Farpoint review | Eurogamer

PlayStation VR gets some much-needed support from Sony, but unfortunately Farpoint is a hollow novelty.

[gangsta_red]

Dont see what the fuss was about. The actual gameplay looked like a regular FPS from the golden years of Doom. I guess the co-op part was a great addition but as of now not really anything needed to play in VR.

[Gazondaily]

Well aside from the corridor style movement, I think it shows that VR can greatly enhance a FPS experience .

The tech is there. Sony just need a great shooter and then we'll see something to really make VR a great proposition.

I did think this title had potential to be something special at best.

[gangsta_red]

"Well aside from the corridor style movement,"

That is what i gathered from the original trailer which is why i was wondering what the anticipation was.

I personally dont think the tech is there, not enough to make a person have an advantage in a mp game or it be necessary to play the game in.

It is a novelty gimmick for now.

[Gazondaily]

"I personally dont think the tech is there, not enough to make a person have an advantage in a mp game or it be necessary to play the game in. "

Why not? If its engrossing enough and the gameplay is good then what part of the tech is not there?

[il-JumperMT]

Good luck playing VR when you have to turn 360 degrees to kill enemies

[gangsta_red]

"If its engrossing enough and the gameplay is good then what part of the tech is not there?"

Those are big "ifs" and so far the game design may be a different spin on the same formula but its the same formula none the less.

There's no real reason to spend an extra 400 bux to turn your head right and left rather than how you originally did it on a controller to do the same action in game.

[81BX]

I think this compliments a mech game nicely.

[donthate]

@gangsta:

It's not that the technology isn't there, but rather that developers hasn't figured out how to do it well yet. Think when Halo was built for controllers, and Bungie added auto-aim. A small feature, but had major impact on the user experience.

Aside from that, PS VR is barely good enough VR, so it has it's shortcomings compared to a PC quality headset like Rift and Vive. The real short coming is actually by making PS VR compatible with PS4. It is making me sick, and a lot of others sick too.

[oONinjavitiSOo]

@il-JumperMT
I've played for a couple hours and actually haven't had any 360 movement issues. I think enemies return to a position in front of the player. Didn't really think/notice this issue until i read your comment. No probs with this yet. I'll try to be a little more observant and get back to you.

[IamTylerDurden1]

@il jumperMT

Again, misinformation and ppl who don't own the tech sounding foolish. You don't have to turn your head 360 degrees bc there is something called a Right Stick. You can look around freely with your head, aim independently with the AIM Controller, move in any direction with the Left Stick, and turn with the Right Stick. If you want to turn completely around you use the Right Stick. This is what makes the AIM Controller so great is that it's a motion controlled gun with a DUALSHOCK 4 button layout. There it is..

[IamTylerDurden1]

@Septic and Gangsta

"Corridor style movement"

You guys are spreading misinformation based on a quote from an inaccurate review. What do you think, you can only move forward? No. Farpoint has 100% free movement in any direction, you can certainly go back. The game is linear but it is most certainly NOT anything close to on-rails, it's an FPS with free movement. It is linear but you are not funneled into tight corridors. It's a linear FPS that gives the illusion of an expansion open setting, it works well.

"I personally don't think the tech is there, not enough to make a person have an advantage in a mp game or to be necessary to play the game in"

The tech on the AIM Controller is there, you are just merely giving a biased opinion based on what you want to believe, rather than personal experience with the device. I have it, i've played it and the AIM absolutely gives you an advantage and after you've tried it it certainly feels necessary in Farpoint/VR FPS. Right after using it i actually said "wow, the tech is so good and so accurate that a competitive mp FPS would work brilliantly withe the AIM" and it would. Ppl running around with AIM guns shooting at each other in mp would be amazing, and ppl would accurate af.

[Babadook7]

The Aim controller makes this simplistic fps fun.

[gangsta_red]

@tyler

"Right after using it i actually said "wow, the tech is so good and so accurate that a competitive mp FPS would work brilliantly withe the AIM" and it would."

When filming this promotion did you look straight into the camera with a serious face or did you look out on to the ocean as the sun set for a more dramatic effect?

[nveenio]

When I was a kid, VR was at the most expensive arcade within 100 miles and it cost $6 for about 90 seconds of play. You stood on a platform with a rail circling you about waist high, and you couldn't walk around or anything. You wore a giant, heavy helmet with anaconda-like cables snaking out of it, and everything in the game was made up of green, Atari-style lines. You had to turn around and around and around, and the player character never moved anywhere.

And we thought it was awesome.

What has come around within the last couple of years is what we've been waiting for since the 80s. VR isn't about having a giant 3D screen strapped to your head. It's about being immersed. And if that means you have to turn around, duck, jump, etc, then that's fine with us. Because that's what we've been waiting for. Even if it's on rails (which this isn't), we're cool with it. Because we don't see it as a replacement for all of the other games we love. Just like we didn't see the old-fashioned VR as a replacement for Donkey Kong or Skee Ball. It's a different kind of experience. It's a different platform. It's go-karts versus mini golf. It's bowling versus ultimate frisbee.

What I'm saying is that we don't have to choose. No one is asking us to choose. We have the VR we've been waiting for since the 80s. And we're complaining? No. We're not. The only people complaining are the ones who don't remember what VR was before, and what we always hoped it would become.

[Neonridr]

@IamTylerDurden1 - while turning your head in game isn't required because there is a stick to handle the same thing, it's a terrible excuse for VR as a whole. The entire point to using a headset is so that you can freely look and turn around at will. Restricting players to using a control stick instead of the headset and body for turning creates a huge barrier of engagement. PSVR will always be limited in that sense anyways since there is only one camera. Rift and Vive at least allow players to fully turn and engage themselves in any direction without much fear of occlusion.

The right stick turning was created as a direct result of that, since you can't exactly hold the aim controller facing away from the camera with your body blocking it since the tracking will disappear at that point.

Nobody wants to turn their head to the side, to then only have to use a control stick to turn your in game body. It sort of defeats the purpose of VR a little since it isn't exactly natural movement at that point and can definitely break immersion.

That being said, I am sure the devs did a good job implementing what needed to be done to get it to work properly and I look forward to giving my copy a go in the next day or two.

as for the aim controller tech itself, it's still limited by the light tracking of the PS Camera. Sadly this sort of tech pales when compared to the LED emitters found inside the Rift and Vive controllers. You think it's precise and super awesome, but I would beg you to try those out to see a basis for comparison.

[TankCrossing]

Level structure, narrative, various other elements of the game may be familiar, but "gameplay" is fundamentally different. The way you interact with and control the game is core to gameplay. Pointing a gun at an enemy isn't that similar to using a right analogue stick or a mouse to aim your crosshairs. Physically dodging incoming fire by leaning/moving/ducking isn't akin to keyboard or pad movement.

That's ignoring the huge benefit to immersion that you get from simply wearing the headset and looking around the environment.

I'm not sold on Farpoint or PSVR, but I don't think you can call it "same old".

[gangsta_red]

I understand the 'immersion' part but how long does that carry weight for games that are still mediocre and only have that single aspect going for itself? So far most of these VR fps games have been on rail type shooters with a common gimmick.

[UltraNova]

Gangsta,

Its called one step at a time. This is the first free movement FPS in VR worth talking about. You cant master a new concept out of the gate. Be patient we are obviously getting there.

[MadMax]

It's all about using the aim controller with this game and future fps games. I'm hearing lots of good things about this game using the aim controller. People are saying it's the best fps experience you can have, and will completely immerse you. VR is better than you think and there are a little handful of some real gems for it. Starblood arena is an incredible VR game! Will pick up the farpoint bundle today and see for myself.

[oONinjavitiSOo]

The aim controller is really really dope the game is pretty decent. Hit me up if you want to co-op.

[JackBNimble]

Gansta is only hating on vr because of the platform it's on. Nothing you say or do will change the coarse of anything Sony, so please give it a rest. No one gives a shit about your baseless opinions on a console that you have absolutely zero interest in.

[plmkoh]

We call these 'stealth trolls' or 'concerned trolls', they masquerade as someone trying to discuss things but are actually trying to steer things towards the negativity. Come the same topic on their preferred platform you will see the goal posts move.

[gangsta_red]

Yes, I hate VR because it's exclusive to Sony and no where else. And hopefully with me giving my opinion on the game and VR as a whole I can somehow change the course of Sony and the past history of Sony themselves through quantum reverse physics of comments.

"No one gives a shit about your baseless opinions..."

Sure you guys do.

@plmkoh
"Come the same topic on their preferred platform you will see the goal posts move."

Oh yea? Any proof of this...I'll wait...

[oONinjavitiSOo]

Well I actually have the game and it's pretty awesome! So far i would give it a 7.8. The light gun definitely adds another layer of movement which is actually very smooth absolutely zero motion sickness. Although the only motion sickness i felt was on eve valkyrie on the day psvr launched went back the day after and had zero issues with motion sickness. You guys that keep talking trash about vr clearly aren't playing any vr games and it definitely shows. Again i actually own psvr and farpoint and its pretty dope. The gun is super awesome and a game changer for psvr the game story is alright. If anyone want to co-op pm me.

[Irishguy95]

Its kinda sad to see VR failing like this, Sony are leading it to be fair, no one has released a great VR game yet, not on PsVR, Occulus or HTC vive.

I really hope it pulls through. You don't pay hundreds of dollars for a lesser gameplay experience! Kinect and Motion controls showed that. If VR isn't there yet then imo, developers jumped the gun on it. An FPS without actually being in control of where you go is not an FPS.

[generic-user-name]

"An FPS without actually being in control of where you go is not an FPS."

What are you talking about? You are in total control of where you go in Farpoint.

[IamTylerDurden1]

The first 4 comments are from Septic and Gangsta..

You have no idea what you are talking about and this "review" is god awful and factually wrong in sections.

What? The gameplay looks like 90's DOOM? What are you talking about?

The "great addition" is the fantastic piece of tech known as the AIM controller and the fact that this is a VR FPS with 100% free movement, an actual narrative with cutscenes that you are right in the middle of, high production value, and superb locomotion/combat that isn't nausea inducing. It is a technical achievement in VR and shows just how well FPS mechanics can work. It's also a showcase for the AIM, which already has 5 confirmed games that will support it in 2017 including Arizona Sunshine.

[Gazondaily]

Ah so this review is wrong...shat about all others? It's sitting at 71 on metacritic.

"actual narrative with cutscenes that you are right in the middle of, high production value, and superb locomotion/combat"

This sounds like the press release.

"It is a technical achievement in VR and shows just how well FPS mechanics can work"

Minus the expected hyperbole, isn't this what I said? VR enhances the fps experience. Now we just need a GOOD PSVR fps.

[gangsta_red]

@Tyler

You seem to be bragging a lot about the tech of the AIM controller but you're not really bragging about the actual game. Youre using a lot of generic terms to describe the production and presentation of the game but it sounds straight off a pamphlet handed to investors.

In your replies i seriously dont think i read if you had actual fun with the game itself.

[EatCrow]

Golden years of doom? Game looked nothing like doom.

[1Victor]

Be afraid Sony fanboys are letting you Xbox fanboys troll all over their articles saving the energy for project Scorpio price reveals to drop on you like Big Bang and make you 😭 like a 👶💦

[generic-user-name]

You actually don't have a clue what the actual gameplay is like unless you've experienced it in VR. Judging it based on 2D vids...you should know better by now. Of course, you'd be praising this if it was on Scorpio so whatevs.

[gangsta_red]

Yup, if it was on Scorpio I would be having a massive heart attack.

[Gazondaily]

"By default the movement is set so you cannot turn your body. Instead you push ever forwards, sidestepping around rocks as you stumble through a dust storm, searching for other survivors"

Oh what? I thought this was a proper FPS game not a corridor shooter.

"Farpoint is a budget game, sold and promoted as a AAA title. "

Well yeah that sucks. If Sony wants to do right by VR, it needs to release proper AAA titles that do the tech justice. This year's E3 and their VR games will show us how serious Sony is taking VR

[TankCrossing]

I remember reading that turning was disabled for all the previews, and wondered why so few of them mentioned it. Turning is a big contributor to motion sickness. Surprised it is still completely disabled on release though, I expected options for smooth turning, step turning, teleport turning and such. It is kind of an important skill if you want to navigate a level.

Of course there wouldn't be such a need for turning if PSVR had a better tracking system...

[TankCrossing]

According to the review on uploadvr you can enable step turning or smooth turning, which is good news if you have your VR legs.

[dillydadally]

There's a basic problem right now with VR that will just take time to get over and that's adoption rate vs profitability. PSVR is expensive and still difficult to find in stock for a lot of people, meaning that the install base isn't very high and so the amount of people available to buy games for it isn't very high. The result is making a AAA game for it isn't a good financial investment because even if everyone who has a PSVR bought it, they wouldn't break even. So their only option right now to make profitable games are lower budget games.

Once prices drop and the install base gets large enough, VR games will go AAA as well and then we'll see some really awesome results.

[Athos]

It wont be supported long enough to get AAA support.

[Petebloodyonion]

It didn't stop Nintendo from making some for Switch
I'm sure Arms is the main reason to get a Switch today

Here's some simple logic, SONY needs to make AAA games for PSVR so ppl buys them thus in return give a reason for a 3rd party to create some.

[skwidd]

@dillydadally That's one way of thinking/going about it. You can argue that if you truly want to move hardware you have to release it with a killer app. This is what always drove sales, the content. Nintendo did it with Mario, Sega did it with Sonic, Microsoft with Halo and Sony has been doing it with tons of games, GT being a big one. Even if you make a AAA game with small install base you can sell more hardware because of it and that maybe more important than making a profit. You sell that many hardware and you will make more money from other games. Thinking in a one to one correlational profit may not be thinking big. Its about brand name, install base and things bigger than what one game can profit a developer.

[generic-user-name]

"By default the movement is set so you cannot turn your body."

"BY DEFAULT"

Xbots reading comprehension goes downhill if it means they can concern troll.

[CR7JUVE1897]

Reviews have been around a 7.5 average, which a good/solid score. I just hope that this is a "Cutting their teeth" moment for these types of games, and not dissuade developers to not try to push it further.

[ninsigma]

Sounds like another game that needed to be cheaper to match what it offers. I'm disappointed at how farpoint seems to have turned out but I'm not overly surprised either. The trailers didn't make it seem particularly special except for it being PSVRs first full on FPS. Think I'll wait on this for a bit.

[ApexWolf22]

I managed to get the game and gun bundle for around $55, at that entry point I'm reasonably content with 7.5's, I'm just hoping this doesn't become another useless peripheral...

[ninsigma]

With trade ins I should be able to get it for about 35 to 40 euro. Which is a fine price but at the same time, I'm not sure I wanna use the trade ins for it.

[ninsigma]

@Garfield
How much have you played of it so far and what positives and negatives do you have?? My worry is that it's actually a mediocre shooter masked by the immersion of VR.

[ninsigma]

Cool stuff. Still in 2 minds but it's good to hear what gamers are saying. Hope you enjoy it 😊

[OB1Biker]

Reviews seem decent enough

[ninsigma]

I'm more going by what I've seen from the trailers. I'm certain that the experience offered with the headset and gun is vastly superior to what I can see in a you tube video, that much is obvious, but I don't want to fall into the real of buying something that I would otherwise find boring/bad if it werent for the immersion of VR anf have the novelty wear off half way through. I'll see what people on here think of it when they get their hands on it. I can always buy it and sell to CEX if I don't like it anyway.

[TheColbertinator]

Once again VR crumbles to basic expectations.

[Einhander1971]

Glad I never bought PSVR at launch, luckily I decided to wait for SWITCH thankfully. Unfortunately VR seems to limited for real games to many issues. Hope to be proved wrong but all VR is good for is experiences something you get at a theme park. But it's early days maybe E3 will show some more promise.

[MadMax]

Yea, have fun with your one game then. Switch doesn't even compare!!! VR has blown me away with some of these games. It's an experience that cannot be described, only played. I never imagined it would be the way it was, until I put on that headset for the first time, I was floored. It felt like playing a game the standard way for all these years, was completely outdated and prehistoric. VR is the future and will be the way we experience games.

[Athos]

Imagine if it were actually a decent VR headset how excited you would be. PSVR is not great at all, over priced and over hyped by fanboys. And yes, Ive owned one and sold it. I am not into VHS level graphics and mediocre games. I kept my Rift however, at least it tracks properly.

[generic-user-name]

And I'm glad I bought PSVR at launch. Switch was never on my radar.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

"The moment you take full control over your character and are able to fully explore the environment is the moment you realise that this is little more than an on-rails shooter with some really wide rails." I really do hope devs get away from rail shooters for VR in short order because if this medium is going to flourish it has to evolve past this gameplay mechanic that the industry as a whole left behind about 20 yrs ago.

[MadMax]

There is an options feature so you can turn it on to smooth. Which I highly recommend! That way u can use both sticks on the aim controller, for full movement. This is not a rails shooter, I'm playing it right now matter of fact, just taking a break. It's very responsive and the aim controller makes a huge difference. It's pretty good so far. I'm most impressed with the way the aim controller works. They did a good job with it!

[OC_MurphysLaw]

OK that is good to hear, VR definitely doesn't need another shooting gallery / rail experience. The aim controller also sounds like its a positive addition based on your response. I have to imagine that controller helps add to immersion considerably.

[generic-user-name]

This is an incredibly misleading quote. This is as 'on-rails' as any other linear FPS, like Killzone for example.

[XStation4pio_Pro]

weird. i thought exclusives could only be solid 10s and the only reason to buy a console...

[yeahokwhatever]

Playing through killzone 3 with the move gun and 3d was an amazing experience for me. if this can be anything close to that in terms of immersion, then im golden.

[generic-user-name]

This is so much more than that.

[Hroach616]

I just impulse bought this cuz I had some spare cash when I walked by and noticed the store only had 1 bundle available that wasn't pre ordered. I have it installing right now. I'm not sure what it will be or how it will play. I've heard of the game but haven't paid much attention to it. But anything to actually use my PSVR with my PSPro again lol havent touched my VR since resident evil 7 sadly.

[DaGreatOne]

Gotta love how this article gets so many comments while the game reactor sits at 5. From a reviewer that apparently had a completely different experience but hey I guess this is the review to place your all on right?

[DaGreatOne]

My bad no other review has more than 5 so far.

[Yohshida]

I said it from the beginning, this game looks basic as fck and just like a game that comes out at steam and no-one even cares.

BUT it scored really well and sits at 72 right now, so it looks like im wrong here.

[TheColbertinator]

Good way to see it. Expected 3s and 4s on my end.

[Abnor_Mal]

Time to install this game and see if its good or a fail, the onrails aspect doesnt bother me, but would like to see a free movement vr game soon..

[bokharij]

The game does have free movement. You can walk and turn in any direction. The only way to progress is moving forward and unless you walk past enemies(then turn to fight them) you mostly don't have to look backwards. I'm enjoying the game a lot so far. I want to play it standing the first time trough, it get tiring though, but always fun.

[Abnor_Mal]

True, I did read that after i commented, glad that they do have other options for moving and turning. Still waiting for update version 1.02 to finish installing. Arm fatigue is to be expected as with any vr game where you have to keep your hands held up to aim for long periods of time. Same thing happened with Fruit Ninja, Lethal VR, Brookhaven Experiment and Mortal Blitz.

[MadMax]

Once again, there is free movement. This is not an on rails shooter. There is an option to turn it on to smooth. This is what you want to have it set on. It's off by default because people complain about motion sickness, which I can't understand.

[DaGreatOne]

From gamereactor : "With many virtual reality games, movement can be key to making or breaking the experience, with nausea being a major problem for some gamers. Farpoint helps ease the player in gently, though, and through a whole host of options lets you pick your desired choice of movement. Smooth movement was our preferred option as it uses the front stick to move forward, backward, and strafe, and rear stick to turn, just as you would in any ordinary FPS. It feels more natural and fluid, especially when the action heats up.

Making your way through the wreckage of The Pilgrim you notice that, although you may be following a fairly linear path, you are able to explore and backtrack, as well as taking slightly different routes to the next objectives."

[jznrpg]

I knew this wasnt going to be like Call of Duty, its a gun game in VR which is exactly what I wanted. I still have my Dreamcast guns and have all of those gun games too, but this will be on another level. I just got the game/gun delivered , going to play it later on this evening. Not sure why they expected something else, it will take a huge amount of money and effort to make a full fledged shooter and this was never aiming for that .

[MadMax]

Make sure you go into options, and set movement to smooth for full free movement.

[Nivekki]

Doesn't sell VR to me.

[Petebloodyonion]

"At its heart, Farpoint is a budget game, sold and promoted as an AAA title."
That sums it up!
Or basically any AAA games on PSVR except Resident evil 7.

[generic-user-name]

Budget game?

It's one of the best looking games on VR, has a single player campaign and a co-op horde mode. Sure it's not the best looking game compared to 'flat' games but this is VR, running on standard PS4s, it's doing an amazing job for that.

[Dan_scruggs]

Not quite the savior everyone hoped for.

[G20WLY]

Not quite the failure the fanboys hope for either, to be fair.

[Dan_scruggs]

Yup. It's just meh. Like pretty much every other VR game.

[G20WLY]

^Lmao you're on your own there, pauper.

[mrdeli]

I played this at an EB Games last Friday. I sat in a chair with a blue cloth over it. I played about 15 minutes with the Aim Controlller. I was blown away. I was actually going to grab the PSVR right there and put it all on my credit card. My gamer sense said "It must be done." The biggest innovation is the Aim controller. You can literally size up a shot, aim starting pinging the aliens in a way that felt completely different than just a dual shock. I missed a shot, shouldered the gun with a little adjustment, and then pow. It was so fun. I think Sony is on the right track with this peripheral. For those seeing the review - and I did not understand until I experienced it -- this is all about the VR Feel in an FPS. It's had me giggling and saying "wow". It was that awesome.

[Neonridr]

hmmm.. not giving me hope for when I get this game tomorrow in the mail..

[oONinjavitiSOo]

Well as someone that is actually playing this, it's pretty good! The aim controller is dope! The game itself is decent.

[Neonridr]

good news. My bundle was sitting at my desk when I got into work today (had the day off yesterday so it came while I was away).

I am still excited to give it a try, and I am hopeful that I will enjoy it.

Glad you are enjoying the game.

[EatCrow]

Well.. Give it a try. Sometimes reviews are really off the mark. I can think of many games that reviewed poorly but I loved.

[BenRC01]

Baby steps. The main point is that it works and works well. Never expected this to be dishonoured 2, just wanted it to function as a shooter with the gun.

[windblowsagain]

I don't think most people care about MP for VR.

A good single player full game should be fine.

But the tech and such still has a long way to go.

[SR388]

VR sucks, it's not great at all. Until we can play games in advance of lawnmower man I don't see the point lol