Final Strike (Steam VR)

VR Shop Score – Gold Award

System: Valve Index, HTC Vive & Oculus Rift
Price at Time Of Review: £6.99
Comfort Rating: Red
Genre: Flight Simulator
Input: Gamepad, Keyboard & Mouse
Best Playing Position: Sitting
Multi-Player: No
Age Rating: 15+

Description: What if fighter-pilot movies had a love child with alien invasion blockbusters from the ’90s? You’d no doubt get Final Strike, an edge-of-your-seat F-16 jet fighter simulator that puts you against an airborne invasion of alien invaders. Relive your favourite moments from your favourite end-of-the-world style blockbuster film as you pilot your very own military-grade death machine to eradicate the earth of the alien presence. A fully orchestrated custom soundtrack by legendary game composer Sean Beeson brings the cinematic story to life, making you truly feel like your in the scene of your favourite alien invasion movies.

Challenge yourself through massive aerial dogfights with the alien enemy. Fight either by yourself will partner team AI. For those brave enough to join the battle with the HTC Vive or Oculus Rift, a complete VR version of the game will put you directly in the action as you experience firsthand mission control where you receive your mission briefing and train to destroy the enemy. Complete VR immersion can be experienced with in-game VR menus, HUDS, and fully immersive 3D cockpits with working controls and gauges.

Review: They might not be able to say it in fear of copyright infringement, but we can. This game is inspired by the classic movie Independence Day, and with the new movie Independence Day: Resurgence coming out now is a great time to be playing this game. But it also reminds me heavily of the StarFox 64 level “Battle of Katina”. But that game while one of the best games I’ve ever played could never compare to Final Strike.

Playing in the giant, all-out aliens Vs Humans battle in VR is one of the most nauseating, but yet enjoyable things I have done in VR. Looking around your ship as both friendly and enemy crafts shoot by is simply the most exciting shoot ’em up I have ever played. That sound of various crafts shooting past you own in the opposite direction gets the hairs on the back of your neck going. While this game is still in an early build it looks fantastic and plays at a blistering speed.

Due to this game being such an early build it doesn’t have much in the way of battles, but the idea of the game is amazing. This is Eve: Valkyrie without the strategy side and you really get to know how Will Smith’s character felt inside his own plane in the Independence Day film. This game is both fun and nostalgic, but it is not for those with a weak VR stomach. Those barrel rolls and 360 flips will have you bring up your dinner quicker than finding a dead fly in the last bit of it. But if you can handle that this is one crazy ride!