Trying to make World War Z transition to VR was going to be a tough task for Saber Interactive. There’s no team-based gameplay, and animating those waves of zombies into virtual reality are two things I was most concerned about. I previewed it recently, and while I wasn’t exactly dubious playing the full release, I was unsure whether it could go the distance. While not perfect, it offers an intense shooter that keeps the heart pumping through each of the three main cities you venture into.
So much effort needs to be put into a VR title that they simply cannot make sure everything is robust. Mechanically, World War Z VR is impressive. There are upgrades as you progress to each new level, and new weapons around every corner that consistently spice up the action. You’re always pushed to your limits, especially as you play on harder difficulties. Unfortunately, this is where its limitations are highlighted. It’s a single-player FPS, but the team mechanics are still there…sort of.
Your teammates can never really be relied upon. With other real players, you at least feel a part of a team. In World War Z VR, the two other colleagues are more bullet sponges that supporters of the cause. The AI isn’t great. They’ll shoot what they can, but often lose health when you’re playing on hard, meaning it’s solely down to you to progress. On easy, you barely have to lift a finger as they’ve killed everyone before you’ve even had a chance to press the trigger. There’s rarely a sweet spot and it shows.
Despite this, I had a ton of fun with the variety of guns. Reloading if fluid and effective. Aiming is on point, and the weight of weapons feels great. There’s such an intensity as you face a consistent river of zombies throughout the levels that you can seldom break for air. Respite is seldom found, and resilience is the only way. You must survive, and it can be tough if you aren’t reloading at the right time. You can prepare as much as possible, but there are many opportunities where it can all go so, so wrong.
This pressure is a common theme throughout the story. There are different enemy types that offer challenges on the fly. You have runners that are laser-focused on ripping you apart. Other zombies are equipped with a timer that reached zero and causes an explosion. Others spit acid at you and create a toxic bubble around you that drains your health. Whatever the threat, you need to be quick if you’re going to survive. They come in small hordes, in pairs, and alone. When you’ve finally got through these levels, it’s the finale that shows how impressive things become.
Like in World War Z, the giant horde is where it becomes the most impressive. Seeing hundred of zombies heading your way with only a few guns equipped is quite frankly terrifying. Once you’ve pulled yourself together, it’s time to do your best and fend off this ginormous threat. These are the moments I loved the most, and it’s something I’ve never seen in virtual reality before. It’s also a feeling I’ve never had while donning a headset, even when games like Arizona Sunshine pulled out all the stops.
The various locations in New York, Marseille, and Tokyo all offer some great level design. Choke points ramp up the anxiety as waves filter through slim streets and tight buildings. Open spaces offer less opportunities to control the undead mitigation, yet despite the panic, its visuals are pretty impressive. On Meta Quest 3, there was some slight stuttering, but overall I loved the performance and the level designs made each new area enjoyable to play through.
World War Z VR isn’t as good as the original multiplayer experience, but as far as zombie shooters in VR go, it’s one of the best. The gunplay is wonderful, and despite both teammates and zombie acting as bullet sponges, I relished every new threat. The hordes are where it is at its most exciting, just as much as its unpredictability is. If you’re after an FPS that delivers on the adrenaline, this is one you should definitely not miss.
