players who use their mics are more than happy to offer advice and cooperation, rather than sling insults.
How It Could Improve
There were some slight annoyances about Firewall: Zero Hour. Perhaps the biggest gripe we had was with the lobby system. The game makes players wait until there is a full ensemble for both teams before counting down a minute until launch.
It can seem like an age. If one player drops out, the whole process starts again. Similarly, if the host of the game disconnects during a match, everyone is kicked as there’s no host migration.
Each round has a five-minute timer, which is usually redundant. Rounds can be over in a matter of a couple of minutes before you go back to the lobby. Although this is quite annoying, it thankfully doesn’t take away too much from the overall experience.
Firewall: Zero Hour Final Thoughts
This is honestly one of the best VR games we’ve played in a long time. Everything is so well thought out. The Aim controller is essential for the experience, as the DualShock just doesn’t cut it. Firewall has raised the benchmark for virtual reality FPS games, and we can’t wait to see some new challengers come out.
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