I had never tried VR before, so Caly and I were excited to be invited to Centre VR for the day!
Before the VR experience
Caly and I were preparing to face the unknown as we delved into the limitless world of virtual reality for the first time, at Centre VR in Bournemouth.
Entering the venue similarly correlated with the feeling of going to the amusements as there was such a wide range of games laying ahead waiting to be tried out! There was a lot that contributed to the overall ambience of the venue, which led me to believe how easy it would be to make an entire day out of the experience! Bright lights, loud music and various snacks enhanced the visit to cater for every need.
Laser Tag
The first virtual reality game that we experienced was a take on real life laser tag. This adaption was called Tower Tag and the aim was to shoot the opposing team to defeat your enemies and gain the highest score! Putting on the headset for the first time was a surreal moment as within a split second, we were transported to what seemed like another dimension! In addition to this, we were kitted up with a jacket that imitated the feeling of gun shots.
As well as this, we were both issued a controller to hold which represented the gun itself. Moving within the world of virtual reality was what amazed me the most, because each step you took, each direction you looked would mirror itself in the fake world of some faraway planet! With this game, you were situated on your own podium and the sight was terrifying when you looked down as all that you could see was eternal darkness, which made me wary of where I was stepping!
Beyond Medusa’s Gate
The next virtual reality game that we experienced was what I was looking forward to the most – a multiplayer game that focused on teamwork and puzzle solving. This specific game was called Beyond Medusa’s Gate and was based within the universe of Assassin’s Creed (which I am a big fan of). What astonished me the most about this game was the ability to customise your own character, who you could see when you looked at a mirror in-game.
Not only could I see myself, but I could also see Caly’s character – making it feel as though we were physically together in this same alternate reality! With a limit of 60 minutes, we had to escape a mystic labyrinth through combined tactics that truly made us both think long and hard. Utilising the objects around us, we had to learn how to use a bow and arrow as well as navigating by boat!
Arizona Sunshine
The final virtual reality game that we experienced was from a selection of 140 titles! Appealing to Caly and I the most was a game called Arizona Sunshine, which takes place in a rural setting where you must survive numerous waves of zombie attacks. Not only do the number of zombies increase, but the difficulty also rapidly gets progressively harder to put your nerves to the test! The further you make it; the daytime slowly turns into night-time to up the fear factor.
We loved this game a lot, because the intensity really engaged us and made it become a mini competition between us and the game as we were constantly trying to beat our previous score! Additionally, I feel that this game highlighted the capabilities of what virtual reality can achieve as well as its potential in future developments. The vast range of titles available to pick is suitable for almost anybody.
VR Dual Rider Motion Pod
We were lucky enough to be able to experience the VR Dual Rider Motion Pod which was by far the most immersive form of technology at the venue. After securing our seatbelts, we were transported to a rollercoaster aided by the pod, which moved in correlation to the direction we were travelling. The inclusion of the motion really made us feel feelings which I never though virtual reality could capture – but it really did!
After the VR experience
Once we had concluded our busy tour of the experiences, we had the opportunity to grab a drink! The refreshments on offer included snacks as well as the option to order Papa John’s directly to your table. This made it seem viable to spend the entire day at the venue as there was food and drink to keep energy levels replenished. As well as all the VR experiences, there was also a large space that was home to PC’s where customers can play standard games on the computer.
I thought that the entire experience was very inviting, and would like to thank Colin as well as the rest of his team for hosting us, as we had the most spectacular time that opened our eyes to the way of the future!
Thanks for reading!
Centre VR is a virtual theme park in my eyes that any age can enjoy, with such an array of experiences on offer to cater for the whole family - so why not check it out here!
