In our next look at the world of VR, we check out how Zen Studios is revisiting Pinball FX for VR headsets, look at the PSVR2 version of HITMAN World of Assassination and review the LZ 129 Hindenburg DLC for Timelab.
Pinball FX VR review (Quest)
Zen Studios has returned to virtual reality with Pinball FX VR, the successor to Pinball FX2 VR (and we realize the naming convention is a bit misleading due to Zen’s reboot of the franchise). This latest installment aims to deliver an immersive pinball experience on the Meta Quest platform, blending nostalgia with modern technology.
Upon entering the game, players find themselves in a nicely crafted ’80s-style arcade, complete with neon lights and retro aesthetics. This environment not only serves as a hub for selecting tables but also enhances the overall immersion, making it feel like an almost literal step back in time.
At launch, Pinball FX VR offers three original tables: Pinball Noir, Curse of the Mummy, and Sky Pirates: Treasures of the Clouds. Each table presents a unique theme and engaging gameplay mechanics. However, players coming from a hefty table collection on another platform might find the initial selection limited, especially considering the vast library available in non-VR versions. Zen Studios has indicated plans to expand this lineup, but as of now, the choices are somewhat restricted.
A notable feature is the mixed reality mode, which allows players to project tables into their real-world environment. This integration bridges the gap between virtual and physical spaces, offering a fresh perspective on traditional pinball gameplay without the need to buy and place an expensive real life table. The tactile feedback and intuitive controls further contribute to a satisfying and authentic pinball experience.
Visually, the game excels with detailed table designs and smooth animations that capture the essence of real pinball machines. The audio complements this with authentic sound effects and a fitting soundtrack, enhancing the ambiance. However, a point of contention is going to be game’s pricing model. Players who have previously purchased tables in earlier versions are required to repurchase them for Pinball FX VR, which may deter long-time fans who went through the same thing in the switch from FX3 to FX.
In summary, Pinball FX VR successfully captures the nostalgic charm of arcade pinball within a virtual setting. Its immersive environment and innovative features showcase the potential of VR in revitalizing classic gaming experiences. Nonetheless, the limited table selection and pricing strategy may give potential players pause.
HITMAN World of Assassination review (PSVR2)
Having established itself as one of the premier stealth action experiences out there, Hitman World of Assassination makes another leap into virtual reality with its PlayStation VR2 version. This isn’t the franchise’s first foray into VR, but where the original PSVR version felt like an experiment, this feels like the real deal – a robust, fully-fledged way to experience the trilogy’s iconic locations through Agent 47’s eyes.
Returning players will already be familiar with the trilogy’s overarching narrative and open-ended mission structure, but stepping into the world in VR makes everything feel more personal and immediate. The sensation of walking through a bustling Mumbai market or exploring the grandeur of a Paris fashion show is significantly amplified in VR, with environmental detail and scale making these locations feel more alive and reactive. The game’s incredible level design holds up impressively under this new perspective, offering an almost sandbox-like playground for experimentation and replayability.
Gameplay-wise, the core elements remain intact, but interacting with the world using your hands adds a layer of immersion that flat-screen players never had. The ability to dual-wield weapons or perform silent takedowns manually is a game-changer in theory, and the new control scheme tries hard to make it intuitive. In practice, though, there are still some rough edges. Aiming can feel imprecise, and grabbing or throwing objects isn’t always reliable, which occasionally breaks the illusion and adds frustration to tense encounters. Still, when it works, and it often does, the freedom of movement and the tactile approach to stealth can be exhilarating.
Visually, the game benefits from PSVR2’s hardware bump. While it doesn’t quite match the fidelity of the non-VR version, environments look crisp, lighting is atmospheric, and the added 3D depth does wonders for immersion. There are some visual inconsistencies and performance dips depending on the mission or location, but overall it’s a significant step up from the earlier VR iteration. Audio design also remains top-notch, with reactive NPC chatter and directional sound cues playing a key role in the VR experience.
Ultimately, while Hitman World of Assassination on PSVR2 isn’t flawless, it’s a compelling reinvention of the series in VR. It’s immersive, replayable, and often thrilling, even if the controls still need a bit of polish. For fans of the series or those looking for a deep VR stealth experience, it’s one of the most ambitious adaptations out there – and with a bit more refinement, it could become the definitive way to step into Agent 47’s shoes. It’s already a VR experience that’s not to be missed.
TimeLab – LZ 129 Hindenburg DLC review (PCVR)
The latest DLC for TimeLab, VR-Dynamix’s free virtual time travel platform, brings one of aviation’s most iconic and tragic stories to life with the LZ 129 Hindenburg expansion. Like earlier modules for the Apollo 11 mission and Falkenstein castle, the Hindenburg experience blends education and immersion, allowing players to explore a detailed 3D recreation of the massive airship – both from within and from key vantage points on the ground.
At the heart of this DLC is the ability to walk through the Hindenburg itself – something many will not be familiar with. Players can move through luxurious passenger cabins, the dining area, and even peek into technical areas like the hydrogen tanks and control center. The visual detail is impressive for a brief VR showcase, and there’s a clear effort to capture the elegance and scale of the real-world aircraft most frequently associated with disaster. A highlight is the dramatic sequence over 1936 New York, where the airship floats above a richly detailed cityscape before heading to its ill-fated landing in New Jersey.
This is more of a self-paced historical exhibit than an interactive narrative. While users can freely explore, interactivity is limited, and most of the learning comes through ambient design and voiceover narration. As with earlier TimeLab modules, the DLC also includes a themed minigame – here, it’s “Skywave,” a neon-lit zeppelin arcade game that’s more of a novelty than a core attraction for gamers. That’s consistent with TimeLab’s structure, which emphasizes exploration and passive learning over traditional game mechanics.
Presentation is solid overall. The environments feel authentic and well-constructed, offering a real sense of being aboard the Hindenburg. However, some limitations include texture quality and lighting not always hitting modern VR standards, and a narrator that lacks emotional nuance, possibly due to AI-generated voice work. These issues were more prominent in the base game, but they still echo faintly in the DLC – perhaps because of the dramatic angle tied to the subject matter.
Ultimately, the LZ 129 Hindenburg DLC is a strong addition to TimeLab’s growing catalog of historical experiences. It’s brief but captivating, well-suited to those with an interest in aviation history or early 20th-century technology that seems out of reach today. While it may not sway players who found the base experience underwhelming, it offers one of the more emotionally resonant and visually polished chapters in the TimeLab timeline so far. In some ways, it’s reminiscent of the excellent Titanic VR from a few years ago.
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