Ubisoft’s contribution to the PlayStation VR push would, at first, appear to be an easily dismissed title. Called Eagle Flight, players are pushed into the role of an eagle flying over the overgrown remains of what appears to be Paris. Details about the game itself are light, but the technical demo provided an extremely calming game.
Controls for the game are relatively simple. Looking around changes direction, while tilting the head 45-degrees allows players to go into a sharper turn. The DualShock4 controller barely does any work, although players can use the R2 and L2 as throttle controls.
The hands-on demo at Tokyo Game Show only provided a pair of missions to experience during a short 15 minute session. Neither are particularly ground breaking in the level design, with one being an aerial time trial and the other a fish gathering mission. What was special about it all was the simplicity of the controls, and the zen-like experience of gliding through the air.
This was admittedly a limited demo of the game that promises more high-speed chases and adrenaline pumping action. After all, it is currently being developed by Ubisoft. However, it also works as a open world eagle simulator; just forget about the missions and enjoy soaring through the skies.
One small detail that really helps the experience of the game is the fact that players are looking down the eagle’s beak. Virtual reality experts have been theorising that the disorientation caused by VR headsets is partially due to the fact that people are unable to see their noses while moving about – despite the fact that the brain ignores the visual inpute. It may feel odd to have this piece of bone sticking in front of the display, but the decision to include it certainly helps with reducing motion sickness.
Ubisoft is also supposedly including a multiplayer function for the game. There’s nothing much on how that will work, although a trailer for it was released during E3.
Eagle Flight may not have the best graphics on the PS4, but it doesn’t actually need it. Although, this may have been a conscious decision for Ubisoft to achieve higher frame rates on the PS VR.
The game is set to be released next month, although Sony Interactive Entertainment hasn’t said if it will be a launch title for the PlayStation VR. Ubisoft will also be bringing Eagle Flight to the PC at a later date.
