Kayak VR Mirage Review: A Calming Experience That Shows What PSVR 2 Has To Offer

When you think of VR games what do you usually picture? Manic shooters? Rhythm-based games? Something that will scare the pants off you? Well, Kayak VR: Mirage couldn't be further from these, and - at this moment - is one of the best titles the PSVR 2 has to offer. 

More of an experience than a game, Kayak VR: Mirage offers some of the most peaceful and therapeutic gameplay I've ever experienced in a game, not to mention a VR title. The premise is simple. Players will take a kayak and venture out onto some of the most beautiful waters worldwide and simply take in the beauty surrounding them. No enemies to worry about, no objectives to complete, and nothing to fear. 

After a brief tutorial (set in a swimming pool, for safety, of course) you will be free to do and go where you like. There are several areas you can choose to visit, each of which offers different views, atmospheres and even wildlife. See a whale launch out of the water in Antarctica, brave a fierce storm in Norway, paddle through breathtaking canyons in Australia or kayak alongside dolphins in Costa Rica, and with the added option of choosing various times of the day, no adventure is like the other. 

For the competitive gamer, there are time trials that you can participate in, driving to get the quickest time through a select route - which you can also complete through online multiplayer. Be warned though, this is for the experienced VR player, as the sheer speed can cause you to feel a little nauseous. 

The most impressive part of Kayak VR: Mirage isn't within its stunning visuals though. It's within its physics. Using the PSVR 2's sense controllers to seamlessly push yourself through the water feels almost real. The haptic feedback when you glide the air through the water, or even when you push yourself off a rock, is mind-blowing. It allows you to feel like you are sitting in the middle of the calming waters bobbing along in your kayak, and that is something I cannot get my head around.