SEGA’s iconic rhythm game, Samba de Amigo, leaps into the world of virtual reality with flair and color in the Quest 2 version – SEGAs first official foray into the world of VR (though that Alien Isolation demo was fantastic too). The transition to a first-person perspective feels like a natural evolution, offering a refreshing take on the series even for those who recently played the new Switch game. The production values are notably high here as well, and the game’s vivid presentation, combined with the soundtrack, is a treat for the senses. The control scheme is intuitive, allowing players to jump in and start grooving without a steep learning curve – with VR making it easy to imagine your motion controllers are actually instruments.
In the tradition of its Wii counterpart, Virtual Party employs a straightforward yet effective motion control system. Players are tasked with matching the positions of six rings, creating a satisfying rhythm as balls approach. The addition of matching poses and specific movements adds depth, ensuring gameplay remains engaging. With over 40 songs and a diverse roster of licensed artists, including Lady Gaga, Bon Jovi and Maroon 5, there’s something for everyone, though longtime fans will notice that the soundtrack is a bit more mainstream than the original soundtrack was – which was more closely aligned to the Samba/Hispanic theme of the game.
Virtual Party offers five distinct gameplay modes, each catering to different preferences and ways to play. The ‘StreamiGo!’ campaign-style missions add a fun layer of challenge, turning players into online influencers. This introduces a fresh take on the game’s concept that aligns with modern social media influences. The game also features support for mixed reality, which seems to be the flavor of the day in VR at the moment – and though we thought the game is most immersive when this is turned off, it’s an interesting mode.
The ‘MR Multiverse’ mode, as it’s called, may be a tad short, as it weaves a narrative through three consecutive stages. The story itself maybe not be all that groundbreaking, but the passthrough effects enhance immersion and make for a cool audiovisual experience. The environmental effects, like an active volcano in the backdrop, add an entertaining visual dimension to the gameplay. However, it’s worth noting that while ‘World Party’ mode provides competitive play, the lack of a four-player online option with friends is a noticeable omission when compared to the party game qualities of the other versions.
In terms of controls, the Touch controllers deliver a good degree of feedback compared to the Nintendo controls we previously played with, providing a more immersive experience while offering a better degree of motion tracking accuracy as well. They’re also more comfortable to hold than the joycon controllers, making Samba de Amigo: Virtual Party a leap forward over Party Central in a number of ways. While the multiplayer options may not live up to that game, but for those not too interested in multiplayer this is a great new way to enjoy Samba de Amigo.
Score: 7.6/10
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