We have always been big fans of Onward on PC, and spent a good amount of time in the game. So, when we heard it was coming to Quest, we were excited of the possibility of playing this without wires, as it removed the chances of standing on wires when crouching. Now we have spent a decent amount in the Quest build, what did we think?
Please note: Onward on the Oculus Quest is currently in Early Access, meaning this is not to complete and finished version of the game, so we might see changes over time.
Gameplay
Onward is a military-sim shooter built for VR, meaning you are not going to get a cross-hairs or a HUD showing you current ammo count or a mini-map. It’s all going about the team work and communication between you and your five-person squad, as you attempt to defeat the opposing team with the limited ammo you can carry in your vest.
This has allowed for the core gameplay porting over from the PCVR version perfectly, meaning you are not going to get a lesser gameplay experience on the standalone device. You are getting the same amount of choice of weapons and attachments in your loadout options, meaning you can get the perfect set-up for your preferred weapon of choice. However, you need manage the your loadout using a point system, with you having eighteen points to spread across your loadout.
When it comes to the gun handling, all the weapons will handle differently depending on type of weapon and what attachments you choose to use. So, this is something you need to take into account, but it won’t take long to find a loadout that works for you and what attachments work best for that gun and your style of play.
As with the PCVR version, you will be getting both multiplayer and singleplayer modes. The multiplayer mode is where the game shines and it’s main appeal. In this mode it brings both team modes and co-op, and has ten options to chose from, eight for multiplayer and two for co-op. All the modes will offer different goals from just a simple team elimination to escort missions. However, the singleplayer is a mode offers less than the multiplayer – with it only providing the Hunt and Evac modes on offer in co-op, a shooting range and free-roam mode.
What is nice is the Quest version is cross-play with PCVR, meaning the hardcore player-base the PC version has built up is already populating the servers. Meaning it really isn’t hard to find a game to join with the servers being busy already – which really is testament to Onward, as you can find multiplayer modes on VR games can be easily abandoned by the players base and/or the developers after launch.
Presentation
If you have played or watched people play the PCVR version before the launch, you will find this is not the Onward you are used to seeing visually. Of course this is down to the team and Downpour Interactive needing to get it running on the standalone device.
These required changes have seen the Quest version have a more muddy colour palette, lower resolution textures and striping way effects like the more dynamic lighting and particle-effects. However, once you are in the games and you are concentrating, communicating and enjoying the games core mechanics – these changes to the standalone visuals really don’t affect the enjoyment of the title or the immersion. Although, there are some parts that do stand out a little more than others, these are; the pop-in around the maps that can be pretty noticeable at times and also the damage vignette that seems very harsh.
Audio-wise the game brings with it a great use of spacial audio, meaning if you hear footsteps it’s easy to pick up on the direction the player or AI are coming from. The multiplayer element of the game also brings with the use of proximity chat, meaning if you are not close to your squad you are going to have to press the radio mounted on your vest to speak. This also opens up the chance to hear the opposing squad if you are close, meaning you could hear their plans and tactics and be alerted they are close by. Outside of this they have environmental sounds for each of the maps locations, and the sound of the weaponry, which all do a great job of keeping you immersed in each setting.
Comfort/Controls
Onward is a game that has to played standing and in order to be successful online you are going need to crouch down manually. When it comes to locomotion in the game, it only offers free locomotion and does not come with comfort options like blinders. Although it does offer multiple rotation options, you can do this manually, with snap-turning or smooth-turning. So, when it comes to the comfort of the game, you are going to take all this into account, as it will not be suitable for those who suffer from motion-sickness in VR.
When it comes to controls you will be using the analogues to move, and the only other buttons you use are the grips, triggers and either the A or X button (depending on your dominant hand). The grips are used to hold you gun or take items out of your vest when needed, and to cock your weapon once you have it reloaded, with the triggers either firing your gun or using an item. The A or X button will either eject the clip or you will need to hold one of these down and remove the clip manually – depending on the gun you are using. With the gun reloading mechanics being very smooth it brings that higher level of realism to Onward.
Longevity
With the aforementioned cross-play, populated servers and the great gameplay mechanics, if you take to Onward there is no reason the game can not become your VR driving force on a daily basis. Meaning for the right players the game could have an endless replay value. However, if you are not into the online modes and want to stick to single player the few modes available will soon become repetitive and loose their appeal.
reviewed using oculus quest
For the purposes of transparency, this review was created using a code provided by the company or their respective PR company. The use of a review code does not affect my judgement of the game.
Review Overview
The team at Downpour Interactive have brought a solid shooter to the Quest, and this should make and keep a lot of Quest owners happy. Where the game has had to face some downgrades visually compared to the PCVR version, what was important was the game kept the core gameplay and gun mechanics in place – and these have been ported to the Quest perfectly. With the cross-play bringing already populated servers, the new user base will not have any issues finding games from the get go. If you are fan of shooters and want a challenging and intense team based experience Onward is the perfect game and must have in your collection.
