A certified virtual thumbs up, this Chicago spot is a real VR gem for families looking to dive in together.
Hey everyone, Blake here, back again with another fun virtual reality adventure to share! As my loyal readers know, I’m a bit of a VR nut and am always on the hunt for new and exciting ways to dive into virtual worlds. So when I heard about a new VR entertainment center called ARMAGA VR opening up in Chicago, you bet your bottom dollar I dragged my family there as soon as possible to check it out.
Located in North Riverside right off the I-290, ARMAGA VR is pretty easy to get to from most parts of Chicago. As my wife Patty, son John (13), daughter Jen (11) and I pulled into the parking lot, I have to admit my expectations weren’t super high at first glance. From the outside, ARMAGA VR looks like just another storefront in a random suburban strip mall. But once we stepped inside…whoo boy was I proven wrong!
This place is tricked out with state-of-the-art VR tech, I’m talking top-of-the-line stuff. John’s eyes went wide as dinner plates, while Jen was bouncing up and down with excitement. “This is so cool!” they squealed in unison. Even Patty, who’s usually pretty indifferent to my tech obsession, let out an impressed whistle. I crossed my arms with pride – my expert VR spidey senses were clearly on point once again!
Attractions at ARMAGA VR
ARMAGA VR has a handful of different VR attractions and experiences on offer. Since we were on a bit of a budget, I decided we would try out two each. I went with the VR Jetpack first while Patty took the VR Space Racing. The kids each opted for the VR Roller Coasters, with John in the single rider and Jen in the dual rider so she could go with her brother.
My jetpack experience was AMAZING. I got to put on a headset and hand controllers and fly around a gorgeous mountain landscape while battling attacking aliens and zombies. It was so immersive with 360-degree views and kickass surround sound – I felt like I was swooping through the air! Some zombies did startle me pretty badly at one point and I may have shrieked like a small child haha. But after battling the alien boss in an epic midair clash over a volcano, I took that sucker down and posed heroically as the hero of the human race. Oh yeah!!
Meanwhile, Patty was living out her Top Gun fantasies in the space racing experience. She’s laughing and whooping it up in her pod, doing barrel rolls and firing photon torpedoes as she races these intense competitive heats. Apparently, she even gave some cocky space ace trash talk via the headset mic at one point. Thatta girl! She ended up winning the Galactic Cup championship or something like that.
The kids had an absolute blast on the roller coasters too. Those things look INSANE – a long winding metal track with a car mounted on it for 1 or 2 riders. The headsets make it feel like you’re careening at death-defying speeds up and down hills, around loops, and narrowly avoiding hazards. I watched John at one point freak out and lift his arms like he was actually on a real roller coaster! Jen later told me she screamed so loud she scared their attendant haha. Can’t blame her, VR does trick your mind. Needless to say though, they had a fabulous time zooming around those virtual amusement parks.
Additional Experiences
After we finished our first two experiences, we still had enough credits left for one more each. Patty and the kids wanted to go again on the space racing and roller coasters respectively. I decided to switch it up and give the car racing simulator a spin. This one was set up like a Formula race car cockpit with three giant screens wrapping around to fill your peripheral vision. Game on!
I have to say, the triple screen intensified that feeling of actually sitting in a race car. As I tore around the track hitting hairpin turns and straightaways at 130 mph, I really felt the g-forces of acceleration and deceleration in my body. At times I even caught myself trying to brace against turns with my body! So wild how the brain just accepts what it’s seeing and feeling in VR to be reality. I couldn’t quite beat the track record in my first run, but I sure had one heck of a fun ride trying!
Meanwhile, Patty improved her space race time in her second run. The attendant said her 15:04:302 was one of the fastest times they had on record for that track. Soon she’ll be giving those e-sport racers a run for their money! As for the kids, I’m pretty sure they just had a complete and giggly blast riding those roller coasters all over again. Frankly, I lost count of how many times they went on them!
Wrap Up
After I finished my racing, suddenly 2 hours had already flown by. Time really does vanish in virtual reality! As the attendants helped us out of our gear, we were all sweaty, exhausted messes – but with huge, exhilarated smiles on our faces. John and Jen both proclaimed it was the “best day ever!”. Even Patty admitted she thought VR was pretty amazing now that she tried it. *fist pump* – mission accomplished!
I do have to mention the VR gear itself caused some minor gripes. The headsets tended to slide around on our heads a bit, which messed with the focus. And those hand controllers sure could use some improvement – I lost grip a couple of times mid-jetpack flight leading to some panic-inducing fumbles! Also, Patty got pretty motion sick on the racing, while Jen felt woozy after her second roller coaster ride. So the experiences themselves may be too intense for some folks – just an FYI there.
Pricing-wise though, ARMAGA VR offers a lot of bang for your buck, especially with the hourly packages. It ain’t cheap, but won’t drain your wallet as quick as some other VR spots. For all the awesome gear and wild experiences on hand, I’d call it worth the cost!
To wrap up – ARMAGA VR brings cutting-edge, truly immersive room-scale VR attractions right to the heart of Chicagoland. With experiences like racing, flying, and roller coasters, you’re guaranteed one thrillingly fun time! Just be prepared to strap in and hold on tight, because this VR portal delivers mind-blowing alternate worlds that will leave you dizzy with delight. Our family gives ARMAGA VR a certified virtual thumbs up! Keep being awesome Chicago – you’re a real VR gem.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Armaga VR and is it easy to get to?
It's in North Riverside, right off the I-290, so it was an easy drive from most parts of Chicago for us. From the outside it looks like a regular strip-mall storefront, but the tech inside proved us wrong.
What kinds of VR experiences does Armaga VR have?
We tried the VR Jetpack, VR Space Racing, VR Roller Coasters (single and dual rider), and a triple-screen car racing simulator. Between flying, racing, and coasters, my kids and Patty each found something they loved.
Is Armaga VR worth the money?
For us, yes. The hourly packages give you a lot of bang for your buck, and while it isn't cheap, it won't drain your wallet as fast as some other VR spots.
Could the rides make you motion sick?
Some of them can. Patty got pretty queasy on the racing and Jen felt woozy after her second roller coaster ride, so if intense motion bothers you, ease in slowly.