Greetings, fellow virtual explorers! Blake Pierce Howse at your service, ready to dive into another thrilling virtual reality adventure for The Virtual Reviewer! This time, I whisked my eager family away to immerse ourselves in the chilling world of the new Army of the Dead VR experience, nestled within the vibrant confines of AREA15 at 3215 S Rancho Dr, Las Vegas, NV 8910.
With my deep-rooted passion for gaming, unabashed enthusiasm for all things VR, and an undeniable love for the film that inspired this immersive journey, my expectations soared to unprecedented heights. But did this zombie-infested shooter manage to captivate our senses or stumble into oblivion? Join me as I unravel the gripping tale of our encounter with the undead and determine if this experience ascended to legendary status or met an untimely demise!
Getting Started
We showed up bright and early on a Saturday morning to beat the crowds. After grabbing our tickets and checking weapons, it was avatar selection time. The kids, John and Jenette, had a blast customizing their zombie-hunting alter egos, while my wife, Patty, just wanted to get the show on the road. I made myself look as badass as possible, obviously!
It was time to load up after the briefing from Ana’s character, Cruz. The truck only fits 6 people, so we had to split up, with me in the first group with John and Patty going next with Jenette. I’ll admit, I was a little nervous before putting on the headset, wondering if it would make me queasy like some VR experiences.
The Ride Begins
But once we got moving, any worries disappeared. The motion platform and 3D audio made it feel like I really was in a vehicle rumbling through zombie-filled Vegas! Looking around, I could see the other players as their avatars, waving their arms and guns around. It was too funny seeing my son’s wizard-looking character next to the badass commando on my other side!
Of course, the zombie attacks started quickly. Those first few shamblers popping out had me jumping in my seat! I was impressed by how natural and responsive the experience was with my virtual hands and weapons lining up perfectly to grab and shoot things. No glitches or lag at all.
Blasting away at the zombie’s heads and watching them explode in gory detail was pretty darn satisfying! Some of the up-close encounters were super intense though, like when a zombie grabbed me right through the window. That lifeless face suddenly filling my vision almost made me wet my pants. HAHA. Maybe this was TOO real…
Epic Showdown
Just when I started getting the hang of picking off zombies, everything was cranked to 11. We raced through familiar scenes from the movie as the truck swerved wildly to avoid flaming debris. Zombie humans, animals, and even those crazy evolved monsters were attacking from every angle!
I blasted away like a madman, but the horde just kept coming. Left, right, up, down, behind me – no matter where I turned, there were more of those ugly infected faces lunging out. I was starting to feel overwhelmed but tried to focus on protecting the other players.
Then I turned around and saw the zombie TIGER bounding towards us! I unloaded clip after clip into that thing as it leaped onto the back of the truck. Sparks and debris rained down while I barely kept the tiger at bay, with dead hands grasping at my ankles from the floor. Just when I thought we were toast, the chamber clicked empty. The tiger reared back for the kill….and then its head exploded! My son John had sniped it from across the truck! “I got you dad!” he yelled with a grin. What a little badass!
The battle raged on in insanity until finally, we roared back into the safe zone, somehow still alive. My heart was POUNDING by the end! I looked down and realized I had actually been holding my breath during that last stand. Talk about an adrenaline rush!
The Aftermath
After disembarking on shaky legs, the families reunited to swap stories. Jenette looked a little shaken up but was grinning from ear to ear. Patty said the zombies were “a bit too grabby” for her taste! We all marveled at how smooth and responsive the experience was compared to other VRs we’ve tried.
The photo op was a fun way to memorialize our triumph. Of course, I had to snag some sweet Army of the Dead swag from the gift shop too! Can never have enough zombie merch, right?
On the way home, the kids chattered nonstop about their favorite parts. John was totally amped about “wasting that tiger” and didn’t stop talking about it for days. I’ll admit I was still buzzing too…blasting through Sin City in VR with my family by my side was an absolute blast!
Final Verdict
All in all, I’ve got to give Army of the Dead: Viva Las Vengeance a big blood-soaked thumbs up! This 30-minute VR escape room on wheels goes down as one of the most intense, polished, FUN virtual reality experiences I’ve ever had.
The motion platforms, reactive environments, and flawless hand-tracking really made it feel like we were part of the movie. Some of those undead attacks were no joke too. Having zombies claw and leap out from every direction in a moving vehicle triggered my fight or flight. Maybe a LITTLE too intense for the younger ones hehe.
I do wish the actual “ride” portion was longer than 12 minutes or so. Once I got into the zone blasting away, I didn’t want it to end! Could have used a few more rounds to really hone my skills too. Can’t complain too much though, since those 12 minutes packed more excitement than some VR “experiences” I’ve paid a lot more for.
I’ll say the story integration felt a BIT loose…it was essentially a shooting gallery without a ton of plot relevance. But being able to talk tactics with my son while mowing down the infected hordes was still an absolute DREAM come true!
And even my wife Patty, who isn’t usually one for guns or gore, had to admit it was a total blast. Maybe not quite enough to make her a full convert to my zombie obsession…but it’s a start!
So, if you’re looking for a quick adrenaline rush and the chance to step inside one of 2021’s biggest movie hits, I can’t recommend Army of the Dead: Viva Las Vengeance enough. This traveling VR thrill ride is a scream and a half! Just make sure to stretch those trigger fingers first haha.
Alright, that wraps up this review! Stay tuned to thevirtualreviewer.com for more of my favorite virtual reality experiences. And let me know which zombie apocalypse you’d like me to tackle next.