Oculus Quest – Is It Worth It?

I finally got my hands on the Oculus Quest back in May 2019. So, after using the Headset for four months, I feel somewhat qualified to answer the question – Oculus Quest… Is It Worth It?

Firstly, let me say that Oculus Quest is my first VR Headset. I have used other systems, but I have never owned a VR system before. I parted with £399 ($399) for the Facebook developed unit. A price point which most people would consider a significant investment.

I’m will not diving into the tech behind the Quest. You can find plenty of reviews which give you the full specs of the system. What I can tell you is the Headset feels exceptionally well made and has survived four months with my 10-year-old!

WIRELESS GAMING

The main selling point behind the Quest is the wireless nature of the device. It doesn’t require a tethered connection to a PC or Console. For me, that’s a big plus, as I don’t own a PC. I suspect many people who are considering buying the Quest fit into this category. It also means the Quest is portable. Just grab the controllers and Headset, and you can play almost anywhere.

Another plus for the Quest is the quick set-up. Once unboxed, I was playing my first VR game within 10 minutes. You can connect to the Quest with a smartphone app and stream the Quest display straight to your phone, allowing others to see what you see. Not all games support this feature, but it’s surprisingly fun to watch friends playing VR games in this way.

QUEST GAMES

I think you’ll agree with me when I say that any gaming system is only as good as the games you can play on it. So how good are the Oculus Quest games? Well, I was very impressed in general. The VR headset cannot display the uber slick graphics that you’ll see on the Xbox One or PS4. The graphics on the Quest remind me of the classic titles from the Nintendo Gamecube. You get good looking graphics but not super smooth shading or texture that you’ll experience on a PC or Console. Nevertheless, you’ll soon find it doesn’t affect the enjoyment of the gaming experience.

Currently, the games on the Quest fall into a couple of categories. First up is Shooter, games like GUN CLUB VR, ROBO RECALL and DEAD AND BURIED give players the chance to blast away in VR. The other popular genre is Sports; the Quest offers SPORTS SCRAMBLE, CREED and RACKET FURY, to name a few. The third genre is VR Experience titles; these are not necessarily games. Instead, they provide an immersive experience. My favourites of this genre include RICHIE’S PLANK, EPIC ROLLER COASTER, JOB SIMULATOR and FIRST STEPS.

I have purchased around 20 games since owning the Quest. The games I’ve played the most include GUN CLUB VR, END SPACE, RACKET FURY and BEAT SABER. I’m happy to report that there isn’t a game that I regret downloading. Outside of the games, the Quest can also run Netflix, Facebook and YouTube. One of the coolest apps is BIG SCREEN, a virtual cinema where you can enjoy movies with other Quest users. BIG SCREEN also doubles as a chat room, and you can even create 3D drawings while watching movies.

A pleasant surprise with Quest is the pricing of its games. The majority of titles can be purchased for £10 or less. When you compare that to the £50 for the latest XBOX One game ‘Call Of Duty – Modern Warfare 2019’ Oculus games look terrific value.

Although, it would be fair to say that Quest games are not as in-depth as Console or PC games. Personally, I prefer these casual style games. The Quest headset is quick to start up, making it perfect for diving in and out of games when you get the chance.

IS THE QUEST WORTH IT?

I confidently say YES, the Oculus Quest is worth the price tag. But there’s a catch, I’ve found it tough to play longer than 45 minutes without getting a little motion sick. The strength of the effect depends on the type of game you’re playing. Generally, the move movement within a game, the more I feel queasy. So if you’re looking for a gaming system, you can play for hours at a time. You might be better off spending your money on a console or PC. Otherwise, dive into VR with the Quest.