Just a year after its brilliant sequel, Arizona Sunshine Remake arrives on PSVR2 as a graphically revamped version of the 2016 original. However, it isn't just a graphical glow-up that Vertigo Games has in mind, as it's also bringing its far more advanced (and satisfying) reload mechanic back from the sequel.
The base game includes its campaign, horde mode, and two sets of DLC, making it a fairly fun 5-10 hours offering on first playthrough. There are more difficulty levels — we had much more fun playing through on Survivor difficulty — and you can play the whole thing in online co-op with a friend.
The main attraction here is the advanced reload mechanic from Arizona Sunshine 2. While the original method is still an option (pulling guns into your chest to reload), the new process of whipping out a magazine, slapping a new one in and cocking back your gun is endlessly entertaining. The shooting feels great just as it did in the sequel, with zombies' heads exploding on impact and fantastic haptics on the Sense controllers.
Sadly the campaign itself is starting to show its age. It's not very long, which isn't much of an issue, but it lacks the interactions of its sequel. Arizona Sunshine 2 has you searching bins, skips, cars, and drawers, and generally playing around in its VR environments. While most of these are present, levels lack the playground feel of its sequel. Had you called this a "remaster" maybe that would've been fine, but seeing as it's a "remake", it's sad to see very little has been done to improve the VR-ness of this release.
At least graphically this is sure to impress. Again it doesn’t quite have the same level of detail of the sequel, but there's been a general sheen added to the whole thing. Gun models look fantastic and the lighting is brilliant, with some darker levels giving us chills as our muzzle flash illuminated the faces of approaching zombies. This is also a corker of a game for those PSVR2 OLED panels, with its orange Arizona hues looking fantastic on Sony's headset.
For those keen to revisit this PSVR classic, the remake is still a fun zombie shooter, with solid gunplay, brilliant graphics, and a decent wee package of content. It's also launching at a reduced £25/$30, making it fairly inexpensive. However, if you're new to the series and want to dive straight into the series at its best, we'd recommend its superior sequel over this.
Comments 17
Chicken or the egg?
People don't care about VR because of small games or developers don't make big games because people don't care about VR?
2 of the most loaded questions of the modern age.
For a £8 for the upgrade you bet I’ll be double dipping. The game is great fun and I’ve been waiting for this before getting the sequel.
Ive put about 70 hours into AS2, finish the campaigns on all level and i play horde mode every couple of days. Deffo buy for me
@Gewertzx
I disagree. In my experience, people don’t care about VR if they haven’t played VR. Games are generally smaller, but also cheaper and superior to flat games, all other things being equal (e.g. GT7, Resi 4 and 8, No man’s Sky, etc are much better in VR, Astro bot much better in VR, etc).
@thefourfoldroot1 In my experience people say that VR is kinda clunky and gets old fast. Especially because most of the games are short or goofy looking.
@Gewertzx
Then I guess they haven’t played the right games. There is unfortunately a lot of shovelware and devs learning the VR ropes. Then again, guess it’s not that much different for the casual and uninformed pancake gamers.
Awesome news, shame there is no physical but I can live with that because this game is so good!!
@thefourfoldroot1
I have showed off VR to my friends, but after saying it's cool, none has ever asked to try it again, or bought one themselves.
It's just too clunky for most people, and the games are often still too janky, when it comes to interacting with objects, etc.
I haven't touched VR, since January. I just don't feel like going back into VR. Even though there are some good VR games, like Asgards Wrath 2 and Half Life Alyx. Too me, flat games are much better overall, with more depth to the gameplay itself. And it's more relaxing to play, compared to VR.
I've given VR plenty of chances, since 2016, when I got my HTC Vive. The only VR game that I really loved, was Astrobot on PSVR.
Until we get more quality games like that, VR will remain a niche.
Quest sells a lot, but it seems it became the VR version of Wii. People bought the Wii, just to play Wii Sports, and now they might buy a Quest, to play Beat saber, and nothing else.
@Steel76
Yes, Quest is difficult. It gave people a low cost way to play, but it is also low quality in a number of areas, which doesn’t leave the best impression. Prior to that things were indeed clunky, with the external tracking stations etc. It isn’t really the case anymore though. Plug it in the front of the PS5 and pick up the controllers as you would a standard one (for what it’s worth, I only ever play seated, because I’m lazy).
Just finished max mustard, downloading the Arizon Sunshine remake now. I really couldn’t imagine wanting to play a shooter or, especially, a platform game, outside of VR now. I bought Astro Bot day one with high hopes but have only done the first world. It’s just fundamentally lacking compared to its VR iteration (same for racing and horror games).
I’ll still play 100hr JRPGs flat, and small indie games (I’m playing Vampire Survivor at the moment, which wouldn’t really gain from VR). But I don’t think I can easily switch back from VR after experiencing most genres playing vastly better.
@CrashBandicoat
It’s £8 if you have the ps4 version (which was going for as little as £4 at one time). You have to have the game downloaded on your console then it gives you the lower price.
@Push Square editorial: Any chance we'll get a (mini)review of the wonderful Max Mustard for PSVR 2? The game is too good to be ignored i think, instantly the best platformer available for the headset
@thefourfoldroot1 It was £3.99 in August just after they announced the Remake, I grabbed it myself and then got the £8 upgrade today. Bargain! I didn't have PSVR so I'm more than happy for games to be re-released on PSVR2.
You don't need the original game installed either, the upgrade will show up if you find it in your collection.
I kinda want to upgrade my quest 2 for a 3, but I don't use my quest 2 enough as it is.
“Arizona Sunshine 2 has you searching bins, skips, cars, and drawers…”
As an American that uses different nomenclature for different things (bin/trash can, trolley/shopping cart, etc…) I am genuinely curious…what exactly is a “skip”?
@Medic_alert thank you for the very thorough reply!
@Medic_alert They sound very similar to what we would call a dumpster over here. You did a great job.
I’ve just had a very quick go and I was a bit disappointed that the horde mode levels are “almost” identical to AS2. I guess AS2 inherited them from AS1 and tweaked them a bit.
I’m looking forward to playing the actual game, the graphics look a tiny bit different, maybe a bit rougher, but I might be on a different graphics setting to AS2.
I still want to platinum AS2, but finding collectables in VR is a pain, I keep having to lift up the headset to see the laptop to check if I’ve missed something!
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