Grab your virtual loincloth and get ready for some mixed reality action.
It was just over a year ago Fun Train, publisher behind The Exorcist: Legion VR, dropped the first trailer for Tarzan VR, an episodic VR adventure that has players stepping into the shoes (bare feet?) of the fictional vine-swinging character from Edgar Rice Burroughs’ 1912 classic, Tarzan of the Apes.
Earlier today the team released never-before-seen gameplay footage in the form of a jaw-dropping mixed reality trailer brought to life by MR experts Splitverse using LIV technology. Running exactly 1 minute 30 seconds, the trailer shows two players swinging throughout lush jungle environments, cliff diving into crystal clear waters, banging their chests to activate mystical objects, and battling groups of tough-looking enemies using everything from bows and axes to their bare fists.
While the original trailer gave us the overall rundown of the upcoming jungle-based adventure, this mixed reality gameplay offers us our first real look at the core mechanics of the game, from vine-based locomotion to hand-to-hand combat.
Thanks to its excellent use of mixed reality technology, we’re able to gain a better understanding of just how physical Tarzan VR is. Seeing real players swing from virtual vines looks nothing short of incredible, offering potential buyers an accurate representation of the game before they purchase.
Seeing the game in action, I find myself more excited than ever for this upcoming episodic adventure. As previously stated, the most amount of physicality featured in this trailer is absolutely astounding. Much like the character Tarzan himself, players will be using every part of their body as they swing from vines, beat up enemies, and swim in crystal clear waters.
While there do appear to be several ranged weapons available for use, such as a bow and slingshot, much of the experience appears to rely upon hand-to-hand combat. In terms of enemies, players will be going head-to-head with both human threats as well as various wildlife, such as enormous man-eating spiders.
Here’s a brief rundown of the first three episodes as provided by Fun Train:
- Issue 1 – The Great Ape: Jane has been abducted by a group of invaders, and Tarzan must seek the wisdom of The Great Ape in order to find the trail of her mysterious captors. Features The Mighty Axe.
- Issue 2 – Jagged Edge: Tarzan begins his pursuit of Jane’s
captors and must make his way across the dangerous
Cliffs of Kombatu where one misstep leads to certain
doom. Features the Slingshot. - Issue 3 – The Dead of Night: As night draws in, the jungle
swamp poses all manner of hidden dangers. Only the
strange fruit found in the heart of the Valley of Eden can
save the life of Tarzan’s true love. Features The Long Bow.
Players will have the chance to record their own mixed reality adventures when Tarzan VR launches later this year on HTC Vive/Vive Pro, Oculus Rift/Rift S, Valve Index, Windows Mixed Reality, and PlayStation VR.
Image Credit: Fun Train