In a comeback that no one expected, SEGA’s arcade Cosmic Smash series jumped into the modern era with a completely remade and rebranded PSVR2 title. C-Smash VRS plunges players into a minimalist world to play a squash game in virtual reality. It may not seem like it’s doing much on paper, but if you take a closer look at its mechanics, you’ll find a simple yet impressively interesting package.
The game is simple. Load a small level with a paddle in hand and tasked with swiping the ball to various targets across the room. Pulling the left analog stick moves left or right, but everything else is up to you.As soon as I tried to change the paddle angle I forgot where I was just Clicking right lets you hit the pesky target in the upper left corner.
It’s easy to see how well C-Smash VRS is designed for PSVR2. The Sense controller feels fine-tuned for the entire experience, where subtle angles of your wrist affect where the ball flies. Admittedly, it takes a little getting used to, especially since we’re not real squash enthusiasts, but once you get used to it, it feels great to play. This is another great example of Sony technology disappearing into the background and allowing the game to shine on its own.
As the game gradually introduces smaller targets and blocks, the angle of attack becomes more important. And most of the levels had time limits and an element of pressure that kept us going backwards. I’ve never experienced SUPERHOT or Beat Saber level intensity, but C-Smash doesn’t really reach that level. It’s a much more subdued experience than I expected, but a welcoming experience that lets you enjoy the simplicity of its design.
But one thing that prevented me from relaxing at C-Smash was the space. If you’re a seasoned PSVR2 player, you’ll find that most games will work just fine in a smaller space than recommended. But not C-Smash VRS. C-Smash VRS will take up all of a room as small as 2×2 meters, and some more. Within 20 minutes of the match starting, I slammed my hands against the walls and ceiling many times. We moved into a more spacious living room with all the furniture crammed to the side. It certainly helped, but I’m sure you’ll end up bruising a few fingers and joints while playing this game unless the ceiling is pretty high.
This is also a tribute to developer Wolf & Wood Interactive. Because this game often draws us in so much that we forget about our surroundings. Aiming for leather with a serving slam like Andy Murray was a no-brainer. But in my last hours with the C-Smash VRS, I started missing long-reaching shots for fear of damaging my Sense controller, walls, or myself.
C-Smash VRS doesn’t really do much other than punch walls. The solo campaign has a Challenge version and a Zen Mode version, allowing you to overcome different types of challenges. This is where I spent the majority of my playing time in the game. It will help you understand how the game works and fine-tune your squash game, but you will be stuck with the challenge mode. Not only is it required to get a better score, but it is also required to do it without failure. This creates a pretty intense “one more try” energy as you strive to perfect your performance. It’s not as dense as we’d like, but the core experience is entertaining enough for those willing to fly away for a better score.
Then comes the online component. This is what got us into C-Smash in the first place. Playing pre- and post-games of digital tennis in VR looks just as fun as it actually is. It was almost therapeutic to hang out with friends and slam the ball into specific spots while discussing the week. With four playable modes, it was only suitable for short sessions, but mixing that calming vibe into the equation made for a consistently good time.
However, there were two big caveats to this. One is that a small drop in internet quality can have a big impact on the game. That said, the online experience is entirely dependent on your internet speed, which may be a given, but it deviates tweaked aspects of gameplay to an almost unplayable level. However, even without the internet issues, we’re left with a seemingly dead matchmaking system. We made multiple attempts to matchmake with other players throughout the opening weekend without success. There’s a warm-up room where you can practice while you wait, and there’s as much gameplay time in that space as the rest of the game.
Conclusion
C-Smash VRS is an amazing resilient VR experience. With finely tuned motion controls, brilliantly simple visuals, and a subdued electronic score, this is a great addition to Sony’s roster of VR titles. It also proves to be a go-to with friends who just want to play games and see what’s going on. However, while the core experience is fun enough, it lacks content and the matchmaking he experience is so empty at the moment that it feels like it doesn’t deliver on its promises, especially if you’re playing solo. increase. We expect matchmaking and server improvements, but until then, C-Smash VRS will leave a bigger impact on the tattered wall than in our memories.
