Iron Man VR (Meta Quest 2) Review – A Marked Improvement on the Original

Review of Iron Man VR (Meta Quest 2)

Since the dawn of time, great thinkers – scientists, philosophers, writers, engineers – have all pondered a fundamental question that defines life: how can I build a rocket suit and fly with it? And finally, the Camouflaj developers have finally achieved what Da Vinci, Curie, Newton and Einstein could not. They created Iron Man VR, a game now on Meta Quest 2, which lets you be Iron Man. It really is a wonderful time to be alive.

Iron Man VR puts you in a first-person view, playing Tony Stark. He embarks on an adventure in twelve episodes, which unfolds much like a short film. In fact, it looks a lot like a short addition to the events of the first Iron Man movie. Battling Ghost, a hacker bent on punishing Stark for his amoral past as an arms dealer, you’ll travel the world and take on missions to stop bad guys and save the world.

The story is… okay. It’s definitely a paint-by-numbers affair that seems ripped from every superhero action movie you’ve seen over the years. It’s also far too predictable. If you are like me, you will immediately guess the identity of the main antagonist. And things aren’t helped by half-hearted voice acting and oddly long pauses between lines of dialogue. But still, I found it adequate enough to at least provide some setup for action sequences.

fun game

So the story could be better. But the missions you will tackle are quite varied. I was afraid to fly and shoot. But there is a solid mix of activities. These include disarming explosives, repairing damaged planes and buildings, flying over obstacle environments, as well as shooting drones and other enemies in the air. Of course, things get a little repetitive sometimes. Over the 6-8 hours of the entire campaign, there will be things you do over and over again. Like, some different enemies to shoot would have been nice. But I commend Camouflaj for putting together a multi-faceted narrative and a range of game activities.

And these activities are always great fun. Yes, the flight is central to the experience (naturally), and it’s always a thrill and that’s partly down to the excellent controls. Just like the real Iron Man, you reach out your palms and fire your thrusters by pulling the triggers. By rotating your palms, you control the direction of flight. It’s very intuitive. Mind you, it took me a while to get used to doing simultaneous actions. Additional upgrades, like heat-seeking missiles, added to your suit can become a lot to juggle in the heat of battle. With practice, I found Iron Man VR’s controls easy and comfortable.

We reviewed Iron Man VR in 2020 when it released on the PSVR. And all the positives that my colleague mentioned still apply. It’s a great game. Also, the Meta Quest 2 version adds some notable improvements. For example, you now have true 360 ​​degree movement and field of view. This is due to the better tracking in Meta Quest 2. This is a game changer as you can now physically turn your head and look behind you to get a fuller sense of each scene.

Some nice improvements

Another improvement is one that I only know of secondhand. Apparently the load times for the PSVR version were pretty awful. On the Meta Quest 2, that’s certainly not a problem. Transitions between missions and cutscenes are almost non-existent. In other words: if this game had load times, I didn’t notice them. It’s a huge plus for this new release and worth a look, perhaps even if you’ve played the PSVR version before. Finally, the Meta Quest 2 version lacks the dreaded screen door effect of the PSVR original. In higher resolution, the level of immersion of the game is much better.

Now, going on mission after mission doesn’t quite capture the glamor of being Iron Man. Because, as we know, part of the experience is also becoming Tony Stark. You know, the celebrity, the rich playboy with the totally fabulous waterfront mansion. And Iron Man VR also offers that. Between missions, you can relax in Stark’s geek pad, with breathtaking views and the latest high-tech equipment. If I’m being honest, her decorator sometimes makes some weird choices. For one thing, I’m not sure anyone really needs THAT much fresh fruit lying around. But otherwise, it’s fun to explore the house in your spare time after each chapter.

When you’re ready for another mission, you can head to the garage where your power suits are. Iron Man VR offers upgrades that you can install with points earned in missions. I’d love to see more upgrade options, but it’s a nice gameplay loop that lets you get more and more powerful as you level up. The more you are rewarded with more upgrade points, the better you do, which in turn encourages you to fly faster or kill enemies more efficiently.

final verdict

Iron Man VR on Meta Quest 2 represents the best elements of VR gaming. In the 3D first-person view and 360-degree realism, you can feel like you’re truly a superhero in a way that traditional games can’t match. Of course, it’s a bit off the rails. You’re basically in a playable movie here. But there are enough fun and varied experiences that you don’t mind. Iron Man VR was already a solid game on the PSVR, but it’s a great Meta Quest 2 title.