It feels like I can never be too far from the "Star Wars" series at this point. Even as someone that hasn't been a massive fan of the films, I do appreciate some of the franchise's games, notably the recently released "Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order." It seems like, when a developer really puts their heart into a "Star Wars" game, the result ends up being very memorable. So, when I first got a look at this new virtual reality "Star Wars" game "Vader Immortal," I was pretty excited. The thought of playing a "Star Wars" gave in VR was cool enough in and of itself, and I was hopeful that this would be a memorable experience. And now that I've gotten to play it, I must say that I had a very fun time with it.
"Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series" is very short, and it shouldn't take you more than a day to beat it, but while it lasts...wow, is it something. Even if the visuals aren't of the absolute highest quality, they do look pretty solid, and honestly, the simple feeling of being in VR and experiencing a "Star Wars" game is pretty incredible. At several points while playing, I felt like I was on the coolest amusement park ride ever, and it was just so captivating. The scenery and design of the game's world is breathtaking and seeing it all in VR is just stunning. And gameplay-wise, the game does feel pretty fun. The lightsaber controls are mostly pretty good, and getting to control the force is pretty compelling, too. And while the story isn't the deepest thing ever, it works very well for the "Star Wars" series, and it's nice to see that they took it seriously, despite the game's short length.
In terms of my problems with the game, though, I wish there was more to it. Not just in terms of length, but in the gameplay as a whole. As great of an experience as it is, much of the game is spent watching, and it does feel a bit light on the gameplay. The great thing is that, once you are in the gameplay, it's extremely fun, but even still, I wish there was a little bit more interactivity to the gameplay. Also, this is a minor complaint, but holy moly, the gun controls that pop up in the game are atrocious. The other elements are so cool, but the shooting? I hope I never have to deal with shooting that bad in a VR game again.
Even so, "Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series" is a compelling virtual adventure while it lasts. I know many have said that the game is more like an "experience" than a "game," and sure, I feel that, but even so, it's still an incredible experience and a pretty fun game, too. I may recommend waiting for a price drop if you are skeptical, but the PlayStation 4 version does come with all three episodes, and they are worth it, so if you are a "Star Wars" fan and you have a VR headset, I do recommend giving the game a shot.
Final rating: 7 out of 10 "Good"