Review: TrueGear ME02 VR Haptic Suit
In the world of Virtual Reality, haptics significantly enhance the immersive experience, but incorporating additional features like haptic vests can come with a hefty price tag. TrueGear has stepped into the scene to provide a budget-friendly alternative for VR enthusiasts. They’re not just stopping at haptics; their product also includes an exciting twist that sets it apart.
Release Date: November 2024
Brand: TrueGear
Price: US $259
Reviewed On: DPVR E4 Black
* Product Provided For Review *
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What’s In The Box?
Inside the box, you’ll find the Haptic Suit, two EMS modules, two straps for the EMS modules, a USB-C to USB-C data cable, a USB-C to USB data cable, a Bluetooth adapter, a small spray bottle, and an instruction manual.
Set-Up
To start, you’ll need to connect the Haptic Suit with the EMS modules. Begin by powering on both the Haptic Suit and the modules. Press and hold the button on the modules to activate pairing mode, and do the same with the power button on the Haptic Suit. Once they are successfully paired, the EMS module lights will turn solid blue, while the lights on the suit will continue to flash blue.
If your computer lacks built-in Bluetooth, you can use the adapter included in the box. Next, visit their website to download and install the TrueGear Player software. After downloading and opening the application, ensure that both the Haptic Suit and EMS modules are powered on. Click the ‘Devices’ button in the app, then select ‘Scan Device’ to find your Haptic Suit and pair it with the software. Finally, click ‘Test’ to confirm that everything is connected properly.
Now that your vest is paired, it’s time to prepare and install the mods for the games you want to enjoy with the TrueGear Haptic Suit. This process is quite straightforward. You can check all the currently supported games by navigating to ‘All Games’ in the application. First, ensure that the game you wish to play is installed on Steam. Then, simply click the small download icon located in the bottom corner of the game image, and the mod will automatically download and install for you. The only exception is if the game requires an additional external mod; in that case, a new window will pop up to guide you on where to find the mod and how to set it up. Once you’ve completed that, you can proceed, and the TrueGear mod will be installed. However, out of the many supported games I own, I only had to do this for a handful of them.
Quality/Comfort
I often worry that when a company tries to create a more affordable product, the quality might suffer. But with TrueGear, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the quality remains top-notch despite the lower price. As soon as I unboxed it, I could feel how sturdy and well-made it was.
I was initially taken aback, but my admiration grew even more as I examined it closely. The quality of materials, from the fabric to the plastic, is exceptional and built to last. When I checked out the side straps designed for adjusting the vest to your size, I was particularly impressed by the clips. These are, without a doubt, the best clips I’ve encountered on a haptic vest. They feature a magnetic design, which provides a strong hold, yet they’re easy to detach—just pull the string to break the magnetic connection, and they come apart effortlessly. This makes putting on and taking off the vest a breeze, far superior to Velcro, and they’re likely to endure much longer. Huge props to TrueGear for these fantastic straps!
The Haptic Suit excels in comfort, featuring a well-balanced design with forty haptic motors evenly distributed—twenty in the front and twenty in the back. This thoughtful arrangement ensures that the weight is spread evenly across your body, making the vest feel light and comfortable, no matter how long your gaming session lasts.
The EMS modules are quite lightweight and attach securely to the Velcro straps on your arms. This setup allows you to adjust the fit to your liking, and since they are so light, you might even forget you’re wearing them, making for a comfortable experience overall.
Testing The Product
I wanted to put the product to the test by trying it out with as many of the supported games as possible. It currently supports fifty-four games, and I ended up testing twenty-three of them. The games I chose spanned various genres, including Beat Saber, Until You Fall, Half-Life: Alyx, UNDERDOGS, BONELABS, Job Simulator, All-in-One Sports, and Resident Evil VII.
During my testing of various games, I discovered that they all provided a great level of immersion, though some stood out more than others. For instance, in Half-Life: Alyx, if you bumped into an object, the haptic motors in that area would activate, simulating the sensation of colliding with it. This feature wasn’t present in other titles. Nevertheless, I must say that the implementation across all the games was impressive; they effectively utilised the appropriate haptic motors and sequences on the vest to enhance the immersive experience.
What really caught my attention was the use of the EMS modules and their ability to replicate the feeling of pain. During my testing with the application, I discovered that a setting of forty-five percent was the sweet spot for me, providing a comfortable experience without too much discomfort. I was genuinely surprised by how effective this technology is; the combination of sensations from the haptic motors and the shocks creates an immersive experience like no other. Experiencing pain while a zombie gnaws on your arm in Saints and Sinners, getting hit in boxing in All-in-One Sports, or being shot in Half-Life: Alyx makes you more aware and cautious than you might expect.
In addition to the intense jolts for the outcomes previously mentioned, there are also gentle shocks when performing actions like pulling a trigger or picking up objects. This creates a physical sensation that mimics the slight muscle contraction you experience when handling something. Initially, I was uncertain about this feature, but as I became accustomed to it, I found that it really enhanced the overall immersion.
For science I had to test the EMS modules at one hundred fifty percent, as that’s what the app allows. Let me tell you, it was quite a surprise! During my testing, I discovered that forty-five percent was where I felt comfortable. But when I cranked it up to one hundred fifty percent, my muscles contracted so intensely that my arms actually lifted off the desk!
The main drawbacks of the TrueGear Haptic Suit right now is that it only works with Steam VR and games that don’t utilise Easy Anti Cheat. This means many popular online shooters aren’t compatible at the moment. However, the TrueGear team is actively exploring options to support Meta Quest and is addressing the challenges posed by Easy Anti Cheat. With ongoing development, we can hope to see these limitations resolved soon.
It’s important to mention that a profile needs to be created for the game to receive support. The TrueGear Haptic Suit doesn’t allow for the use of an audio source to generate haptics. While this feature is available in some other products, I’ve never really utilised it myself. I only used it when the game had official or mod support, so it hasn’t been a significant concern for me.
During my time testing this product for the review, I’ve noticed some exciting new additions to the supported software, including DCS World and the Half-Life 2 VR Mod for Episodes 1 and 2. The team is also beginning to implement plans that will enable TrueGear Haptics Suit owners to suggest and vote on which games should receive support. This means we can look forward to regular updates to the list of supported games.
Immersion And Benefit
The primary goal of Haptic Suits is to enhance immersion, and the TrueGear Haptic Suit excels at this. As previously noted, it features a total of forty haptic motors—twenty positioned at the front and twenty at the back—along with two EMS modules for your arms. This setup provides a unique blend of haptic feedback and a touch of discomfort, delivering an unparalleled experience.
The profile of each game is crafted to take advantage of the haptic motors in the vest, enabling you to sense impacts and damage on your body. This experience is enhanced by the EMS, which provides a strong shock. Additionally, there are subtle features, such as when you shoot a gun, the motors in the shoulder of your dominant hand will softly vibrate, paired with a mild EMS shock that causes a slight muscle contraction, all without any discomfort. Each profile is crafted with care to ensure that the motors in the vest and the high and low-intensity shocks for the EMS are perfectly tailored to suit every style and genre of the games.
I’ve never experienced such a deep level of immersion with a haptic vest before, especially with the EMS modules that provide sensations of pain or subtle muscle contractions to mimic actions. This combination creates an unparalleled sense of caution while gaming, making it feel incredibly realistic, as you would naturally be more cautious in real life.
The Verdict
TrueGear ME02 Haptic Suit exceeded all my expectations for this product. I must admit, I was initially worried about potential compromises made to keep costs down, as many budget-friendly options often involve sacrifices. However, that is definitely not the case with the TrueGear ME02 Haptic Suit. The vest, EMS modules, and straps are all made from high-quality materials, and the overall construction is impressive. The magnetic tightening straps are among the best I’ve encountered. It’s evident that the team has invested a lot of thought and care into the design, which is reflected in its integration with supported games. The combination of positional haptic feedback from the forty haptic motors, which activate at varying strengths based on the situation, along with the EMS modules that simulate pain through high and low-intensity shocks, makes this one of the most immersive experiences I’ve had. Each game profile is expertly crafted to utilise both the haptics and EMS modules effectively. The TrueGear team is also actively expanding the library of supported games based on user suggestions, so we can look forward to even more compatibility in the future. With their ambition to extend support beyond Steam VR, the possibilities are exciting. All this remarkable technology, which includes forty haptic motors and two EMS modules, is offered at an exceptional price of $259, without any reduction in product quality. I am uncertain how they achieve this, but they certainly do, and I highly recommend it.