Augmented Empire revives the Oculus Go narrative technique sport subsequent month with combined actuality assist on Quest, and we went hands-on.
Developed by Coatsink, Augmented Empire is a 2017 turn-based technique sport initially developed for Oculus Go and Gear VR. Set within the cyberpunk metropolis of New Savannah the place individuals are divided by a citizen grading system, Augmented Empire sees you main a group of misfits and criminals. The story splits between a number of characters and scenes are considered from a top-down view out of your hideout.
The remastered version guarantees visible upgrades with dynamic lighting and PBR, utilizing 4K textures on Quest 3 and 2K textures on Quest 2. New combined actuality assist enables you to resize the board inside your playspace, hand monitoring and controller assist are each accessible, whereas different modifications embody “improved fight minigames” and achievements.
Earlier than right this moment’s announcement, Coatsink despatched me an Oculus Go headset with the unique Augmented Empire put in because the unique sport has lengthy been delisted. Technical points prevented me from transferring any recorded gameplay footage off the headset, so Coatsink offered the next gameplay video for comparability.
Augmented Empire gameplay footage on Oculus Go. B-roll offered by Coatsink.
As somebody who missed the period of smartphone-based VR and 3DoF headsets (my predominant introduction to VR was with the Oculus Rift S and PlayStation VR), taking part in the Go model has been an eye-opener. On the time, our evaluate praised it as a “uncommon deal with” for cell VR that provides “a ton of content material, a compelling narrative, and cleverly designed encounters.”
After an hour with the Go model, I am inclined to agree and Coatsink did nicely to work round these {hardware} limitations. Now that it is free from the shackles of 3DoF, Augmented Empire is far improved for it. That is most notable with the controls, you are not constrained to aiming by angling your headset in a sure path or utilizing a gamepad.
Very like Witchblood or Dragon Entrance Rising on Quest, introducing combined actuality looks like an effective way to broaden the present idea. Augmented Empire presents its maps like a digital model of the mission area that you simply view out of your workplace, so having the ability to “place” that show in your desk is a very good concept in combined actuality. Gripping either side of the map enables you to conveniently resize it at will and on Quest 3, the character fashions and environments look sharp even at bigger sizes.
Our remastered demo solely lasted quarter-hour, but it surely’s lengthy sufficient to spotlight how a lot has modified. Our purpose entails discovering a powerful recruit for our trigger, ending up in a combat towards a number of males from a bunch known as Detritum. Some nice voice appearing units the tone nicely, with the solid together with Kate Mulgrew (Star Trek: Voyager), Doug Cockle (The Witcher), and Jennifer English (Baldur’s Gate 3).
Fight stays turn-based and each map is tile-based in a fashion paying homage to Fireplace Emblem. Hand monitoring already looks like a pure match and urgent tiles to maneuver your character or choose actions works nicely. On this occasion, I favor the precision that controllers supply however I am glad that a number of enter choices can be found, comparable to a laser pointer or direct contact.
Every character has a normal assault utilized by pointing on the focused foe in the event that they’re in vary, whereas particular talents like extra photographs with diminished accuracy can be utilized in the event you’ve obtained AP. Maps present loads of places for potential cowl and the strategic fight is satisfying, albeit a contact too straightforward in locations.
Notably, Remastered’s largest gameplay change to date entails eradicating the timed bar initially utilized in fight. Beforehand, you needed to time photographs good when attacking with the potential to land a important hit. That additionally utilized to dodging or decreasing harm when enemies assault you. The previous strategy was higher; you are feeling extra in command of your character’s future, particularly when you’ll be able to assure important hits on every flip with some apply. Fortunately, Coatsink confirmed that whereas this is not within the demo, it is an optionally available characteristic that will likely be current within the full sport.
As somebody who missed the earliest days of client VR gaming, I am happy to see video games I initially missed like Augmented Empire get a second probability. Coatsink’s narrative technique sport looks like a terrific match for combined actuality, and whereas it is laborious to talk definitively after a brief demo, the early indicators are promising.
Augmented Empire arrives on the Horizon Retailer on November 21.
Augmented Empire Evaluation: Flip-Primarily based Techniques Meet Deep Storytelling
When a VR sport goes the extra steps to make all the things not solely really feel and play nice within a headset, but additionally have lore-appropriate explanations for quirky gamified caveats like a third-person top-down digital camera angles, I actually respect it extra. Within the case of different related titles like Dragon
Coatsink knowledgeable UploadVR after publication that the timed fight bar will likely be an optionally available characteristic within the full launch, confirming this characteristic is not current within the demo construct. We have up to date the article to mirror this.
