The N-gamz team came to try out VR-Hut!

The N-gamz team came to try out VR-Hut! Here's what they thought:

N-gamz came by to test out VR-Hut! We’re pretty familiar with virtual reality here at the editorial office, since yours truly has been an avid PlayStation VR user ever since its launch. I’ve already had plenty of opportunities to try out HTC Vive-compatible PC games. As immersive as it gets, this new way of playing in our pixelated worlds does have a few drawbacks; for one, there’s the price, which isn’t always cheap, but more importantly… the size of your living room! So, what if I told you that for a pittance, you could try out over eight hundred VR titles? Whether in spaces that let you move around freely, jump, crouch, and experience incredible digital adventures—and whether you’re alone or with friends—you’re bound to think it’s too good to be true… and yet! Yes, this place really does exist. It’s probably just a stone’s throw from your home! 

So welcome to VR-Hut, a virtual reality center located in Waterloo, which I was happy to try out for you!

Our Experience at VR-Hut

On Saturday morning, I had the opportunity to visit VR-Hut, a virtual reality center on the outskirts of Waterloo. It’s ideally located in an easily accessible commercial district. After a warm welcome from the manager, I was able to take a brief tour of the facility. I noticed that several rooms of varying sizes had been set up to best accommodate the dozen or so HTC Vive headsets and top-of-the-line PCs capable of running all the available virtual reality games and experiences. Some rooms even allow four people to play together in the same area. VR-Hut still has plenty of room to expand. It’s worth noting that the center was founded just four months ago! Its visitor numbers continue to grow, as VR appeals to both hardcore gamers and those simply curious about the phenomenon. Not to mention corporate team-building events and school groups. There’s huge potential to attract all kinds of audiences, from the youngest to the oldest.

After taking a tour of the place and noticing that even the reception area was equipped with video games—including a Super Nintendo Classic Mini and a Mega Drive (perfect for passing the time before a VR session starts)—I was able to try my first VR experience thanks to *Richie’s Plank*. This game first has you step into an elevator before having you… walk across a plank. The plank is balanced on the roof of the building, offering a bird’s-eye view of the traffic below! The effect is guaranteed, especially since the folks at VR-Hut had the great idea of setting up a real wooden plank on the floor, just so you’d feel fully immersed every step of the way! To be honest, when I was asked to take a step sideways into the void… I didn’t dare! It really took me a few moments to step off the plank. What a relief to feel the carpet under my heel, before my other foot followed suit and I fell into the void with a certain sense of astonishment. 

I was then able to try the same experience in “horror” mode by typing 666 into the elevator control panel. On the menu: a giant spider charging at you, a phone hanging off the end of a plank, a creepy clown pushing you off a ledge—and when you get back up… it’s just so you can get run over by a bus! Charming, isn’t it? Some good, big jump scares in store and an excellent appetizer for what was waiting for me next.

Elven Assassin

After that heart-pounding moment, I tried out the game *Elven Assassin* with the friendly store manager. It’s a game where you play as a group of elven archers. Your mission is simple: protect your castle from an invasion of orcs, goblins, dragons, and other titans using your bow and arrows, each with their own special powers. The gameplay is intuitive and addictive, and the waves of enemies get tougher and tougher. This requires you to really work out a strategy with your teammates to teleport to the best spots so you can effectively target your attackers. All while using interactive elements in the environment, such as a catapult or a cannon.

It’s a game where you’ll have to move around quite a bit to find the right angle of attack, draw your bow with a realistic motion, and physically duck to avoid enemy arrows. The whole experience is so exhilarating. In just 5 minutes, you’ll feel like Legolas, unleashing a barrage of arrows—all while chatting easily with your comrades thanks to the built-in headset mic. Plus, your movements aren’t hindered by the HTC Vive’s cable, since it’s thoughtfully mounted to the ceiling. How convenient!

Now it's Arizona Sunshine's turn

Two games later, it was time for the well-known *Arizona Sunshine*. It’s a game I know pretty well on PlayStation VR, but I really rediscovered it thanks to the spacious VR-Hut room. We played in Horde mode, as always, in good company. It’s a zombie survival game that’s as immersive as ever. But it’s quite challenging because the controls are radically different from those on the Sony console. There’s no doubt that once you get the hang of the controls, racking up high scores must be incredibly satisfying—the manager even admitted to us that, given the game’s success, he’d like to start a league!

And finally...

Finally, I wrapped up my review with a standout title: Front Defense. This game drops you right into World War II for a 5-on-5 team battle, with or without bots. And yes, if you feel like it, you can use all ten VR-Hut headsets to play a real match with nine friends! The most impressive thing about this game—besides its three movement modes that adapt to everyone and guarantee zero motion sickness— is undoubtedly the realism of the movements required to shoot, reload, cock your weapon, or even use a grenade—which must first be grabbed with your hand, then brought to your mouth to be pin-popped, before you throw it at the enemy. Add to that a nice selection of guns, including a sniper rifle that really requires you to bring the scope close to your eye. You’ll realize that you’re doing more than just playing… you’re IN the game!

So it was with sheer euphoria that I finished this virtual reality session at the VR-Hut in Waterloo. Given the upcoming titles set to be released—such as *Doom VFR*, in particular—we can’t help but be excited about what’s to come. In our opinion, this is undoubtedly “THE” entertainment center of the future, offering dozens of different worlds and atmospheres that let you escape your daily routine like never before—whether alone or with friends—and experience intense moments you won’t find anywhere else! So head over to the VR-Hut website to get more information and book your session—you’ll be just as hooked as we are after your first try!

Overall Rating
N-Gamz: 20/20