Sports Bar VR (PlayStation 4) Review

There are some casual games that dare to be a little different. Sports Bar VR lets users loose in a virtual sports bar that features a variety of activities, some of which are dependent on the players making up their own rules and aren't bound by systems other than a physics engine. Some of these mini-games are billiards, darts, skeeball and air hockey. It is possible to play checkers or chess, too, but these games are not bound by any rigid system and rely on an honour system.

With upwards of six players online, Sports Bar VR can descend into utter bedlam, so good luck playing any of these mini-games with this many people running around throwing objects or completely ruining a game. This is by far the most violent and chaotic sports bar since Patrick Swayze became the bouncer of the Double Deuce.

Sports Bar VR begins in a reasonable fashion with a tutorial that will explain its unique control scheme. Everything is controlled with two PlayStation Move controllers and movement is done via "teleporting," as seen in other PlayStation VR games like The Weeping Doll, which is actually a fairly adequate method of movement for this kind of game. There is another feature for navigating the 3D space called "hulk mode," which is meant for adjusting position. However, it is totally possible to move in first-person using the hulk mode, but it is pretty awkward, since it means controlling the game like an air traffic dancer or miming aerobics gestures.

The interface also looks kind of cheap and sloppy, as if they might have been from beta code or maybe even placeholders. A real frustrating feature that is missing is a quick means to adjust the point-of-view height. While it can be adjusted in the settings, it really needed to be a part of the "hulk mode" adjustment controls, especially for playing pool.

The mini-games are, for the most part, uninteresting, since the real draw of Sports Bar VR is the virtual reality and the shenanigans that can be had. While in an online session, the physics can be extremely touchy and downright dishonest, making many of the games unplayable. Even playing offline in a solo game the physics feel off and objects seem to jitter. There are some unlockable cosmetic features, such as hats or designs for pool tables, but nothing to really compel, since the core game is largely unremarkable.

Sports Bar VR goes for about $19.99, which is really steep for a game that is lacking in features and polish. It is an amusing diversion at best, so instead of heading out to the bar, maybe it's better to just stay home and play some real video games.