Sony PSVR 2 Review: A Worthy Successor To The Original PSVR?

In 2023, VR or Virtual Reality remains a niche but with huge potential, this Sony PSVR 2 review essentially talks about the same thing. For the uninitiated, the Sony PSVR 2 or PlayStation VR 2 is a successor to the PSVR which was launched on Oct 13, 2016 as a PS4 accessory. 

Being a successor, the PSVR 2 is better than the PSVR in various aspects. The PlayStation VR2 surpasses the original PSVR in resolution, refresh rate, and field of view, offering more immersive visuals. It features advanced inside-out tracking and new controllers with haptic feedback and much more. The PSVR 2 only works on the PS5 though.

Meanwhile, the original PSVR is compatible with PS4 and PS5 but requires an additional PlayStation camera to connect with the latter. With many improvements under its belt and a price tag of Rs 57,999, is the PSVR 2 a genuine upgrade over the PSVR and a must-have PlayStation 5 accessory? Here’s the answer. 

Sony PSVR 2 Review: What Do You Get In The Box

• PS VR2 Headset: The primary component for VR experiences.
• PS VR2 Sense Controllers: Advanced controllers designed for VR, featuring haptic feedback and adaptive triggers.
• Stereo Headphones: For immersive audio in VR games and experiences.
• 1 X USB Type C-to-TypeA Cable: To charge the PSVR 2 sense controller. 
• Horizon Call of the Mountain: Download code for the PSVR 2 game.

One thing I felt missing from the packaging was another USB charging cable. Considering the PSVR 2 comes with two PSVR 2 sense controllers, packing only one USB charging cable in the box felt like the wrong thing on Sony’s end. Especially considering the price tag of the Sony PSVR 2 in India. 

Can You Play PSVR 2 Without A PS5?

The simple answer is “No.” You cannot play PSVR 2 without a PlayStation 5 because it is a console accessory not a standalone VR gaming console like Meta Quest 3. Moreover, unlike the PSVR, which works on PS4 as well as the PS5, the PSVR 2 will only work on the PS5 console. It doesn’t matter if your console is the original PS5 model or the newly released PS5 Slim model, both are compatible with the PSVR 2. 

This “system requirement” for the PSVR 2 exists because PS4 can’t handle the improved graphical capabilities offered by Sony’s latest VR gaming console. 

Sony PSVR 2 Review: Comparison With PSVR

The PlayStation VR2 (PSVR 2) boasts several design improvements over the original PlayStation VR (PSVR). It features a more ergonomic design, which is lighter and offers better weight distribution, making long gaming sessions comfortable. Additionally, the PSVR 2 includes a vibration feedback mechanism in the headset, which further immerses you in the world.

It also has an integrated vent for improved airflow so you don’t sweat as much while gaming, especially if you live in a place like India where it’s hot most of the time around the year. Moreover, the PSVR 2 includes a lens adjustment dial allowing for a more customised fit. You can even wear the PSVR 2 while wearing glasses and adjust the lens accordingly. Along with the lens, the PSVR 2 also allows headband adjustment making it easier than ever to find your perfect fit. 

Apart from design, the PSVR 2 is also a massive improvement over its predecessor in terms of tech. The lens resolution for an individual eye is up from 960 X 1080 pixels in PSVR to 2000 X 2040 pixels in PSVR 2. Both still use an OLED screen and support up to 120Hz refresh rate though. However, I think, PS5 is much more capable of sustaining 120FPS gameplay compared to PS4 mainly due to its relatively powerful hardware.

PSVR 2 also integrates Inside-out tracking within the headset so you don’t need the external PlayStation camera. And a set of new VR controllers now replace the older PlayStation move controllers. The design of the new PSVR 2 controllers is akin to a hollowed-out glove lined with PlayStation buttons. The inclusion of haptic feedback system and adaptive triggers are another two major improvements the new PSVR 2 controllers also bring. 

With so many improvements the PSVR 2 feels much better built and easy to use compared to the PSVR. Earlier, connecting a PSVR to the PS4 or PS5 required multiple cables. However, only a single USB Type-C cable connects the PSVR 2 to the PS5, making the entire setup process very easy. As mentioned before, the PSVR 2 controllers are wireless which is also pretty helpful. You just need to press the PS symbol on each controller and they will immediately connect to the PSVR 2 headset. 

How To Setup The Sony PSVR 2 With The PS5

Setting up the Sony PSVR 2 with your PS5 console is super easy. The VR headset has a single USB Type-C cable which you need to plug into your PS5. After that, you need to press the power button to activate the PSVR 2 to begin the setup process. The entire process is fairly simple and it will take you through and familiarise you with various parts of the PSVR 2 console. 

As mentioned above, the PSVR 2 also features lens and headband adjustment allowing you to find the perfect fit during your gameplay. After you wear the headset, the setup will guide you through connecting the sense controllers and then wrap up the orientation process. 

Other prompts asking you to fix the play area, and playing position – either standing or sitting will appear when you launch the game. Prior to it, the VR headset will showcase the PS5 home menu similar to a theatre screen. Meaning, that the PSVR 2 menu does not appear in 3D, only games do. It is a missed opportunity and I think Sony should think about making it happen. 

Sony PSVR 2 GamePlay Review

In the short time I spent with the console I was only able to test Horizon Call of the Mountain, which is a VR spin-off set in PlayStation’s popular Horizon series. The game’s setting puts you in a post-apocalyptic United States which is filled with lush forests and teeming with dangers from robotic wildlife. 

You play as Ryas, a former Shadow Carja rebel. The opening scene showcases you being released from prison to investigate aggressive machine attacks at Dawn’s Grasp. Tasked with finding his missing brother Urid, who sought the source of these attacks, Ryas embarks on a perilous journey where he faces challenges and dangerous machines. All the while uncovering various secrets along the way.

I have to say that the game does a really good job of showcasing the capabilities of the PSVR 2. Right from the opening scene, you’re in amazement at the beautifully rich world that comes alive in front of your eyes. After introducing you to basic mechanics, the game leaves you free to interact with its several elements. 

The way in which Horizon Call of the Mountain differs from non-VR games is in the environment details. Don’t get me wrong, games like God of War and the Horizon Forbidden West feature some of the most beautifully sculpted worlds gamers have ever seen. But the way in which Horizon Call of the Mountain lets players interact with its environment is unlike any other. It is exactly where the Sony PSVR 2’s wider field of view and bumped-up resolution shines through. 

When inside the game, you can pick up fruits and eat them. You can pick up a lying brush, dip it in colour, and paint the wall with it. You can also open baskets, pick up and throw plates, pick up random sticks, and basically do everything that you can do in real life. Such a level of immersion is enough to make you forget that you’re playing a game and not actually living in it.

The game offers two different ways to play it – standing or sitting. If you choose to play the game while standing, expect a lot of cardio. Mainly because the game has the word “Mountains” in it. And to no one’s surprise, you do actually end up climbing a lot of them. However, all the while, sense controllers provide excellent feedback. Be it climbing up, sliding down a rope, shimmering across a ledge, or anything else. In general, climbing is an essential part of the PSVR 2 experience as time and time again you use the sense controller to pull yourself up, literally, throughout the game. 

The controller feedback is pretty good and the adaptive triggers do a great job to up the immersion when you’re using your bow. And speaking of that, the bow is the primary weapon and it sits behind your left shoulder. So every time you want to take it out, you have to move your right hand behind your left shoulder while pressing R2 and take the bow out. To take out the arrow, you need to take it out from behind the right shoulder. Then you’ve to do the regular action of putting the arrow on your bow, pulling the string, and shooting it. 

Considering that you fight very agile robot dinosaurs in the game. The game’s difficulty can feel pretty high because compared to them you move very slowly. Although there is an option to dodge which does come in handy, any serious fight can really work up a sweat, especially if you’re playing while standing and facing multiple opponents. Thankfully, the bow action is very precise and satisfying, so it is very satisfying when you win such a confrontation. 

Sony PSVR 2 Review: Sense Controller Review

The design of the PSVR 2 sense controller is very intuitive. As I mentioned, the way you grip the controller is akin to how you’d wear a hallowed glove. What’s really impressive is that the glove registers clearly when you’re making a fist by gripping the handle intensely. It reflects back the same on the screen as well. It can’t accurately depict your individual fingers but it recognises when you make a finger-gun, which is pretty nice. 

In terms of ergonomics and design, the Sony PSVR 2 Sense controllers are pretty good. However, in terms of battery life, they’re as bad as the regular Dual Sense controller. Lasting only 4 hours on a full charge. 

Sony PSVR 2 Review: Game Library

Although the Sony PSVR 2 doesn’t support older PSVR titles. Its latest library of games is pretty decent considering the console launched this year in the US on February 23. Some of the most popular Sony PSVR 2 games are as follows:

• Beat Saber: Rhythmic lightsaber action.
• Moss: Book I & II: Enchanting VR platformer.
• What the Bat?: Hilarious bat-hand antics.
• Another Fisherman’s Tale: Innovative Puzzle Adventure.
• C-Smash VRS: Retro arcade reboot.
• Job Simulator: Wacky work parody.
• Red Matter 2: Sci-fi visual spectacle.
• Gran Turismo 7: Epic Racing simulator.
• Pavlov: Intense VR shooter.
• Horizon Call of the Mountain: Immersive adventure exploration.

This library might not look gigantic but the quality of these games is especially on a level much higher than most VR games. 

Sony PSVR 2 Conclusion

The Sony PSVR 2 is a great, and probably, the only way to experience some of the most amazing games in the PlayStation’s rich library. The way it managed to convince a VR noob like me to try and play Virtual Reality games is a testament to the PSVR 2’s ease of use. Its fantastic sense controller lets you take precise control of virtual characters and immerse yourself in exciting exploration and combat. And the immersive visuals granted to you by an improved OLED display and wider field of view are enough to make you feel lost for hours in PlayStation’s most exhilarating virtual worlds. Small complaints like the lack of an additional USB cable and low battery life on sense controllers aside, the PSVR 2 is an excellent PS5 accessory and worthy of buying.