Archangel

This VR action game is visually impressive, but the repetition makes it a game that you'll probably only play through once. What science fiction fan hasn't seen a giant robot on the big screen or in a comic book and imagined what it would feel like to be sitting in the cockpit? Archangel lets you live out that fantasy, at least in part, towering over the battlefield, wreaking havoc, and leaving destruction in your wake. The game does a phenomenal job of creating the look and feel of being in control of a massive weapon. The Move controls are surprisingly responsive, especially when you're busy swapping between shields, guns, and missiles. Even reaching out and interacting with the environment, such as punching through overpasses and grabbing containers, feels like second nature. Unfortunately, that's where the immersion ends.

While it's great to be in control of the Archangel's arsenal of weapons, one thing you're never in control of is the Archangel itself. The game is a rail shooter, which takes the piloting out of your hands. Instead, you're essentially playing in a 3D shooting gallery where the only challenge is to point and pull the trigger. You're not piloting a giant mech; instead, it's piloting you. There's also nothing random in the game -- it's simply old-school arcade-like patterns. This means that every time you play through a stage, it's the same exact experience each time. What's surprising the first time around is just routine the second or third time. The game is certainly a fun VR experience at the start, but it's also a "one and done" sort of affair that's a little too repetitive, with no real replay value.