Space Junkies Review (PS4 / PSVR)

You don’t need us to tell you that maintaining a consistent player base in multiplayer-only PlayStation VR games continues to be a struggle for any studio that claims to be up to the task. Some have lowered the barriers to entry by adopting free-to-play models or by opening the doors to non-VR players too, but the fact remains that it isn’t easy to always find other people to play with in VR. Space Junkies is a multiplayer-only VR arena shooter that seeks to sidestep the whole issue by embracing cross-play compatibility across the other major PC VR platforms. But while it isn’t difficult to find a match and its 90s-era deathmatches can be a blast, the title serves to highlight the difficulties of making the same game “work” across such different platforms in a competitive setting.

Space Junkies’ attempt at bringing arena shooters to VR is largely a successful one. It checks all the right boxes: an arsenal of weapons that are fun to use, intelligently-constructed maps that cater to a variety of playstyles, and a brisk pace despite the fact that it’s all in zero gravity. Matches are limited to a maximum of four players, but there’s still plenty of mayhem to be had with weapons that cause flurries of bullets and explosions wherever you point them. The arsenal of weapons, variety of modes, and selection of maps are all limited, but they still cover all the major bases and allow you to more easily memorise item locations, which is paramount to success in any arena shooter. It’s pure and simple fun that isn’t muddled by the game’s progression that solely involves unlocking cosmetics.

The thought of controlling a zero gravity first-person shooter in VR sounds like a headache, but Space Junkies’ controls are surprisingly serviceable and easy to grasp given its concept. PS Move support is non-existent, but a DualShock 4 gets the job done. Horizontal and vertical movement are separated across both sticks, each set of triggers controls a different hand, and aiming your weapon(s) is done by moving your controller. While said aiming can feel frustratingly imprecise at times, moving around the game’s environments and using terrain as cover doesn’t take long to get used to. A quick tutorial helps you get acquainted with things before dumping you into a match, and there are plenty of optional features to alleviate motion-sickness. It’s an all-around accessible experience.

Space Junkies’ greatest strength comes in the presentation department. Being developed by an internal Ubisoft studio, there are plenty of bells and whistles on display that aren’t typical for other multiplayer VR shooters. The game looks great thanks to excellent art direction that fills its cosmic locales with a vivid neon colour palette, and there’s a great community space to play around in before and after each match. This common space lets you interact with other players while you’re waiting for the matchmaking to do its thing, and it has a ready room that lets you seamlessly vote for the next map and mode without skipping a beat. It all feels slick and works well even though it suffers from form over function.

Space Junkies does a lot right, but its biggest blunder is its cross-play implementation. If you’re playing on PSVR, prepare to feel like a second-class citizen. There is heavy emphasis placed on dual-wielding weapons and making wacky hand gestures, but neither work well with a DualShock controller, which is your only option. Your hands are perpetually stuck in a stiff-looking outstretched position that makes it obvious to everyone that you’re playing on PlayStation while they get to have all the fun waving and fist-bumping. It’s a silly thing to complain about, but it’s hard not to feel like you’re being left in the dust simply because you’re playing on a different platform. You’re also unable to aim any dual-wielded weapons in different directions which not only makes aiming more difficult for you than your PC competitors, but it also limits your ability to shoot around obstacles. Finding a match doesn’t take long, but it comes at the hefty cost of one of the game’s main selling points when you’re not playing on a PC.