Phantom: Covert Ops

Phantom Covert Ops isn’t a simple VR experiment, proof-of-concept, or a short VR title that’s over before you realise it’s a cool theme park ride - it’s a full, feature-packed game. And a damn good one at that. The missions are varied, the pacing is spot-on and it has all the cinematic tension and thrills of a Mission: Impossible film.

The concept of ​​this Oculus exclusive stealth VR action is truly intriguing and simulative, capable of justifying the "only" tracing of the head and hands directly with the structure of the game and its environmental context - a bit like it was for Lone Echo in the field of science fiction. Behind enemy lines with a military kayak equipped to silently advance and strike. If played on Rift S, the parallel design for Quest is all too evident, especially in the polygonal complexity, and clearly the variety of the action stops at some point, but the great atmosphere, the good level of challenge, the intelligent writing of the plot and a well thought out length of the storymode (one night in real time) make Phantom Covert Ops a VR title highly recommended.

Phantom: Covert Ops is a bit on the short side, but it's a top-tier virtual reality game while it lasts.

Far-fetched as it may be, Phantom’s fantastically immersive design makes for a VR mission well worth accepting, even if its campaign is shorter and simpler than hoped for. But what it lacks in gameplay complexity, it often makes up for in its giddy role-playing, going a step beyond many other VR games to convince you that you’re really in its (admittedly daft) world. A deeper sequel with more advanced gameplay would elevate the series to essential status, but Phantom already navigates the rough waters of VR stealth better than most.

The visuals are gorgeous, the goofy premise works perfectly in context, and the mechanics are an intuitive and downright rewarding use of VR. While you may need a great deal of VR callus to deal with the smooth motion of the game, Phantom: Covert Ops is VR stealth done right.

Hardcore VR players have already likely flocked to Covert Ops: it's the next big thing from Oculus Studios, of course they're looking for an excuse to get some use out of their headset. But for everyone else, it's definitely one to keep on a list somewhere for when you eventually pick up a Rift or a Quest.

In a medium that so desperately craves additional content, Phantom: Covert Ops isn't a bad purchase for VR owners who are hungry for more games, but it's by no means a banner release for 2020. With games like Boneworks, Half-Life: Alyx, and The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners this year, the bar for VR games has risen exponentially. There's an exhilarating VR experience struggling to break the surface of this title. Phantom is holding itself back from breaking loose and taking the excitement to the next level. Hopefully nDreams has enough success with this game to carry its vision into a sequel.

This text does not contain spoilers And that's just a short review, not all parts of the game, and it's just a summary. Creative gameplay is the result of this masterpiece. The game's remarkable action + visual appeal makes this title a masterpiece.