If you grew up in the 90s and early 2000s as a gamer, you had a favorite arcade game when you went to your local bowling alley or fun zone. Mine was always Time Crisis 2, which was the pivotal moment in my childhood memories. Using a light gun in a rail shooter with the unique pedal used to pop in and out of cover blew my mind at the time and made me appreciate gaming as the true work of art it can be. When I saw that Under Cover was working to be an introduction to cover shooters with the Meta Quest 3, I knew I had to grab a copy and try it for myself.
Under Cover’s graphics pay homage to the iconic low-poly art style of the past while adding vibrant colors and pixelated textures. The levels are beautifully designed, with attention to detail and destructible environmental objects. Shooting at objects and watching them react to your bullets adds to the immersive experience. The game’s sound design is equally commendable, with satisfying gun sound effects and great haptic feedback on the controller, enhancing the overall gameplay.
The gameplay of Under Cover is reminiscent of classic light gun shooters. As a player, you’ll embark on a thrilling mission as an undercover agent, infiltrating a secret organization to put a stop to an evil CEO’s sinister plans. The game offers both solo and co-op modes, allowing you to team up with a friend or play alongside an AI partner. In true light gun shooter fashion, Under Cover is an on-rails experience. Your character moves through the meticulously designed levels, taking cover, and shooting enemies that appear before you. The game incorporates VR technology to enhance the immersion, making you physically duck to reload your weapon. This interactive reloading mechanic adds an extra layer of engagement to the gameplay.
Under Cover provides intuitive controls that are easy to grasp, even for those new to VR gaming. You’ll be equipped with a default gun, but the game offers various weapon pickups throughout the levels. These pickups include machine guns, dual pistols, rocket launchers, and even a balloon gun, each with its unique feel and limited ammo. Choosing the right weapon at the right time becomes crucial to success. Incorporated into the game is a high-score system that rewards your performance. The better your accuracy, the more enemies you eliminate without being hit, and your multiplier grows. Achieving quick consecutive kills and headshots boosts your score, fostering a sense of competition and replayability. Additionally, the game ranks you based on accuracy and speed at the end of each mission, motivating you to improve your skills and aim for better rankings.
The game introduces a variety of enemies, each with their own behaviors and attack patterns. From blue enemies with stormtrooper aim to red enemies with pinpoint accuracy, you’ll face different levels of challenge as you progress. Under Cover also features boss fights, where you’ll confront a powerful adversary multiple times throughout the campaign. While the bosses could have offered more variety, their formidable nature adds an extra layer of excitement to the gameplay.
Under Cover offers options to accommodate different player preferences and comfort levels. You can choose between standing and seated modes, allowing players to choose their preferences. I loved the seated mode, as it allows you to use buttons to pop in and out of cover and it felt smoother in my opinion. Reloading can be performed by physically crouching or pressing a button, offering flexibility and accessibility to players of all abilities. The game also provides settings to adjust flashes in the user interface and comfort vignettes, ensuring a comfortable experience for all players.
Under Cover’s story follows the classic trope of taking down an evil corporation and its mind-control technology. While the narrative may not break new ground, it serves as a backdrop to the action-packed gameplay. The game’s presentation, with its quirky ’90s-themed aesthetic and cheesy dialogue, adds to the overall charm and nostalgia. Whether you’re a fan of buddy-cop films or classic light gun shooters, Under Cover’s deliberately clichéd premise will make you smile. Another thing that I felt could be a bit displeasing, is the transition from each sector throughout the levels. It felt a little slow at times, but I also know that it is to reduce motion sickness. But overall, it is really minor and more of a complaint on my personal feelings.
Under Cover is a must-try VR game for fans of light gun shooters and those seeking an immersive and action-packed experience. Its nostalgic gameplay, intuitive controls, and beautiful graphics make it a standout title on the Meta Quest platform. While it may have a few minor shortcomings, the overall package offers an enjoyable journey into the world of virtual reality gunfights. Whether you’re a seasoned VR gamer or a genre newcomer, Under Cover will surely provide hours of thrilling entertainment. So grab your VR headset, strap in, and get ready to embark on an undercover mission like no other. It’s time to relive the excitement of classic light gun shooters in a whole new dimension.
