Jeff Minter’s back, everyone. The llama loving indie developer behind classics like Tempest 2000 and more recently TXK on the PlayStation Vita has released a new title for the PlayStation 4 named Polybius – and first impressions are good. While you don’t necessarily need PlayStation VR to enjoy it – it’ll run in 4K on the PS4 Pro – that’s where we’ve invested most of our playtime thus far. Everything’s better in virtual reality, right?
According to urban legend, Polybius is an arcade game released in 1981 that was so intense it caused psychological distress – or something. This real-world version of the supposed myth certainly lives up to that story, tasking you with shepherding a small ship through horn-like gates in order to increase your speed while blasting all sorts of coloured paraphernalia on the horizon. It’s a little bit like Space Harrier without the y-axis.

What the video doesn’t successfully illustrate is how intense this experience is in PlayStation VR, though. Stereoscopic 3D means that objects come at you with alarming speed, and the psychedelic colours and strobe-like lighting mean that it’s a real sensory overload. It works, though: we played for a good 30 minutes and didn’t find the experience sickening in any way really – it’s just totally overwhelming in an entertaining way. Your mileage may vary, of course.
The game does come with a dozen or so warnings before you start playing, so that should give you a general idea of what you’re getting yourself in for. We did capture more gameplay footage but, er, it got corrupted somewhere during rendering, so there’s just the first two levels embedded above. Imagine more of that, though – only faster and more insane. We’ll have a review of the full game in the coming days.
Have you picked up Polybius yet? What are your thoughts on the game so far? Are you playing it in virtual reality or just on a standard television screen? Try not to have a seizure in the comments section below.
[source bit.ly]
Comments 14
This looks like great fun, I've been wanting a new VR game and this looks like it will be it
So disappointed I had to sell my PSVR; I just was too motion sensitive and couldn't bear it any longer. Even games like "How We Soar" bothered me immensely, while supposedly a non-issue for everyone else. It got to the point where even thinking about putting on a headset made me nauseous. Will miss Battlezone (but won't miss feeling sick).
Played it just now (had it on pre-order). I love it (I am big Fan of Minter games - bought the 360 for Space Giraffe).
Once kids go to bed, will strap on PSVR headset and go on a (legal) trip.
I'll have to pick this up along with statik.
'Your mileage may vary, of course.'
This is an issue, especially from minter. TvX I played through 3 or 4 times probably for a total of 45 minutes or so. Where as a Dariusburst or Geometry wars 3 last way way longer.
@Neolit It's honestly surprisingly comfortable. It looks like it should make you chunder everywhere, but it doesn't. At least not for me.
Wow, didn't heard of this game ! Looks incredible in VR, I think I'm gonna take it right away (with Thumper, which I still don't have) (and it looks like the same kind of VR trip !)
Thanks for the heads up !
@Bobobiwan Enjoy!
Played it last night in just regular 4K and it was pretty mind blowing (I was a litte tipsy at the time though). Tried to play it in 3D but it kept crashing... Not sure why?
@hi_drnick Someone mentioned something similar on GAF so I assume it's a bug?
@get2sammyb thanks for the info. Hopefully it's patched soon
@bighal just to add to my previous post. Played a few hours with PSVR. Just amazing. Not at all feeling nauseous. Game is great without VR. With VR it's simply stunning. As good as REZ VR and I never thought I would say that! Must have!
@bighal Awesome! It's amazing how such an intense game manages to be quite sensitive on the old nausea at the same time.
I bought this yesterday as soon as i heard it was out. I only found out by reading the comments below a metro gamecentral article too! I don't have vr but the game is superb. The soundtracks are absolutely fantastic, there's loads of them too with all kinds of samples and old arcade fx thrown in there. The game is 13.99 which is a bit more than I would expect but I bought it because it's yak and after the appalling ps4 txk fiasco I wanted to give him my cash. It gets better and better. It's frustrating, especially trying to get through the gates with hitting them but perseverance is the key. Just buy it. It's an 80s child's wet dream.
I just hope we get our own version of space giraffe too.
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