PSVR2 Review

Ultimate PSVR2 Review (2024): Is This the Future of Gaming

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It has been nearly a year since the second-generation virtual reality headset from Sony PlayStation hit the market. 

Let’s talk about the PSVR2 review here in this blog for you guys.

Impressive Features

Touting impressive features like HDR, eye-tracking, advanced haptics, and foveated rendering all powered by the PlayStation 5. 

Enhanced Connectivity

Unlike the previous generation which required multiple wires, a camera, and a switch box, the new model only uses one long USB-C that connects directly to the front of the console. 

Honest Review

In my opinion, and if money is not an issue, this alone is worth the upgrade, but this will be a fair and honest review, so let’s get into the bulk of it. 

There is no denying that this is an awesome piece of hardware; the tech packed into the fairly lightweight form factor is amazing, the team knocked it out of the park, and I don’t think you’ll find many reviews that have a lot of negatives to say about the overall build quality. 

That being said, there are some caveats regarding comfort. Now this review is based on a retail kit, and I know for a fact that there are third-party options for increased comfort, but out of the box, it’s not something I can wear on my head all day, or even sometimes for hours. 

Comfort Concerns

The rubber for the nose kinda rubs me the wrong way, but I got a big schnoz, and sometimes I just take it off. 

The tension on the headband also seems to give me a bit of a headache occasionally, but I suffer from those a lot, so take with that what you will.

I’ve tried wearing it at multiple different angles, and I always end up at the same conclusion, this could be comfier. 

Easy Setup

Setup on the other hand is a breeze, you do need a TV for the initial setup, but after that, you can play from pretty much anywhere you can place the PS5 in your house. 

You go through the basic set of unskippable videos to make sure you’ve got the headset worn correctly and to go over the new buttons. 

Controller Dilemma: Functionality vs. Design Flaws

You measure your eye distance, and one note here, I always wear my glasses and they fit great even with my oversized hipster frames, which is always a plus. Now back to the topic, you then set up eye tracking, and scan your room. 

After scanning, you adjust the floor size if needed, and you’re pretty much good to go. 

I will mention that you need to be in a pretty well-lit place for it to continually recognize your space, this is a bit of a pain point for me, I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve had to rescan my space or turn extra lights on to ensure a good tracking environment.

This can be a little frustrating at times, but if you keep a well-lit space and don’t move the console around a lot, it’s not a make-or-break issue, just something I’ve noticed with my year-plus time with the device. 

Next up let’s talk controllers, I love and hate these things. It’s a joke trying to pick them up and get them on the right hands for your first grab, it’s nearly impossible to communicate what button someone should press with name alone, and with a low battery life and no option to purchase a spare set, if I forget to turn them off or plug them in, it’s a pain next time I wanna game. 

All that being said, they do feel great in hand, they track very well, they have the same amazing haptics and trigger resistance features of the dual sense controller, and they look pretty cool.

 Functionally they work great, but that doesn’t mean those design flaws should be overlooked, and I do hope we see an option to purchase them separately in the future. 

Gaming Experience

Ok, let’s talk games and applications, because let’s be honest, that’s probably the main reason you’d want to purchase this device. 

When it comes to games, PSVR2 has a pretty solid library. GT7 is phenomenal, the Resident Evil games are amazing, and games like Synapse push the medium to new locations. 

That being said, there does seem to be a lack of upcoming first-party titles, which means they’re still under wraps or they just don’t exist. This means the platform’s main source of content is independent developers. 

Games like D-Day Enhanced, which instantly has you on the battlefield with up to 63 other players, or The Light Brigade which is an amazing roguelike shooter that will keep you wanting more, are helping to keep the fire going, but it will take some big logs to stoke that flame.

 I’m not really at a loss for anything to play, it just seems to be that other platforms like Quest offer a lot more variety in terms of applications. 

Independent Developer Dominance

There is no contest when it comes to potential, but recent news like Rec Room not having a PSVR2 port, just makes me worried that even fewer indie developers will start looking the other way.

 All that being said, the current offerings are more than enough to justify the entry fee, but will your PSVR2 become an everyday driver or will it be more like a Sunday headset? 

Overall I think the PSVR2 is a solid purchase, with a few options for third-party accessories you can fix comfort issues if you have them, and the visual clarity and graphic fidelity are on par with some of the best PCVR games.

Final Verdict: Is the PSVR2 Worth the Investment?

 I’ve had the pleasure to play, and the PS5 backs everything, and 99% of the time, it just works so seamlessly. 

I wish we got a virtual environment within the PS5 home space, I wish they went with different button names, and I hope that we get to see more great games for years to come, but you never know. 

Thanks for reading, I tried to make this review fairly short and sweet, so if I missed anything you’re wondering about you can comment below.

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