What makes a VR game truly exhilarating, the kind that leaves players grinning and saying “wow” after they remove the headset? At Something Random, while developing Harpagun, we believe it’s about getting a few key elements just right. Let’s dive into what those are.
Video enthusiasts can feast their eyes on a teaser as Harpagun prepares to blast onto PS VR2 this April 10th.
First and foremost, movement is the heartbeat of action games. While traditional screen-based games have largely nailed this, VR still faces challenges. Some movement systems offer precision but perform like a sluggish snail. Others let you zip around at breakneck speeds but might sacrifice comfort or shatter the immersion.
In Harpagun, we focused on crafting a movement system that blends comfort, simplicity, responsiveness, speed, and immersion. In a fast-paced arcade game, players need to react instantly, shift positions to dodge threats, or seize the perfect opportunity to strike. Our “pylon and anchor” system allows players to move through a battlefield efficiently, with eyes anchored to key points of interest. This fluid yet rapid movement keeps players in command of every skirmish.
And what’s the first thing players want to do when stepping into VR? Grab, toss, and smash things, of course! While VR offers this hands-on interaction, it often falters because getting up and close to objects in VR can break the feeling of presence. However, we’ve got a solution: the Magnetic Ray. By incorporating this mechanic, we’ve made distance grabbing an irresistible part of the gameplay. It’s not just for show; use it to hurl enemies or seize environmental objects ranging from tin cans to tractors, then send them crashing back into the fray.
With all that action, you need plenty of “juice”—the spectacular effects that bring a game to life. Picture vibrant animations that convey intent and hit reactions that make every strike feel impactful. Visuals like splashes and explosions ensure every enemy dispatch feels satisfying, transforming them into figurative marmalade under your attacks. Add in sound effects and a dynamic soundtrack—a fusion of military marches, jazz, Balkan beats, and Slavic folk—and you’ve got an audio experience that complements the chaos on-screen. Trust us; it works beautifully.
A compelling universe is also vital. Players need a reason to stick around beyond the first few minutes. They crave intriguing places, characters to encounter, and quests to complete. Rather than overwhelming with lore, keep it straightforward: a team of space junkers scavenging an abandoned planet sends a deckhand to investigate when they lose contact with a crew member. Blend this narrative with alien flora, retro-futuristic Slavic influences, dark humor, and a somewhat bumbling crew, and you’ll create an engaging and colorful world.
Serve up these ingredients with dedication—three years of it, to be precise—and you might just have a game that VR enthusiasts will hold dear. We believe Harpagun could be that game, and you can judge for yourself when it lands on PlayStation VR2 this April 10th. Jump in and let us know if we’ve hit the mark. See you out there, Space Junker!
