Shaun Munro reviews Virry VR…
An interactive safari trip which proves that non-gaming VR experiences can be detailed and satisfying, Virry VR is bolstered by impressive presentation throughout and a welcome conservationist theme.
Developers Fountain Digital Labs have teamed with UNESCO heritage site Lewa Downs to create this virtual safari, and the first thing you’ll probably notice is how much better the visual quality is than most of the PSVR’s free video “experiences” to date. This is much closer in fidelity to the universally-praised Joshua Bell VR Experience from earlier in the year, clearly benefiting from the use of 4K cameras (even if the PSVR headset can only output up to 1080p). Also, a special rig was used for filming that allowed the safari’s animals to get within two centimeters of the camera for some truly up-close-and-personal interactions.
Virry‘s two main “hubs” are Savannah and Woodland, each containing four mini-documentaries, where you can watch a rhino take a mudbath, two vervet monkeys fight over a slice of watermelon, a hyena snack on the remains of a zebra’s carcass and much more. A gentle, welcome voice-over narration adds additional context and occasionally asks the player questions, ensuring the doc has a noble, educational intent from start to finish, one likely to be of equal interest to both adults and younger participants. Bear in mind that the narrator can be weirdly patronising if you get a question wrong, but if you find her too annoying, her contributions can be turned off in the game’s settings.
One of Virry‘s most unexpected and well-executed aspects is the significant but also restrained and not-too-gimmicky interactive quality; animals may get close enough to lick the camera, which will make your controller vibrate, and you’re routinely instructed to shake the controller in order to throw meat and other food for the animals to eat. It’s a cute way of making this feel like more than a video slide-show, and it’s pulled off surprisingly gracefully.
In addition to the eight short films there’s also the opportunity to visit an African river, which is basically a series of static shots of the river leading to a waterfall. While pleasant enough to soak in for a few minutes, and the stereoscopic 3D sound is a nice touch, you probably won’t spend too much time here.
If this isn’t enough, purchasing the game grants the player three months’ access to a 24/7 livestream of Kenya’s Lewa Conservancy, where they can watch animals in real time whenever they wish. It’s not 360-degree video, which would’ve been incredible, but that’s asking a Hell of a lot for streamed video, so it’s easy to forgive. Finally, Virry also has a non-VR mode, which actually plays extremely smoothly, even when using the analog sticks to rotate the camera.
Undeniably well-intended and charming, Virry might best appeal to younger players – assuming they’re over 12 years of age as recommended by Sony, of course – and though £7.99 is rather steep for roughly half-an-hour of content, with strong production values it’s at least clear to see where the money’s going, and the good intent might make animal lovers a little more inclined to dig into their wallets. Plus, Fountain Digital Labs are promising the likes of Giraffes, Baboons and many more to be added soon, which makes one genuinely excited to jump back in down the line.
And let’s be honest, it’s just straight-up cool to be able to transport yourself to the African Savannah while sitting in the easy comfort of a concrete jungle north of London.
Pros:
+ High video quality
+ Impressive interactivity
+ Animal lovers will find plenty to enjoy
Cons:
– A little light on content for the price
Rating: 7/10
Reviewed for PS4.
Virry VR is available now.
Shaun Munro – Follow me on Twitter for more video game rambling.
Originally published April 24, 2017. Updated April 15, 2018.
