Farpoint is a virtual reality first-person shooter video game developed by Impulse Gear and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It was released on the PlayStation 4 on May 16, 2017, and received mostly positive reviews.

Farpoint
Developer(s)Impulse Gear
Publisher(s)Sony Interactive Entertainment
Designer(s)Seth Luisi
Programmer(s)Greg Koreman
Artist(s)Randy Nolta
Writer(s)Rob Yescombe
Composer(s)Stephen Cox
EngineUnreal Engine 4
Platform(s)PlayStation 4
ReleaseMay 16, 2017
Genre(s)First-person shooter
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Gameplay

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Farpoint is a virtual reality space adventure set on a hostile alien planet. It can be played with the PS VR Aim Controller.[1] It also features online cooperative play, and includes a single-player campaign.[2]

Development

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Farpoint was announced at E3 2016.[3] It was developed by San Francisco-based developer Impulse Gear. A downloadable expansion called Cryo Pack was released on June 27, which featured new maps and levels.[4] A second downloadable content pack called Versus Expansion Pack was released on December 5, which featured two new PvP modes, three new player skins and 15 new weapons, in addition to a progressive XP system.[5]

Reception

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Farpoint received generally positive reviews and has a score of 71% on Metacritic.[17]

IGN awarded it a score of 7.5 out of 10, saying "Fantastic gunplay and freedom of movement sets PSVR's Farpoint apart from most VR shooting galleries."[18] GameSpot awarded it 7 out of 10, saying "Despite shifting gears in surprising ways and extending the life of its gunplay by remixing levels, Farpoint is more like a proof of concept than a game designed to push the envelope on its own terms."[19] Game Informer also awarded it 7 out of 10, saying "Farpoint may not move the needle as a shooter, but it’s a sound VR experience."[20] Destructoid similarly awarded it 7 out of 10, and said "the biggest problem is that all of these technical advancements aren't backed up by a setting that does it justice."[21]

Farpoint sold 17,100 copies within its first week on sale in Japan.[22] It debuted at number two on the UK sales charts, and was the highest-charting VR-required game in the UK.[23]

Accolades

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The game won both the PlayStation VR Award at the PlayStation Awards 2017, and the PlayStation VR Game of the Year award at the Road to VR's 2017 Game of the Year Awards.[24][25] It was also nominated for "Best PS VR Experience" at PlayStation Blog's Game of the Year Awards.[26]

Year Award Category Result Ref
2017 The Independent Game Developers' Association (TIGA) Action and Adventure Game Nominated [27]
Golden Joystick Awards Best VR Game Nominated [28]
Hollywood Music in Media Awards Original Score - Video Game Won [29]
The Game Awards 2017 Best VR/AR Game Nominated [30]
2018 National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers Awards Control Design, VR Nominated [31][32]
Direction in Virtual Reality Nominated
Game, Original Action Nominated
Innovation in Game Technology Nominated
Game Developers Choice Awards Best VR/AR Game Nominated [33]
2018 Webby Awards Best Music/Sound Design Won [34]

References

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  1. ^ Luisi, Seth (June 13, 2016). "Farpoint Announced for PlayStation VR". PlayStation Blog. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  2. ^ Luisi, Seth (June 13, 2016). "Farpoint Launches May 16 on PS VR, Features Online Co-op". PlayStation Blog. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  3. ^ Davis, Justin (June 13, 2016). "E3 2016: FARPOINT PS VR GAME REVEALED". IGN. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  4. ^ Luisi, Seth (June 13, 2017). "Farpoint's Cryo Pack expansion arrives on 27th June". PlayStation Blog. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  5. ^ Luisi, Seth (December 5, 2017). "Farpoint for PS VR: Versus Expansion Pack Releases Today". PlayStation Blog. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  6. ^ "Farpoint for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  7. ^ Lang, Ben (16 May 2017). "'Farpoint' + PSVR Aim Review". Road to VR. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  8. ^ Kamen, Matt (16 May 2017). "Farpoint PSVR review: VR gaming matures in this dazzling and terrifying FPS". Wired. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  9. ^ Rougeau, Mike (17 May 2017). "Farpoint Review". IGN. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  10. ^ Jagneaux, David (15 May 2017). "Farpoint Review: A Good Game That Could Have Been Great". UploadVR. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  11. ^ Kuchera, Ben (16 May 2017). "Farpoint review". Polygon. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  12. ^ Clark, Justin (18 May 2017). "Farpoint Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  13. ^ Bertz, Matt (16 May 2017). "Farpoint Shooting For The Moon". Game Informer. Archived from the original on May 20, 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  14. ^ Carter, Chris. "Review: Farpoint". Destructoid. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  15. ^ Carsillo, Ray (18 May 2017). "Farpoint review". Electronic Gaming Monthly. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  16. ^ Williams, Mike (16 May 2017). "Farpoint Review: A Great VR Experience, But Just An Okay Game". USgamer. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  17. ^ "Farpoint for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  18. ^ Rougeau, Mike (May 17, 2017). "Far Point Review". IGN. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  19. ^ Clarke, Justin (May 18, 2017). "Far Point Review". GameSpot. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  20. ^ Bertz, Matt (May 16, 2017). "Farpoint Review". Game Informer. Archived from the original on May 20, 2017. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  21. ^ Carter, Chris (May 15, 2017). "Farpoint Review". Destructoid. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  22. ^ Romano, Sal (June 28, 2017). "Media Create Sales: 6/19/17 – 6/25/17". Gematsu. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
  23. ^ Dayus, Oscar (May 22, 2017). "Top 10 UK Sales Chart: Injustice 2 Debuts At No.1, Farpoint Is Highest Charting VR Game Ever". GameSpot. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  24. ^ "Award results in 2017". PlayStation Asia. November 30, 2017. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  25. ^ "Road to VR's 2017 Game of the Year Awards". Road to VR. December 22, 2017. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  26. ^ "Game of the Year 2017: The Winners, As Voted By You". PlayStation Blog. January 11, 2018. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  27. ^ Stephenson, Suzi (September 21, 2017). "TIGA Games Industry Awards 2017 Finalists Revealed". The Independent Game Developers' Association. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  28. ^ Gaito, Eri (November 13, 2017). "Golden Joystick Awards 2017 Nominees". Best in Slot. Archived from the original on January 10, 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  29. ^ "Hollywood Music in Media Awards: Full Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. November 17, 2017. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  30. ^ Makuch, Eddie (December 8, 2017). "The Game Awards 2017 Winners Headlined By Zelda: Breath Of The Wild's Game Of The Year". GameSpot. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  31. ^ "Nominee List for 2017". National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers. February 9, 2018. Archived from the original on February 15, 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  32. ^ "Horizon wins 7; Mario GOTY". National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers. March 13, 2018. Archived from the original on March 14, 2018. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  33. ^ "18th Annual Game Developers Choice Awards Finalists". Game Developers Choice Awards. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  34. ^ "2018 Winners". The Webby Awards. April 24, 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2018.