A short time ago in a galaxy not so far, far away, Star Wars: Beyond Victory took over my living room. There have been a handful of VR games set in the world created by George Lucas, but none feel quite as intricate or varied. Essentially three experiences in one, you can play through an original story; take control of a pod racer in thrilling tabletop races; and unlock your inner child to play with tons of toys modelled on characters, vehicles, and more within the universe.
Star Wars: Beyond Victory caters to all kinds of fans. The three different games all work together in the sense you can unlock new races and toys to play with through Adventure Mode, the campaign that utilises mixed reality and a true VR experience. As a lifelong Star Wars obsessive, it’s so cool. Taking place after the events of the prequels where the Empire now rules the galaxy, you play as a pod racer called Volo Bolus who ends up crossing path with the cheating Dug Sebulba from the Boonta Eve Classic in The Phantom Menace.
It’s clear there’s a deep love for the lore of Star Wars. Industrial Light and Magic offer fans plenty of Easter Eggs. Some are obvious while others remain rather hidden. Regardless, it’s a love letter to the prequel era that not only provides fan service, but also a story that is both enjoyable and well-acted. Volo is a great lead. They’re led by their huge heart and full of honour. After the death of their closest friend, they feel lost, struggling to find their place in the world. I won’t spoil anything, but I was impressed with how much I cared for them and their personal journey.
While not particularly long, the adventure does a great job of switching between mixed reality and VR. When not immersed in the world around you, the story also takes place on a holotable in front of you. The table can be moved around to get the best view of the action. When entering buildings, Beyond Victory jumps into VR and you’ll control Volo. One of the first main tasks you have is fixing your pod racer in the garage. The little ways it brings you into the world, such as listening to the radio or examining various items, is so cool.
Arcade mode lets you race your pod racer on the holotable. The mixed reality aspect is fantastic. Controlling your speeder on the holotable while viewing your position, score, and vehicle integrity helps to expand the experience. Racing is intense at first, and tricky to get used to. There are various obstacles to avoid while trying to get into first. Not only that, various tokens can increase health and points, along with mini speed boosts along the way. Some of the courses are tough to master, yet it offers a sense of authenticity knowing how brutal pod racing can be.
The third game within a game is the playset. Some people are going to spend hours crafting their perfect playsets. By playing through Adventure Mode, brand new toys become available. It was so cool seeing a life-size R2-D2 in my living room! Not only can you bend and shape toys to pose however you want, they can be cloned, too. I built an army of stormtroopers almost instantly. Watching them stand next to my TV while C3-PO sat on my armchair was not something I anticipated, but it brought me so much joy.
Star Wars: Beyond Victory offers three short experiences in one package. For fans of the franchise, there’s plenty to enjoy. The story is great, and while the racing can be a little frustrating, it’s still amazing to watch. Perhaps the coolest thing for me was the Playset. Getting to play with so many iconic characters and vehicles was a huge highlight. It looks amazing, with great attention to detail in all three modes. It might not be one you spend tens of hours with, but for those that adore Star Wars, it’s definitely one to check out.