theBlu (Steam VR)

System: Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift & Windows MR
Price at Time Of Review: £6.99
Comfort Rating: Yellow (Mild Movement)
Genre: Interactive Experience
Input: Tracked Motion Controllers
Best Playing Position: Standing or Sitting
Multi-Player: No
Age Rating: PG

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Description: theBlu: is a deeply immersive VR series that allows audiences to experience the wonder and majesty of the ocean through different habitats and come face to face with some of the most awe inspiring species on the planet. The series, which is directed by Jake Rowell (Call of Duty, Final Fantasy, Superman Returns), has been designed as beautiful moments in passing or a collection of memories that powerfully tap into the vast potential of VR. The debut episode, featuring an incredible close encounter with an 80 foot whale, is already recognized as one the most iconic room scale VR experiences to date (a Sundance Film Festival 2016 selection). Additional episodes in this bundle take place on a teeming coral reef and in the very deepest region of the ocean. Gain access to new modes of discovery in each episode. Slow time and capture pictures in Inspector Mode, and return to a meditative version of each location in Ambient Mode.

Review: theBlu: Season 1 is a collection of 3 (for season 1 anyway) underwater VR experiences. Now you might add that there have been many virtual reality underwater experiences before this one, but none come even close to the quality of theBlu: Season 1. I’m sure there will be many more to come, but at the moment you get to choose from The Whale Encounter, Reef Migration & Luminous Abyss. Each scene is filled with enough sealife to make Sea World jealous.

So why do you need the touch controllers? For interacting with the plant life or getting some of the smaller fish out of your face so you can see the bigger ones and even as a torch in the Luminous Abyss to see what you are doing. Other than that they are not much use, but with this app, it is all about the visuals and they are nothing short of awe-inspiring.

This is not just an app featuring a few fish! It’s an emotional underwater experience that will make the most cynical of VR sceptics believe in deep VR immersion. The fish are nice, the interactive plant life is amazing and really helps to put you into the scene, but for me, it is the Whale experience that makes this app worth its money. Sure there isn’t much to theBlu: Season 1, but what there is, is such high quality in both looks and immersion that I doubt you will notice how short it is. Truly a VR app worth showing off to your friends and family.