Blaston is one of those VR games that made me realise I do not need complicated controls for a game to feel intense. The whole idea is built around one on one gunfights where I have to keep moving, dodge incoming shots and find an opening to hit back. Everything happens in slow motion, but that does not make it relaxing at all. I am constantly ducking, leaning, reaching and moving around while trying to keep track of what is coming towards me. It feels more like a physical duel than a normal shooter, and that is what makes it stand out for me.
The movement is easily my favourite part. I cannot just stand in one place and aim because the whole game is built around avoiding attacks with my actual body. Bullets can come from different directions, so I have to crouch underneath them, move out of the way or lean around attacks while preparing my own shot. I like how natural this feels in VR because I am not controlling a character who is dodging for me. I am the one doing the dodging. After a few good exchanges, I can genuinely feel like I have just finished a little workout.
The weapon system gives the fights more depth than the simple idea first suggests. I can build a loadout around different weapons and use attachments to change how they work, with the game now offering a large selection of attachment options across its weapon types. That means I am not only thinking about where my opponent is. I am also thinking about which weapon I should use and when I should commit to an attack. I like that because it gives the fights a tactical side without making the controls complicated.
The biggest problem for me is that the game is almost entirely dependent on this one idea. When I am in the mood for competitive VR combat, it works extremely well, but there is not much of a traditional single player experience for me to fall back on. The game does have single player listed as a feature, but the main attraction is clearly the real time PvP dueling. I also need enough physical space to play properly because I am expected to move my whole body around. That can make it less convenient than sitting down with a normal shooter.
I also think the physical nature of the game can become tiring. I like that Blaston doubles as a workout, but I cannot really treat it like a game I will sit and play for hours without a break. After several intense matches, I can feel the difference compared with a normal shooter. For me that is more of a limitation than a flaw because the physical movement is also one of the game's biggest strengths. The cyberpunk presentation fits the idea nicely too, although I think the gameplay is much more memorable than the visual side.
Another thing I appreciate is how much the game has been expanded beyond the original concept. It is free to play on Steam, Quest and Pico, supports cross platform multiplayer and has a social area called the Ozo Lounge where I can hang around between matches, take part in activities and even set up player hosted tournaments. There is also a separate spectator application designed around watching and broadcasting matches. I do not need all of that to enjoy the basic game, but it shows that Blaston is trying to be more than a simple VR shooting range.
Overall, Blaston is a really good example of a VR game using the hardware properly instead of simply putting a normal game inside a headset. I like the physical dodging, slow motion gunfights, weapon choices and the amount of movement involved. The limited focus and physically demanding matches stop me from putting it among my very highest rated games, but I think the core idea is strong enough to carry the experience. When I want something fast, competitive and genuinely active, Blaston gives me a type of shooting experience that would not work nearly as well without VR.
Rating: 8.1/10
