When it comes to the idea of Virtual Reality, I was always curious about it. However, the price point and computer requirements in order to get things like the Oculus and Vive up and running were something I wasn’t ready to invest that much money into. So when the Playstation VR was announced, I was immediately interested. I already owned a PS4, so the PSVR seemed like a good time as any to finally check VR out.

The Playstation VR headset retails for $399.99. A launch bundle was also released that has the headset, as well as a PS Camera and two PS Move controllers. The Playstation Camera is required in order to make use of the headset. I should also note that not all PSVR compatible games require PS Move controllers, and can be played with just the PS4 controller. So keep these things in mind when deciding on which bundle to get.

THE GOOD: Before I tried out the PSVR, I never really understood the appeal of VR. The thought of it was interesting, but I just didn’t really feel the price of it all was worth it. One of the big advantages and main draw points for PSVR is its price. If you’re a PS4 owner already, the price of VR isn’t as expensive as the other options, and you have that safety net of knowing that things should work right out of the box. No upgrades to the PS4 needed in order to make PSVR work. Simply set it up and go.

Setting up the PSVR was actually quite easy. I just followed the included instructions and things were up and running when done. Once set up, some extra steps on the PS4 were needed in order to get everything properly calibrated. These extra steps were painless to go through as well. It really does feel like it would be difficult to mess up setting up the PSVR, since the instructions given to you are very simple to follow. Which is really great if Sony hopes to grab the more casual market of gamers that are curious about VR.

Once everything was up and running, I got my first taste of what Virtual Reality was. To get straight to the point, it was quite interesting. The first thing I decided to try out was the Cyber Danganronpa VR demo, which starts you off in a room. Being able to move my head around and having the game’s camera move around in sync with it brought a smile to my face. It certainly made me feel like I was there in that room. Not only having my head movements being tracked, but also being able to lean closer to items and being able to see them in closer detail. It didn’t take me long to get a good understanding on how VR can add onto a game experience. That experience couldn’t have been possible too if the hardware didn’t work out as intended, which it did for me. The movement of the game and the tracking felt very fluid and smooth. Add on the 3D audio that the PSVR provides and you just get another layer of immersion.

Another thing I’d like to mention is how comfortable the headset is. Putting the PSVR headset on was easy as well, and provides a nice tight fit that doesn’t feel too tight and secures the display without any loose movement. You can also adjust the display closer or further from your eyes which helps in better focusing the picture to your liking. I will say though that my head did get hot and sweaty under the headset and the display can get foggy. Felt understandable though since this is something you’re putting over your face. It’s a minor thing though that many may not have an issue with, and in no way did it cause the headset to become uncomfortable.

THE BAD: For as great and unique of a experience that I’ve had with PSVR, it still came with some issues. My first issue is with the resolution of the display. I’m not much of a spec guy, so I can’t really tell you what the exact resolution of the PSVR screen is, but I can tell you that it isn’t a completely clear picture. Depending on the game, you will notice blurriness. Certain games do hide it better than others though. Not too surprising though, since the tech is still fairly new and was meant to be made affordable. My only hope is that for future revisions to bump up the display resolution cause I’m very curious to see how much a difference a clearer picture will help in terms of further enhancing the VR experience.

My last main issue is that the tracking of the PSVR can feel inconsistent. There were moments where it seems the tracking was struggling, as movements were being made, although I was standing still. That odd feel of having the edges of the room stagger back and forth a bit, which certainly made me feel a bit of motion sickness. I’ve read that this issue is tied with the PS4’s rest mode, and I can confirm that completely turning off my PS4 and then back on has helped solve those issues.

However, I’ve still experienced a couple tracking issues every now and then. This mainly occurred when I’ve played games that required you to stand up and move around. My seated experiences have been near flawless, but once I’m standing and moving, there were brief moments of tracking issues. I will admit though that my current room setup isn’t quite up to par with the recommended measurements of Sony, so that could be the issue. Still, I’m hoping the tracking gets improved in the future in order to accommodate more confined room setups without having to completely rearrange your room.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: For something that is meant to serve as an entry point to VR at an affordable price, the Playstation VR works out very well. If you already own a PS4, the PSVR headset will most likely be the least expensive option available to you. The headset is comfortable to wear and setting everything up was easy and straightforward. I did experience some minor tracking issues at times, but my experience has been quite smooth throughout. The games lineup is debatable at the moment in terms of it being good or bad. What I can say though is that everything I’ve tried so far has been pleasant and interesting and has certainly got me excited on the future of VR.

If you have any interest in VR, I definitely recommend checking it out in some way. Whether that be from a demo setup in a store or from a friend. I never got a full understanding of it until I’ve tried it out for myself, and I was blown away my first time. The novelty of VR has certainly lowered a bit since then, but I am a believer in VR now and I hope it reaches a mass audience. As for Playstation VR, it works and is a great entry point for those who are looking to make that jump into VR. The games lineup still feels a bit bare to me in terms of experiences that feel more than just a tech demo or proof of concept. So I’m still a bit on the fence on whether I would fully recommend people to go out and invest in VR. For those in the market though, I do feel the Playstation VR is a worthy option. Otaku Dome gives Playstation VR an 85 out of 100.