Space Marine VR – Defenders of Avarax made me feel like an eight-foot tall supersoldier

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As a seasoned Warhammer 40k enthusiast who has battled countless xenos scum across tabletop battlefields, stepping into the virtual reality world of Zero Latency’s Space Marine – Defenders of Avarax was nothing short of a revelation. The experience wasn’t just about wielding a rifle or shouting “Brother!” at my mates, it was about being a part of an unyielding brotherhood, a band of brothers who would fight for the Emperor of Mankind in the grim darkness of the far future.

Engaging in a group activity where you fight for the honor of the Emperor of Mankind may not have an exact equivalent, but stepping into the immersive reality of Zero Latency’s Space Marine – Defenders of Avarax VR game comes pretty close. While playing on a flatscreen can make you feel potent, experiencing this virtual world offers a unique sense of grandeur and intensity. Before we put on our VR headsets and grasped our weapons, we were merely a group of friends. However, the instant the passthrough optics transported us to the bleak universe of Warhammer 40,000, we found ourselves shouting “Brother!” and boasting about how proud the Emperor would be of our valor.

Zero Latency initially sprouted from a seed of an idea more than a decade back following the arrival of the Oculus Rift. Since then, this innovative firm based in Melbourne, Australia, has grown globally, providing unique and unprecedented virtual reality encounters that were impossible before.

Instead of individual games or multiplayer sessions where players are scattered across various homes or nations, Zero Latency brings everyone together in a spacious shared room. In Brisbane, for instance, this playing area measures approximately 10 meters by 20 meters, allowing groups of eight people to move about freely without colliding with each other.

Our group was made up of five friends and an older, already-married pair. Initially, we weren’t familiar with them, but as time passed, they felt more like our dearest siblings – so much so that the woman was considered a ‘brother’ by the trip’s end.

As soon as we received instructions from our Space Marine commander regarding our upcoming mission, everyone quickly understood the general objective, even if some weren’t Warhammer experts. In simple terms, our goal was to eliminate the aliens, and since we were a team of elite soldiers, we were more than capable of carrying out this task.

Once the video ended, a team member walked in to clarify the functioning of the equipment. There’s the common VR headset with adjustable straps, and a remarkable rifle controller featuring a trigger, several buttons, and a shotgun-like grip for inserting a virtual grenade into the mounted launcher below. The buttons allowed for manual reloading and toggling between single-shot and burst-fire modes.

At this moment, we all moved into the room, and the two-way optics shifted our view to the gritty, beloved universe that many have embraced. The transition was swiftly immersive, with friends in bulky armor visible, their voices echoing through a rough, gravelly comm system. I found myself stumbling around, taking wider strides and puffing out my chest slightly. It felt like I was truly there, embodying a Space Marine, eager to engage in combat.

As a gamer, I don’t simply jump into the fray; I take time to test my equipment, familiarize myself with my weapons, and ensure I know how to load a grenade. Four of us moved towards one side of the room while the rest went the other way. A few practice rounds were fired, and some well-aimed grenades landed on moving targets. We were almost set, but not before we selected our level of challenge.

Most players chose the challenging Hard Mode, even though it didn’t boost scores. This setting displayed an icon next to our names and on the leaderboard. It also implied consent to friendly fire, which deducted points when it was activated, and manual reloading exclusively. The only consequence for those who selected Normal Mode was a feeling of embarrassment.

Divided into two groups, we hopped onto an elevator first, then parted ways physically within the same room, symbolizing our division in the virtual world as if separated by walls, floors, and vast distances, yet remaining close in reality.

For most of the event, the teams generally kept separate, but occasionally we’d bump into each other while walking down a corridor or sharing an elevator ride to another floor. These encounters brought a sense of excitement, prompting us to announce ourselves through the intercom system, giving a friendly wave to our fellow team members – it felt like reuniting after a fight rather than standing in a vast, empty space with protective eyewear on our heads.

Though the gameplay may not match the intricacy of some contemporary VR games, the fun lies in standing shoulder-to-shoulder with your friends, battling waves of invading aliens that surge through wall openings. I’d often find myself covering one position, but soon discover a friend was overwhelmed, prompting me to move and help out.

As an enthusiast, I’ve discovered that there are unique weapon drops hidden near supply pods. These aren’t your ordinary weapons; they’re mini-guns and flamethrowers, each with a limited ammo supply but capable of delivering a powerful blow. It definitely adds an exciting twist to the gameplay, particularly in the latter stages where we band together to neutralize larger menaces.

The whole experience lasted about 30 minutes, which definitely flew by. It felt like we were just getting warmed up and ready to dive into more action when the mission ended and we boarded the extraction ship.

Whether you’re deeply familiar with the source material or just a sightseer happy to be along for the ride, Zero Latency’s Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine VR – Defenders of Avarax experience does a tremendous job at making you feel like an eight-foot tall, heavily plated warrior. If you’ve got a Zero Latency location near you, get a few brothers together and kill some xenos scum for the Emperor.

Warhammer 40:000: Space Marine VR – Defenders of Avarax access was provided by Zero Latency.

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2024-11-29 23:27