Following an App Lab and SideQuest launch final yr, Xlab Digital’s Iron Guard VR is now out there on the official Quest retailer. Learn on for our hands-on impressions of this tower protection sport impressed by basic technique titles.
Set within the twenty third century and spanning a 30-mission story mode, Iron Guard VR tells a narrative that wouldn’t really feel misplaced in basic sci-fi fare. After crash touchdown on one other world, your group finds themselves threatened by rogue terraforming robots who’ve begun self-replicating. Your activity is defending the surviving crew members, and you may see a little bit of this in motion by way of the flatscreen PC trailer embedded under. We’ve additionally acquired the official story description under, courtesy of Xlab Digital:
The yr is 2232 A.D and the crew of “Avalon” has crash-landed on the planet “Akris”, whereas attempting to analyze why the sooner drone ship carrying the AI terraformer bots misplaced contact. Luckily, the planet is liveable as a result of the terraformer ship and it’s AI bots had achieved their job to make “Akris” liveable and sustainable for all times. You might be 1st Officer Graves. It’s as much as you to guard the lives of the surviving crew.
Commanding forces from an overhead view, your objective is retaining enemy robots in all their numerous kinds away out of your base. For instance, scout models are weak however counter this with quick motion and bigger teams, whereas fighters are gradual, however pack stronger regenerating armor. Every stage has a number of routes for waves to advance throughout, so focusing your efforts on a singular choke level received’t lower it right here.
Dispatching these foes is reassuringly simple, although. As commander, you’ll be able to take direct motion by way of a controllable drone, firing pictures and aiming along with your proper controller. Holding the set off fees up your shot, but when that’s not sufficient, the drone can deploy a superweapon for a robust area-of-effect assault. Upgradeable turrets, barricades, and extra could be positioned in set places with the left controller, which comes at a value. Incomes cash requires killing enemies, and buildings can, luckily, be scrapped for additional money. That’s additionally helpful if an present technique isn’t paying off.
What I’ve performed to date is enjoyable, if not terribly thrilling. Ranges have good selection and issue feels balanced; the one occasions I acquired ‘Recreation Over’ got here right down to poor planning. Other than requiring a headset, nonetheless, Iron Guard doesn’t actually innovate past being a tower protection sport in VR. It’s purposeful, by no means does something significantly unsuitable, however by no means excels at something both. I do benefit from the customization choices, although. Ending a mission earns talent factors which might be spent on everlasting upgrades, together with drone enhancements, base sources, and elemental turrets. I wouldn’t name this particularly expansive however it does what’s wanted.
The place Iron Guard really excels is in its visuals. It seems to be nice on Quest {hardware}, because of the colourful environments and crisp textures, all of that are complemented by an lively soundtrack. My largest drawback is that I don’t perceive why Iron Guard wanted to be a VR sport. Notably, there’s a separate flatscreen PC model on Steam. Within the VR model, past pointing with movement controls and the gameplay that requires planning your base protection from threats in each path of the map, this isn’t a sport that takes full benefit of digital actuality’s capabilities. You may play it comfortably sitting down, there are digital camera turning choices, and that’s about it.
Nonetheless, few can deny that VR is significantly missing tower protection video games – Captain ToonHead and Protection Grid 2 apart. Iron Guard VR isn’t essentially the most revolutionary sport going, however the fundamentals are all right here, making this a welcome sight. For those who’ve missed these days enjoying Command & Conquer till 3am, this might doubtlessly fill that area of interest.
Iron Guard VR is out there now on the Meta Quest platform, alongside PC VR by way of Steam and Viveport.
