Wwhen it comes to experiencing virtual reality, I have been extraordinarily lucky.
It all started with a nerdy brother who won me an HTC Vive when it launched as one of the first consumer headphones in the spring of 2016. With an attractive price tag of $ 800, headphones and the amazing frontier of virtual reality – it should left on the shelf.
Since then, and a couple of professional changes later, I’ve had the opportunity to try out many virtual reality headphones ranging from PlayStation VR headphones (which is surprisingly competent) to the mega deluxe Valve Index (which is even harder of with $ 1,000, but at least it’s a business expense … I tell myself). There is very little controversy about the fact that the valve index is the current heyday of virtual reality with a large screen, an immersive field of view, and excellent controllers. The entry barrier, however, does not stop with its price, as it requires a PC at the sturdier end to pump the pixels and some home improvement work to safely mount the tracking stations on the walls of your play space.
While the valve index is the best way to experience virtual reality, I would not recommend it to anyone, but to the one most dedicated to technicians.
Instead, introduce Oculus Quest 2, standalone headphones that don’t require a PC, chalk screws, dedicated space, or even a heavily tortured financial justification. Priced at $ 300 ($ 400 for more on-board storage space), the Oculus Quest 2 brings a lot to the table in an easy-to-use package that doesn’t require knowing the details of the graphics cards.
From a hardware perspective, the Oculus Quest 2 is a near-masterpiece, found on the shoulders of all the headphones in front of it. The Oculus Quest 2 has a large, clear image, its drivers are light and responsive, and its interior and exterior tracking is incredibly good. And honestly, the lack of a strong cable running from the back of the headphones to the computer (requirement included with the valve index) is a big game changer. Instead of tangling with the wires, it can move freely.
From a performance standpoint, Oculus Quest 2 won’t compete with PC headphones at any time, as its graphics seem to range from a very fast smartphone to the mid-range gaming console. While in some games you can notice the different ones (as well as the fact that not all VR games are available), it does the job with plenty of leftovers in the games you will spend more time anyway: “Beat Saber “,” Superhot “and other arcade-y games. For me, high-fidelity graphics have never been the selling point of virtual reality, as much as the quality tracking that allows you to interact directly with games.
But if you’re willing to play wired with the Oculus Link cable ($ 79), it will allow you to connect headphones to your computer to play. If you have the most modern WiFi routers, you can also try their wireless transmission and enjoy the best of all worlds.
The biggest drawback of Oculus Quest 2 and the entire Oculus ecosystem is that it ultimately depends on Facebook, the owner of Oculus. You must have a Facebook account that is in good condition (as a ban on your Facebook account could block your purchases) and also limit games to anything that has the blessings of Facebook. And I have to admit it’s a pretty big downside, but again, here are the “Star Wars” virtual reality games here as well.
But if you can hold your nose on Facebook, there’s no better way to take virtual reality home.
Matt Buxton is a freelance writer and player. You can contact him at matt.a.buxton@gmail.com.