Thanks to Zero Latency, the Checkpoint team was recently given the opportunity to try their newest free-roam Virtual Reality (VR) experience with Space Marine VR – Defenders of Avarax. Partnering up with Games Workshop, this new shooter is the latest and greatest from Australian-born Zero Latency, a company that designs unique Virtual Reality experiences based on movement tracking within a real-world space. With the recent release of Space Marine 2 being as successful as it has been, the timing was perfect for VR enthusiasts and eager Warhammer 40,000 fans alike to jump into the fray and literally become a Space Marine themselves.
Comparing Space Marine VR to previous Zero Latency games and you can instantly see where this licensing partnership has done the game wonders. The assets on offer as well as the size and scale of the world give a feeling of grandeur that wasn’t seen in games like Sol Raiders, Outbreak, Singularity or Undead Arena. I may not be the biggest Warhammer aficionado, but I could tell that there was an adherence to the lore and design of this pre-existing IP that helped make Space Marine VR feel authentic and fleshed out. Defenders of Avarax isn’t just another mindless zombie shooter, it has a story of its own that amplifies the gameplay. Admittedly, during our time with the game, the friendly Zero Latency staff member who assisted with our play session often talked over the top of the game’s dialogue. But hey—expecting narrative immersion in an open-mic multiplayer game was likely a fool’s errand to begin with anyway.
Playing as a huge, lumbering Space Marine really did amplify that power fantasy the game was going for. Early into the experience, you were able to walk past a set of humans and could see and feel firsthand the size difference between you and them. This feeling is supported by the powerful weapons in your arsenal including your automatic rifle, grenades, and special weapons scattered around the experience. Busting out a limited-use flamethrower never got dull as you and your squad mowed down swarming Tyranid forces.
“…you can instantly see where this licensing partnership has done the game wonders.”
The gameplay will be familiar to Zero Latency regulars. You shoot using a sight-tracked toy gun using the gun’s trigger and can reload with a button on the base of the weapon (or automatically if you run out of bullets in your magazine). You can also lob grenades or collect special weapons that will instantly take over your main-hand weapon until it runs out of bullets, at which point you swap back. Your movements in the game mimic your movements in the real world, meaning you can literally run away from enemy attacks or position yourself advantageously. Of course, other players and the walls of the venue are potential hazards, but alarm sounds and visuals help mitigate this potential risk.
Where Space Marine VR towers above other Zero Latency games is definitely in that feeling of resplendence and awe. One moment of the experience had players in a zero gravity-like space, watching as bits of debris break off and their teammates float off in different directions. Boss fights also brought in that same feeling, with open arenas encouraging your squad to run off in different directions, avoid enemy attacks, and bring down a big beast. It was all just very grand and the Space Marine/Warhammer setting simply amplified this atmosphere.
Space Marine VR does stick to some tropes seen in past Zero Latency games though and it’s here where things start losing their immersion and feel a little by the numbers. Arriving at an arena to shoot swarms of foes to then move into the next elevator to take you to the next arena is a commonality here. You can also feel some of the limitations of having an 8-person squad at times as it can feel a little claustrophobic with team members unwittingly pinning you into a corner or blocking your points of access. Some moments of the game had frame dips or visual glitches too, with the headset attempting to keep up with the action. These problems were far from game-breaking, but worth noting nonetheless. Space Marine VR still remains an incredibly fun time, but I do wonder what could be achieved in Zero Latency’s next game if the in-house dev team were given more time and more freedom to evolve rather than iterate.
Ultimately, Space Marine VR – Defenders of Avarax is a bloody good time and continues Zero Latency’s trend of releasing something bigger and better each time. With that Warhammer universe backing up the experience and adding more detail to the world and story, as well as it simply being a non-zombie game, Space Marine VR becomes a lovely addition to the ZL catalogue. You can find out more info on the game’s official website.
Disclaimer: One of the Editors of Checkpoint Gaming works for Zero Latency. Zero Latency and Checkpoint Gaming operate completely independently, and no special consideration is given to Zero Latency announcements or promotions for coverage.
About the Author
Elliot Attard
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Beer aficionado, PC gamer, TV show binge-watcher, music lover, and elite member of high society - Elliot possesses all of the qualities needed to project his word thoughts straight into your eye holes.
