A few weeks ago, we actively previewed Sparc, one of the upcoming VR games. Now that the game has been released, it appears our original excitement was more than justified. Sparc is an absolutely amazing game and it shows how much potential virtual reality has. Available for the PlayStation VR and soon for Oculus Rift and HTC Vive as well, Spar easily warrants its $29.99 price tag.
Sparc is an Absolute Must-Play on PlayStation VR
It is not hard to see why many people would confuse Sparc with a mix of Pong and Dodgeball. It certainly has some elements of both games, but it also so much more than just that. As the saying goes, Sparc is the sum of its parts. All of those parts seemingly come from different games and sports around the world, all of which are combined into one nearly flawless experience. You will need you hit opponents with a ball, but the rules are very different compared to what one would expect.
You will also need both hands to play the game, as one hand serves as your shield to deflect balls. The other is, obviously, for throwing the ball. However, two types of balls are in play and you can only shield against your opponent’s color. Plus, you need to dodge in real-time by physically performing the move. As mentioned in our preview, gamers will work up quite the sweat during this game, which is a nice bonus. Given this is a one-on-one sport, everything comes down to how you play and perform. With no campaigns or training mode, you will be facing human opponents only.
While it is true online-only VR games often see their user base taper off, Sparc probably won’t have that problem. The only real issue is how most players will stop after 30-45 minutes as the game is physically demanding. Getting the hang of the different features and nuances at your disposal takes some time and you will lose a fair few games at first. The learning curve isn’t steep, but with no practice mode, it’s all about getting the hang of things on the fly. It feels completely new, engaging, and extremely competitive. We absolutely love it, and you probably will as well.
One thing to keep in mind is how the PlayStation Move controllers won’t always feel natural while playing this game. This is not the developers’ fault, but rather an issue on Sony’s side. They feel cheap and inadequate, but you’ll get the hang of it eventually. Once Sparc releases for Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, those native controllers will feel a lot more natural, to say the least. If the game can grow its player base over time, it may even become a regular virtual sport.
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