10 immersive apps and games that make Samsung’s Gear VR a must-have

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http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/xLVRsXj3tmO0IG7H.Uy1kw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3NfbGVnbztmaT1maWxsO2g9ODY7cT03NTt3PT EzMA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en-US/homerun/digital_trends_973/600627f4e90e7158e39ef277412f9b46 (http://news.yahoo.com/10-immersive-apps-games-samsung-191538037.html)Google Cardboard is the easiest way to experience simple virtual reality at home right now, but it doesn’t come close to the VR experience provided by the headsets of the future from Oculus, Sony, and HTC. Samsung’s new Gear VR bridges the gap. It’s not as powerful as the dedicated headsets — it’s powered by a phone, after all — but its cool features and ability to immerse the user are way beyond Cardboard. Plus, it’s a relative bargain, provided you own a Samsung phone. Related: Read our full, four-star Samsung Gear VR review If you’re about to put on Samsung’s VR headset, you’ll want to know the best apps available to demonstrate its abilities. Here are our picks of the ones you should download first. Both Samsung and Oculus provide app stores for the Gear VR, and you’ll need to set up an account online with the latter before buying any apps. Once you’re ready, here are the apps we think you should immediately try out. EVE: Gunjack Please enable Javascript to watch this video This game is a must have for sci-fi and shoot-em-up fans. It’s a real treat in VR right from the amazing opening sequence, to the excitement of blowing up some of the biggest emery starships once you’re engrossed in the game. It’s also-set in the Eve game universe, one in which you must control a gun turret and destroy incoming pirate ships. Controlled using head movements and either the touchpad on the side of the Gear VR or a Bluetooth controller, the real challenge is knowing when to reload and use any special weapons you’ve picked up. It’s great fun, but a little pricey at $15. Land’s End Please enable Javascript to watch this video An atmospheric puzzle game that’s more about whizzing through a dreamy world than actually solving puzzles, Land’s End will remind seasoned gamers of the classic Archipelago in its structure and feel. Zipping from point to point, the puzzles are all about joining dots together to open doorways so you continue your journey. Despite the fact that the world is brightly cartoonish, the heights are still dizzying, the movement super-smooth, and the atmosphere very relaxing. It’s addictive, too, and although there are checkpoints to save progress, it’s best played all the way through in one go. It’s engrossing enough to make this a real possibility. Herobound: Spirit Champion Herobound: Spirit Champion- is a-classic platform title-that showcases just how well this genre can be converted to VR. It’s effective, providing-a third-person view of a fantasy world and your elf-like character, and allows you to wander rooms, chop up baddies,-and collect the numerous items as you go. There’s nothing new here, outside of the viewpoint and head-tracking, but it’s plenty of fun. A Bluetooth controller is essential to make the most of it. If you don’t want to splash out on the full $10 Spirit Champion without giving it a try, look for Herobound: First Steps. -The latter is a free demo that’s designed to-give an idea of what the game is-all about. Dreadhalls Please enable Javascript to watch this video You wake up in a dungeon, with no idea why or where you are. The object is to explore your surroundings and find out what’s going on. The dark, narrow, shadow-filled corridors and rooms hold frightening secrets — and some really terrifying monsters. You’ll need a spinning chair, Bluetooth game controller, and nerves of steel for this chilling title. Smash Hit Please enable Javascript to watch this video Smash Hit -is a huge amount of fun. As you float down corridors, the idea is to break glass panes, structures, and towers along the way with a barrage of metal balls. Careful, though, you haven’t got unlimited ammunition, so accuracy counts. There’s no stopping the journey or adjusting your speed, either, and the game tests your-reactions as much as your aim. The glass crumbles in a realistic, satisfying fashion, making Smash Hit- addictive and fun. Games like Land’s End may be more atmospheric, but this is good, old arcade fun. It’s also a bargain at $3, considering how long we’ve been playing it. Next page: Five more awesome apps and games for the Gear VR Vrse Please enable Javascript to watch this video Vrse-is our pick of the many VR video apps available through the Samsung and Oculus store. There’s not a massive amount of content available, but what’s there is excellent — high production values, superbly filmed, and in the case of the documentaries, very informative. A standout film, which serves as a great introduction for the power of VR, is Catatonic . Strapped into a wheelchair, you’re pushed around your new home — a mental asylum — where bad stuff happens. Not for the faint-hearted, it’s a brilliant example of how VR could become the future of horror entertainment. Flickr VR Flickr’s beautiful collection of 360-degree photos were made to be viewed on a VR headset. The app is simple to navigate, and the large thumbnails provide a decent idea of the final picture before you open it up. You’ll either need a spinning chair or a lot of space to look around and fully appreciate the joy of these images. Samsung Internet You can even browse the Internet while wearing the Gear VR headset. It’s not exactly the best way to view your favorite sites, but still an interesting demonstration of how virtual reality adapts to the regular computer and smartphone tasks we do everyday. Trying to use the on-screen keyboard is laborious and the images and text are often pixelated on the 1440p displays, but give it a try anyway. Read more here. Netflix Living Room Like the Oculus Video app, the Netflix Living Room app sits you down in a virtual environment to watch a movie of your choice from the site’s extensive library. You’ll need an account to enjoy it, but there’s no question watching a movie like this is enjoyable, because the screen looks so big. However, even the Gear VR’s relative lightweight build gets uncomfortable after a while, and a movie with an epic runtime quickly becomes a struggle for even the strongest neck muscles. Read more here. Oculus Arcade Never thought you’d play Sonic , Altered Beast , Spy Hunter , or APB on a stand-up arcade machine again? Now you can. You’re dropped into a virtual arcade with a selection of classic arcade titles on recreations of their original machines, complete with a joystick and buttons that move according to your input.-The controls can be a little problematic, even with a Bluetooth controller, and to play each title for an unlimited amount of time requires a fee. Then again, it’s free to download and each game offers-20 minutes of free gameplay, which will probably be enough for most people. Read more here.



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