The game features the satisfying, nuanced feeling of spraying old junk and grime like a house, patio or doghouse through its relaxed pace and (ironically) low-stress gameplay loop attracted millions of fans. It's a very relaxing experience and oddly enjoyable. But how does it perform in VR? More importantly, does it benefit from switching to VR?
I had the opportunity to try out a demo of PowerWash Simulator VR myself during the Summer Game Festival, playing for a few minutes at the Square Enix booth. A specific release date for this new VR version has yet to be announced, but Quest 2, 3, and Pro versions are planned for this year, so keep in mind that my impression reflects that the game is still being refined before its official release.
While not a traditional shooter, PowerWash Simulator VR does rely on some of the emotional elements that make a shooter experience good. Spraying takes the place of shooting, but scope and aiming serve a similar purpose here. From this perspective, hydro-washing in VR feels great, and a lot of the great stuff from the flat-screen version is still there. The sound design is still satisfying, you're still given a variety of options to customize your pressure washer, and the game is still easy and low-stress.
An important highlight of bringing any shooter into VR is the increased accuracy and mobility provided. While PowerWash Simulator VR's environments aren't complex and you don't need to use the most precise techniques every time, being able to lean and crouch more freely allows you to spray more accurately into some of the more difficult-to-reach areas. on the dirt. Your aim is limited only by the range of motion of your arms and wrists, not the joystick or mouse.
As far as comfort options go, the standard movement options found in most VR games are provided, with the ability to teleport between points or move freely with manual positioning. The move to VR adds some cool features that make the game feel more natural in this medium. There's a lighter tactile feel when changing out the nozzles and other parts, and there's a nice floating HUD next to whichever hand you use to clean away dirt.
Plus, the game is going to be huge—the developer who helped me with the demo mentioned that the VR version will include everything in the base game. There are more than 40 levels in total. Arcade-style VR games on the Quest often focus on offering a small number of levels for players to play over and over to gain a higher score or compete against other players for rankings, so it's nice to see PowerWash Simulator opt for longer gameplay . Bringing an arcade-style game with so many specific levels to the Quest platform should be a great addition.
The version I played didn't break out much in the way of new mechanics or content, but the developers I spoke to mentioned that they were working on adding a new layer of interactivity to the game's levels. He didn't specify how this would be accomplished, but my understanding is that the new interactive objects will be similar to those found in many other VR games. Who knows, maybe you and a partner can play hide and seek with a vase and a garden gnome? These small details don't change the game too much, but they show an understanding of VR player needs and attention to detail. We look forward to the perfect implementation of these interactive details when "PowerWash Simulator VR Edition" is finally released.
I was very impressed with the demo of PowerWash Simulator VR Edition. All things considered, the game is very similar to the console and PC versions, with some neat tweaks to the core gameplay loop to make everything more VR-friendly. However, most of these are quality of life improvements rather than gameplay changes. It will be interesting to see how Futurlab will incorporate more VR-friendly features and more interactive environments into the final version, which will be worth watching.
Stay tuned for more news on PowerWash Simulator VR to be released in the coming months.
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