• Pop Culture
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Comic Books
    • Video Games
    • Toys & Collectibles
  • Features
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Articles and Opinions
    • Interviews
    • Exclusives
    • Flickering Myth Films
    • FMTV
  • About
    • About Flickering Myth
    • Write for Flickering Myth
    • Advertise on Flickering Myth
  • Socials
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • Bluesky
    • Instagram
    • Flipboard
    • Linktree
    • X
  • Terms
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy

Flickering Myth

Geek Culture | Movies, TV, Comic Books & Video Games

  • News
  • Reviews
  • Articles & Opinions
  • Write for Us
  • The Baby in the Basket

Video Game Review – Cocos: Shark Island

April 24, 2017 by Shaun Munro

Shaun Munro reviews Cocos: Shark Island…

Alchemy VR’s Cocos: Shark Island is a 2D, 360-degree documentary short film set on the shark-infested Cocos Island, 340 miles off the coast of Costa Rica. Though moderately intriguing, the low-fi production and over-the-odds price make this a hard sell to all but the most ardent travel enthusiasts eager to wring every last ounce out of their PSVR headset.

First off, though Alchemy clearly prides itself on delivering premium VR experiences with state-of-the-art camera technology, this one is ironically hamstrung by its wholly unremarkable visual acuity.

The overwhelming majority of the 10-minute film takes place underwater, and though the murkiness of this coverage is both expected and understandable, viewers who turn their heads to look behind them will find a distracting, immersion-breaking seam resembling a screen tear, as though two cameras have had their perspectives crudely pasted together in post-production to form the full 360 degrees. Judder is also frequently present during the underwater exploration, which may produce motion sickness and headaches in even hardened VR veterans.

Some cool sights do at least abound intermittently; the initial wow factor of being dunked underwater for the first time is momentarily awe-inspiring enough to paper over the middling video quality, there’s a frantic and vaguely terrifying shark feeding frenzy, and the gorgeous sight of a giant Ray fleeing from a fleet of Hammerheads.

Unfortunately, though, there’s little justification here for the £3.69 asking price, especially considering the glut of free VR video content available for PSVR of similar or even superior quality. Furthermore, only eight of the film’s ten minutes are actually a fully 360-degree excursion, which makes it feel even less worth that price. In terms of immersive VR shark experiences, PlayStation VR Worlds’ magnificently unsettling Shark Encounter remains to easy go-to.

Pros:
+ The initial “wow” factor
+ Will have a novel appeal for travel and nature enthusiasts

Cons:
– Poor video quality
– Not recommended for those prone to motion sickness
– Short length for the price

Rating: 4/10

Reviewed for PS4.

Cocos: Shark Island is available now.

Shaun Munro – Follow me on Twitter for more video game rambling.

Originally published April 24, 2017. Updated April 15, 2018.

Filed Under: Reviews, Shaun Munro, Video Games Tagged With: cocos shark island

FMTV – Watch Our Latest Video Here

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

Cobra: Sylvester Stallone and Cannon Films Do Dirty Harry

10 Stunning Performances Outrageously Snubbed by the Oscars

The Rise and Disappointing Disappearance of Director Richard Kelly

The Rocky Horror Picture Show at 50: How A Musical Awoke A Generation

The Essential 90s Action Movies

The Best Sword-and-Sandal Movies of the 21st Century

6 Great Rutger Hauer Sci-Fi Films That Aren’t Blade Runner

In a Violent Nature and Other Slasher Movies That Subvert the Genre

The Essential New French Extremity Movies

10 Great Cult 80s Movies You Need To See

WATCH OUR MOVIE NOW FOR FREE ON PRIME VIDEO!

Top Stories:

Movie Review – Rabbit Trap (2025)

Almost Famous at 25: The Story Behind the Coming-of-Age Cult Classic

Movie Review – The History of Sound (2025)

10 Psychological Horror Gems You Need To See

Movie Review – Christy (2025)

Movie Review – The Threesome (2025)

Movie Review – Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025)

7 Great Dystopian Thrillers of the 1970s

Movie Review – Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (2025)

Movie Review – The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025)

STREAM FREE ON PRIME VIDEO!

FEATURED POSTS:

The Essential Indiana Jones Rip Off Movies of the 1980s

The Gruesome Brilliance of 1980s Italian Horror Cinema

Ten Essential British Horror Movies You Need To See

The Essential Gene Hackman Movies

Our Partners

  • Pop Culture
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Comic Books
    • Video Games
    • Toys & Collectibles
  • Features
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Articles and Opinions
    • Interviews
    • Exclusives
    • Flickering Myth Films
    • FMTV
  • About
    • About Flickering Myth
    • Write for Flickering Myth
    • Advertise on Flickering Myth
  • Socials
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • Bluesky
    • Instagram
    • Flipboard
    • Linktree
    • X
  • Terms
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy

© Flickering Myth Limited. All rights reserved. The reproduction, modification, distribution, or republication of the content without permission is strictly prohibited. Movie titles, images, etc. are registered trademarks / copyright their respective rights holders. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. If you can read this, you don't need glasses.


 

Flickering MythLogo Header Menu
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Articles & Opinions
  • Write for Us
  • The Baby in the Basket