Kayak VR: Mirage
- July 12, 2022
- Better Than Life
- 3h median play time
Experience Kayaking in some beautiful locations from the safety of your home.
Get on Steam
Get on PS Store"Kayak VR: Mirage" is a virtual reality game that offers a realistic kayaking experience. Paddle through various environments, from calm lakes to rushing rivers, and enjoy the tranquility of nature. The game features realistic kayak physics and a variety of customizable settings to suit your skill level and preferences. Immerse yourself in stunning visuals and natural sounds for a truly serene escape.
PC
Playstation 5
Virtual Reality
Windows
Oculus Rift
Oculus VR
PlayStation
PlayStation VR2
Windows Mixed Reality
Reviews
- Stunning graphics and beautiful environments that showcase the potential of VR.
- Realistic kayaking physics and intuitive controls that enhance immersion.
- Relaxing gameplay experience with the option for competitive racing.
- Limited content with only a few maps and activities, leading to potential boredom.
- Some players experience motion sickness due to the game's mechanics.
- Performance issues on certain hardware configurations, affecting the overall experience.
- graphics242 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics in this game are widely praised for their stunning realism and immersive quality, often described as some of the best seen in VR. Players highlight the impressive water physics and environmental details, which contribute to a captivating experience, although some note that high graphical demands require powerful hardware for optimal performance. While many find the visuals breathtaking, a few express disappointment in the overall art style and content variety, suggesting that the graphics alone may not sustain long-term engagement.
“The graphics are beautiful and you feel like you're there.”
“The graphics are incredible.”
“The visuals in this game are absolutely breathtaking as well as the environments which all feel alive and immersive.”
“My only complaint is that I wish there were more interesting things to see, and when we do get them (animals like penguins for example), the movement and graphics are so unrealistic as to be a negative to immersion.”
“The whole game is silly lazy physics design with graphics that look strangely 2D for a 3D world.”
“Looked very promising and the swimming pool test level performed flawlessly, but as soon as I tried a real level, the framerate immediately dropped to nauseating levels - setting the graphics to the lowest possible settings did not help.”
- optimization47 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game's optimization receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its beautiful graphics and smooth performance on high settings, particularly for NVIDIA cards. However, others report significant stuttering issues, especially during kayak turns, which can lead to motion sickness, and inconsistent performance on certain hardware configurations. Overall, while many appreciate the graphical fidelity and available settings to enhance performance, there are notable concerns regarding optimization, particularly with specific graphics cards and the new DLC map.
“So overall with this experience I rate this game 10/10, everything is perfect there: optimization, graphics quality, physics. If you narrow your eyes a bit, you feel like you're really on some islands or somewhere in Norway. I have to say, I was motivated to buy a VR headset and a powerful PC by this game, and it was worth it.”
“The game feels nice, has the best performance out there to be honest. I had everything on cinematic and didn't notice a single bit of lag or stutter.”
“Pretty well optimized too – kudos to the dev for adding DLSS, FidelityFX, resolution scaling, sharpening sliders, and lots of other genuinely useful graphics settings.”
“Performance on the new DLC map is noticeably worse and very inconsistent (low FPS near water drops).”
“If you do decide to take a chance on this game (and who can blame you because the game does look gorgeous ... as long as the kayak doesn't turn), be prepared to return the game if you do notice the stuttering that only happens when the kayak turns.”
“Game is badly optimized for the GeForce 1660 Super.”
- gameplay46 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a mixed bag, with many praising the realistic paddling mechanics and immersive environments, making it feel like a genuine kayaking experience. However, some users find the gameplay lacking in variety and depth, describing it as more of an experience than a traditional game, with limited engagement beyond the initial awe of the graphics. While the competitive racing mode adds some replayability, the physical demands of the gameplay can be exhausting, leading to a divide in player enjoyment.
“The mechanics feel good to me and personally I found controlling the kayak rather intuitive and fun.”
“The paddling mechanics are satisfyingly realistic, the environments you explore are jaw-dropping, whilst there’s even a competitive element in place for those who want a bit more action from the experience.”
“This isn't just a gimmick VR experience; the gameplay from the races is super competitive and actually lends to a gameplay loop that you want to repeat, to shave off a couple seconds on the leaderboards or just get some more 'sea miles' for new kayak colors and stuff.”
“My experience is that the game mechanics are screwed up.”
“There is no gameplay except the paddling, which is interesting and fun for about 1 or 2 hours.”
“To be honest, I found the gameplay very boring unfortunately.”
- story41 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 80 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game lacks a narrative or structured story, with multiple users noting the absence of a campaign, objectives, or NPCs, which detracts from replayability. While the graphics and performance are praised, many players express a desire for a more engaging experience that includes a storyline or additional missions to enhance gameplay. Overall, the consensus is that the game is visually impressive but feels incomplete without a compelling story.
“It needs a campaign, a story, a survival element.”
“The game has no campaign, no story, no NPCs, no survival element... it looks good but the content is not there.”
“If something like this was incorporated into an actual game, with a story, objectives, and just anything else that would make you want to boot it up more than once, it would be a great buy.”
“But yet in my dreamiest of dreams, I want there to be a story mode add-on.”
- music26 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its chill and soothing quality, enhancing the immersive experience of the stunning environments. Many players appreciate the well-crafted soundtrack that complements each level, although some found it a bit bland initially and preferred to listen to their own music. Overall, the sound design, including ambient sounds, is considered a strong aspect of the game, contributing significantly to its tranquil atmosphere.
“The music soundtrack is pretty chill, and you can earn enough nautical miles to upgrade your gear skins.”
“The graphics are insane, the sound is great, the music is soothing and relaxing, the birds, fish, dolphins, penguins, whales, dog and inflatable characters to find and rescue just totally top this game off.”
“The entire aesthetic of the game is super tranquil; the stunning environments and rhythmic ambient music work extremely well together.”
“It's not as much of a scam as the €2 songs sold on Beat Saber, though it still feels like a scam.”
“The ambient sounds could also be improved, and the music seemed a bit bland - I turned it off almost immediately.”
“I do wish I could listen to my own music.”
- stability10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 70 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users experiencing frequent crashes and graphical glitches, particularly on certain maps. While it runs smoothly on higher-end systems, many players report significant bugs that detract from the overall experience, indicating a need for further optimization.
“Runs great on a 2060 RTX.”
“It runs great on my mid-level rig with a 2080 Ti and is probably one of the best looking VR experiences I have tried.”
“Runs great on Quest 2 Air Link on a 3080 setup, even on max graphics!”
“Freezes, crashes.”
“Basically, the game runs only in the pool and it's smooth, but whatever map I pick, there is just a black screen and eventually crashes and freezes. I've run VR games way more demanding than this.”
“In about 20 minutes of gameplay, I crashed about 4 times... I get tons of graphical glitches even when lowering the graphic settings.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and relaxing qualities, with users highlighting its beautiful visuals, soothing ambiance, and attention to detail. Many find it an excellent showcase for VR, enhancing the overall experience, although some feel the price may be steep for just the atmospheric elements. Overall, the atmosphere is a standout feature that encourages leisurely exploration and enjoyment.
“If you're looking for a great example of immersive atmospherics to showcase VR, this is it.”
“The free roam is very relaxing and feels really natural both in atmosphere and interaction.”
“$20 for an atmosphere is a lot.”
“I was excited for the atmosphere and music to go along with this experience.”
“The atmosphere is soothing!”
- replayability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers solid replayability, with some users initially skeptical but ultimately finding it enjoyable enough to revisit. While opinions vary on the extent of its replay value, many agree that it provides a worthwhile experience, especially considering its visual appeal and fair pricing.
“At first, I thought that it might not have a lot of replay value, but it absolutely does.”
“Not a ton here to enjoy, but the replayability is great.”
“Overall, it's a great looking VR game and definitely worth it to support the developers, although I don't know how much replayability it has.”
“Overall, it's a great looking VR game and definitely worth supporting the developers, although I don't know how much replayability it has.”
“The current price seems fair for what you get, even if the replay value might be limited.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users report a mix of emotions, with some experiences evoking feelings of awe and excitement, such as kayaking near a giant whale and close encounters with penguins. However, the intense physical sensations from the racing elements can lead to discomfort, overshadowing the emotional highs for some players. Overall, the experience is deemed impactful, with a desire for even more wildlife to enhance emotional engagement.
“Being able to get so close to penguins made me emotional; one thing to improve is to have more wildlife, like seals, whales jumping around, orcas, dolphins, etc. But after all, it's a perfect experience.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Players consistently express that the grinding required in the game is excessively time-consuming, suggesting that it demands an unrealistic amount of effort akin to needing a "second life" to complete.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find humor in the game's quirks, such as the amusing sight of ghosts getting stuck in the environment and the unexpected performance improvements when adjusting graphical settings.
“It's funny to see ghosts struggling wildly in the rocks and stuff like that.”
“The funny part is once I loaded into the world, I was able to put all the graphical settings back up to what they were on (epic) and the game worked perfectly fine.”
Critic Reviews
Kayak VR: Mirage review --- A relaxing experience and incredible testament to the capabilities of the PlayStation VR2
Kayak VR: Mirage is a testament to the power of the PlayStation VR2 and a showcase for those who want to show their friends and family what VR is all about. While more of an experience than a full-fledged game, Kayak VR manages to provide a gorgeous, realistic, memorable, and relaxing experience which accurately mimics real kayaking and is almost certain to make you begin plans for your next vacation.
80%Kayak VR: Mirage PC VR Review (via Air Link Meta Quest 2)
Experience Kayaking in some beautiful locations from the safety of your home.
90%Kayak VR Mirage PSVR2 GBAtemp review
Kayak IS an experience more than a "game". For those willing to acknowledge that this is essentially an incredibly well-made, fully fleshed-out tech demo and it's a day-one PSVR2 title with ever so slight teething character: you will have an absolute blast!
89%
