Arizona Sunshine, VR’s pioneer zombie shooter, has Vertigo Games making a strong argument for its impending remake. Here is what we thought.
The unique Arizona Sunshine Although it may seem somewhat outdated in modern times, the experience remains widely available across prominent virtual reality platforms. After experiencing the initial two chapters of the remake at Gamescom on PlayStation VR2 and subsequently replaying Arizona Sunshine on Steam, I fully comprehend Vertigo’s commitment to reimagining this iconic game.
In a desolate southwestern American landscape ravaged by catastrophe, we’re thrust back into the fray, mowing down “Freds” once more in a reprise that eerily mirrors its predecessor’s opening scene, with subtle tweaks scattered throughout. Since cooperative play assistance was confirmed, my initial demo experience was limited to a single-player setup exclusively.
Arizona Sunshine’s remake leverages the same engine that powers its original counterpart. Arizona Sunshine 2Like a seamless continuation of last year’s conclusion, it seamlessly extends the narrative. Vertigo Video Games has successfully revamped its VR gameplay architecture, introducing enhanced physicality that yields striking visual differences beyond its sleek, revitalized aesthetic. The addition of handbook reloading provides a satisfying tactile experience, while the revamped gadget handling imbues a greater sense of agency and responsiveness. Furthermore, the ability to physically climb ladders without instant transportation adds a welcome layer of realism to the overall gameplay experience.
Throughout this campaign, my primary frustration stemmed from the persistent disconnection issues with my Sense Controller, frequently rendering it ineffective during intense battles and putting me at a significant disadvantage when hordes of enemies approached. Frustratingly, being left with an awkwardly suspended hand during combat is a jarring experience, particularly since the rest of the game’s shootouts have been enjoyable up until this point. Although this would be a hardware limitation, I’m optimistic that this issue won’t persist at the full launch.
Arizona Sunshine’s remake presents a visually stunning contrast to its unique predecessor, as the desert landscape bursts forth with unparalleled grandeur. Preliminary chapters are meticulously reimagined in this remake, which still manages to deliver an engaging cinematic experience. While capturing up on zombies may seem unremarkable at this stage, the remake’s refresh takes this familiar concept in a new direction, reinvigorating it for a fresh audience.
It’s a completely distinct situation from Wanderer: The Fragments Of Destiny, which is remaking a far more latest sport from 2022. In comparison to its predecessors, Arizona Sunshine initially emerged in 2016 during the formative years of VR technology’s mainstream adoption. The concept of widespread VR sports design was far from a universally accepted notion at that time, rendering this remake all the more fascinating in hindsight.
The Arizona Sunshine remake astonishingly demonstrates the profound progress VR video games have made over the past nine years or so. Despite the rapid progress made in VR technology, I’m still hard-pressed to envision a scenario where studios would actively re-release older VR games. Upon reflecting on our journey since then, I was reminded that many best practices we now consider essential did not even exist in their modern form back then. Despite being outdated, the sport still offers some enjoyment, but this remake looks incredibly promising.
Arizona Sunshine: The Complete Edition arrives globally on October 17 for PS4 and PC. Quest, PSVR 2, and Steam. Homeowners of the iconic Arizona Sunshine on the same platform should take advantage of the “Remastered Edition” at a discounted price.