Hero shooters like Overwatch and Apex Legends have certainly become popular lately. For the VR players out there, there haven’t been any exceptional standouts in the Arena Multiplayer Online Game genre. That’s where X8 steps in. Prior to PAX I had never heard of X8, but after a lengthy and thorough demo session, it might just be my go-to VR experience.
X8 is Thirdverse’s contribution to the VR first person shooter space and has the potential to be one worth remembering for people trying to find exciting experiences in the virtual reality medium. Their offering is a 5v5, team based, first person shooter with an impressive emphasis on the heroic aspect of each character. X8 is a standout from current offerings as it’s free from the reliance of being tied to any previously released game. Because it is not a rebranded VR edition of older games like Call of Duty or Battlefield it is a fresh introduction into a new world, built from the ground up with VR in mind, with new characters and ways to utilize impressive special abilities to team up and take on your competition.
As of this article's release there are 7 unique characters you can choose from with plans of possibly adding 3 more by the time the game leaves Early Access. Since there can only be one type of character on each team, having 10 unique characters will make each match much more dynamic. Players will not be able to duplicate the characters they choose, so it’s highly likely you’ll need to get familiar with several if you want to continuously be part of a cohesive team. If Thirdverse can get the community right, this should be a seamless process. It is a great idea on paper, but in function it may prove more difficult in getting games to be properly matched with a new community. There may need to be some concessions on the player’s side in picking which hero they take into battle in order to not be stuck in a waiting room for an extended period of time. Luckily, Thirdverse has said that the game can also be executed with bots on teams where sufficient players haven’t been matched yet, so getting a match, even during low population hours shouldn’t be too much of a hurdle.
The 7 customizable characters feature unique specials you access in game by making methodical movements which adds to the overall experience. While playing the game I found the hand motions contributed to the fun without being a distraction to the nature of a true FPS experience. If course, you’ll need to take some time to learn the commands to execute them at a moment’s notice, so practice will certainly be your main factor in becoming a special ability powerhouse.
As you enter the world, you’ll have plenty of options to get you prepped for battle. The functionality in the game was impressive. Tossing weapons from hand to hand, reaching behind your back to pull out magazines, discharging those magazines, racking the slides, shooting single handed or with both hands for more accuracy were all features that made me feel like they really went above and beyond to give the impression that you’re really a part of the world. The immersive feeling of being able to change up what you’re doing was hitting all the right buttons for me. With so many options you will need to spend some extra time getting your “VR legs” beneath you, even if you’re like me, with a heaping dose of VR activity under your belt.
You can expect to spend 15-30 minutes depending on your VR fluency getting to the point where you can get into an actual match and not completely suck. I was lucky during my play session, as I had the development team by my side, but I also was witness to many players who seemed over stimulated by the immersive system works. Easy examples of this were players forgetting to rack their slides for their weapons or forgetting the hand motions to execute abilities. Once you get through the basics, you’ll find yourself engaged in a best of 8 battles consisting of 14 matches to crown a winner. I personally find this type of game play more appealing as you get to learn more about the competition while also learning about your own team. No doubt playing 14 matches is going to galvanize a group into a team.
Battle takes place in unique arenas with impressive visuals. I played in a Yukuza themed arena that had plenty of dynamic space where you can climb walls, and utilize vertical space to get a leg up on the competition. The fact that Thirdverse has studios in both the US and Japan definitely contributed to the overall inspiration and aesthetic of the game.
Masaru Ohnogi aka “Nogi”, Thirdverse’s CBO and Executive Producer of X8 said, “We believe that X8 offers a unique VR experience, giving players the chance to build and customize their own heroes before each battle round and bring strategies to life in thrilling team combat. We're looking forward to how the VR gaming community responds, along with the upcoming esports tournaments that we'll be offering with our partners at VAL.”
For VR fans looking for an immersive MOG VR hero shooter, you should definitely opt into X8. You can get into the action in META Quest and Steam for free, with a PSVR release planned as well.
