Hey everyone, Blake here again with another entertaining outing to review for you! I finally managed to plan a fun Saturday field trip for my family this past weekend, and I couldn’t wait to share the full experience with all you faithful blog readers! So where did we end up going, you ask? Well, just take a glance at the title of this post, and you’ll see we hit up the brand new eVRest VR Amusement Park in Brooklyn, NY!
My kids have been begging me for months to take them to test out all the awesome virtual reality rides and games you see advertised on TV. And since my 14-year-old son John is especially obsessed with anything related to VR or 3D simulation technology, I knew this amusement park would be right up his alley.
The eVRest VR Amusement Park is located on New Utrecht Ave, just a quick 15-minute drive from our hotel for the weekend. I piled the whole crew, including my wife Patty and 12-year-old daughter Jenette, into our minivan, and we headed out early Saturday afternoon with high hopes for a thrilling and memorable family adventure!
Entering eVRest VR Amusement Park
When we first walked through the eVRest bright blue neon-lit entrance into the compact warehouse-style space, I could instantly see the sparkle of awe and excitement in John and Jen’s eyes. The small arcade area was jam-packed with about 15-20 super high-tech-looking VR simulation machines and pods with colorful blinking lights all over them.
Now, don’t get me wrong — as a principal software engineer at Meta, I work on designing state-of-the-art VR goggles and gear every single day at the office. But seeing this vivid assortment of next-gen virtual reality simulation equipment all setup and ready for hands-on public access in an amusement park setting seemed to bring out my inner giddy 10-year-old too!
After chatting with the very friendly and enthusiastic staff member at the ticketing counter, I purchased a family package deal that included 60 minutes of unlimited VR gameplay for the four of us. We were able to select which incredible virtual worlds and scenarios we wanted to explore individually based on personalized interests and comfort levels. So keep reading for a full breakdown of which cutting-edge VR simulation rides we each chose, along with the exhilarating highlights AND frustrating failures that came along with them!
John’s VR Experience – The Blue
My thrill-seeking 14-year-old John instantly sprinted over to the flashy X-Machine VR simulator as soon as we entered the arcade area. John had spotted advertisements online boasting that the X-Machine offers riders 360-degree views and full-body physical sensations synchronized to match whatever extreme VR adventures they choose.
Well, with John’s obsession with rollercoasters and intense aerial drone racing games, I had a good hunch which heart-pounding VR simulation he would select on the menu. Sure enough, he tapped on the Aviation Acrobatics game option, which promised helicopter stunt riding and death-defying fighter pilot maneuvers. Once seated inside the enclosed pod, the staff helper assisted John in getting all geared up with the haptic feedback vest, surround sound headphones, and VR headset.
In the first few minutes, I watched John’s body tilt from side to side as his virtual helicopter dove down steep cliffs and then rolled 360 degrees before pulling up sharply along a tropical ocean coastline. His eyes widened with shocked delight under the bulky headset each time the synchronized vest buzzers and seat rumbles mimicked the dramatic momentum of banking turns and sudden drops.
About 20 minutes in, however, I started noticing John’s adventure taking a bit of a frustrating turn. Even though his smiling face showed he was still clearly immersed in the aviation thrill ride, his torso kept jerking sharply to one side and then the other as if trying to steer an invisible aircraft. The headset cord had gotten wrapped up in the vest straps, limiting his arm mobility. And a few times he even accidentally smacked his knees against the interior padding as he reached out to access crucial flight control buttons hovering in midair all around him.
Despite getting tangled up, John valiantly piloted onward through another 30 minutes of exhilarating (and nausea-inducing) virtual stunt plane acrobatics. By the end, remnants of VR sickness were clearly setting in. As soon as the headset lifted, he looked pale and disoriented. But even so, John rated his overall X-Machine flight simulation experience “100% awesome!” in his words.
I could tell the ultra-realistic full sensory immersion was sometimes TOO lifelike for his liking. Yet John was still eager to try another advanced VR mech warrior battle simulator after resting his legs for a bit. However, the line had grown too long at that point for us to squeeze in another turn. So John left fascinated (and determined to return soon) after getting an intense first glimpse into the future of virtual reality gaming technology!
Jenette’s VR Experience – The Green
Meanwhile, my 12-year-old daughter Jenette stepped up to try out a colorful VR Adventure Machine simulator labeled the “Green Option,” designed especially for families. This fun-looking tall cylindrical machine had a wide bench seat fit for two players to sit side by side. The domed top was painted with funky geometric patterns reminiscent of a retro materialism art sculpture.
Jenette tapped the fantasy adventure category on the selections menu screen and then chose a popular underwater ocean voyage appropriately titled “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.” Once seated inside, mesmerizing ambient synth music began playing over the built-in speakers to set the scene. As narrated instructions guided Jenette to fasten her seatbelts and lower the VR goggles down, I saw her eyes widen, watching neon purple jellyfish and schools of silvery fish already swarming by.
The 20,000 Leagues adventure game used gentle motions like slow tilts left and right in sync as Jen’s virtual exploratory mini-submarine navigated through spectacular coral reefs and ship wreckages. Vibrating rumbles underfoot added to the immersive sensation of “diving deeper,” as prompted by the narrator’s storyguides. Whimsical Disney-esque songs with lyrics about befriending baby sea turtles and clever dolphins had Jen giggling with delight in no time.
About 15 minutes flew by before Jenette even noticed some minor gear discomfort setting in. I could tell the VR goggles strap was irritating the back of her ears. And she kept needing to pause to adjust twisting headphone cords dangling against her shoulders. But none of those pesky hardware hassles could dampen Jen’s sheer wonder overhearing majestic blue whales singing or gasping in awe, swimming beside an ancient Egyptian ruin site below ice-capped polar oceans!
Like her older brother John’s adventure, Jenette also encountered a few tricky technical difficulties midway through her 30-minute underwater quest. At one point, the left VR display suddenly blacked out, leaving Jenette blind in one eye as she searched for the way out of a dark cavern. Then, the narrator’s audio cut out completely for almost 5 minutes at a critical moment when Jen approached the lost underwater city of Atlantis.
Thankfully, an employee tech helper arrived quickly to reboot and restore the VR system to full working order. Jenette persevered through the setbacks without complaint, determined to complete her subaquatic fairytale regardless. In the end, I felt impressed by how gracefully my daughter handled such an ambitious interactive storyline for over 45 minutes seated inside a bulky, confining machine. Though modern VR technology still has some aggravating kinks to smooth out, the breathtaking sights Jenette traveled through sparked her creativity and bravery in equal measure!
Patty & Blake’s VR Experience – The Red
While our two kids hogged the super cool high-intensity VR rigs, my wary wife Patty opted for a simpler standalone headset experience. She selected a Santa sleigh ride to ease into her virtual reality encounter. I could tell Patty felt intimidated trying weird futuristic contraptions amidst noisy arcade chaos all around us. But the patient staff helper carefully adjusted the elastic straps until the surprisingly lightweight VR viewer fit snugly over Patty’s glasses. After a quick tutorial on the wireless handheld clicker, Patty leaned back in a comfy padded chair, took a deep breath, and clicked START.
“Wow… the horses are puffing frosty air as they trot up close to me!” Patty exclaimed, startled by the hyperrealistic 360-degree mountain vistas surrounding her. I smiled, watching the tension melt from her face over the next 15 minutes while cruising along snow-capped ridges. Midway through the sleigh ride when glittering Northern Lights began dancing across the starry skies above, I even spotted a nostalgic tear glistening as Patty soaked in the peaceful winter magic.
Buoyed by witnessing Patty’s emotional VR experience, I decided to be bold and attempt the infamous “Red” advanced tech option recommended only for hardcore gaming veterans. The ominous blood-red and black machine resembled an alien escape pod with an intricate mess of dilating metal prongs around the exterior. Despite ominously flickering warning lights on the door, curiosity got the best of me!
I tapped the horror survival theme on the screen and then selected a first-person shooter challenge called “Zombie Apocalypse 2055.” Instant regret set at the moment zombie shrieks and crunching bone sound effects blared directly into my ears before the game properly loaded.
Sweaty panic overwhelmed me as hyper-realistic undead attackers swarmed just inches from my face as soon as the visuals blinked on. I awkwardly spun in place, firing nonstop with my two-handed automatic laser rifle. But no matter how many direct headshots landed, the gory zombie stampede kept rushing straight for me as ammo emptied.
Mere minutes into starting (yet feeling like hours dodging and battling for my virtual life), my lungs heaved in breathless terror realizing I was surrounded. The final chilling moments flashed before my eyes watching decaying zombie fingers stretch toward me when…everything went black. GAME OVER flashed in blood-dripping letters.
I slowly blinked back to reality feeling ridiculous yet also vaguely traumatized as the VR helmet lifted up. Loud rock music pumped in the background while dazzling disco lights swirled all around. The jarring contrast only added to my vertigo stumbling away from the still ominously humming Zombie machine. I noticed the employee tech who freed me grimacing apologetically. Even HE admitted that the expert level 2055 survival mode was nearly impossible to beat on the first try.
In stunned silence, I sank onto a bench to process the intense psychological thrill ride I had just unwillingly plunged into. Part of me wanted to shrug it all off and laugh. But glimpsing the metal talons and warning blinkers of the crimson VR nightmare simulator nearby sparked my heart racing all over again! Suffice it to say, I am proud of my brave curiosity, yet the advanced virtual Zombie wars will remain strictly a spectator sport for me going forward!
The Verdict
Well, there you have it friends…a lively firsthand taste of my family’s virtual reality adventures hitting up the eVRest VR Amusement Park last Saturday! Now for my final Judge Blake official ratings on 5 key factors:
Our Overall Satisfaction: 8/10 Quite Impressive
Was it worth the money? Absolutely! Considering high-tech arcade prices these days AND factoring in the cutting-edge VR systems that cost ownership mega bucks, I still felt satisfied with the value overall.
Thrill Factor: 7/10 Mostly as Advertised
All those flashy rollercoaster, fighter pilot, and battle zombie scenarios SOUNDED 100% awesome in ads. But the realistic practicality of wearing constricting VR gear for 30+ minutes hampered the adrenaline rush a bit. Cords and goggle straps digging into skin kinda kill the fierce warrior vibe lol!
Customer Service: 10/10 Excellent
Despite minor tech hiccups mid-adventure for both kids, the employee troubleshooting response time couldn’t have been faster or more courteous. I especially appreciated the staff taking time to properly size and adjust equipment for my kids’ comfort when possible. Top-notch service for sure!
Equipment Functionality: 5/10 Iffy At Times
Look, I know even the highest-end commercial virtual gear has bugs. As an engineer, I respect the INSANELY complex coding and calibration balancing these immersive VR platforms demand. However, that doesn’t excuse dead headset displays or choppy narrative interruptions during $39 private game sessions that occurred. Ownership needs QA tweaks.
Return Factor: 9/10 We’ll Def Be Back!
My family CANNOT resist coming back to eVRest VR again soon to level up new VR worlds! Too much electrifying potential despite current-gen limitations. We already discussed cosplaying our favorite superheroes on our next visit!
I heartily recommend all you VR newbies and experts alike to check out the eVRest VR Amusement Park in Brooklyn, NY. Get there soon to beat weekend lines snaking outside the doors as hype keeps spreading!