Introduction
Virtual reality (VR) has significantly impacted the video game world over the past few years. RTS games, long beloved by both casual and hardcore gamers alike, in particular have experienced a renaissance as of late thanks to the new dimensions and possibilities added by incorporating VR technology.
What is RTS for Gaming?
RTS stands for "real-time strategy" and refers to games that use strategic planning, real-time decision-making, and resource management in their gameplay. Although games of this nature existed previously, the term was first used in 1992 to describe Dune II by Westwood Studios and since then, has become one of the most popular video gaming formats.
Unlike turn-based games, RTS players make decisions in combat, on resource utilization, and every other facet of the game at the same time as other players or the computer, which makes them more complex. Think of a chess game but both players move their pieces simultaneously.
What Makes a Game an RTS?
To be an RTS, a game must include two major functions: a combat system and a series of items like building materials that can be used to create items for use both in and out of combat. They are often associated with the phrase "Build, think, fight!".
The second part generally includes buildings or ships, units like warriors or soldiers, technologies like upgrades or power-ups, and resources like materials that are harvested and generated in-game to buy, trade for, or create things like weapons.
These are then used in the combat system for various purposes. In a typical RTS, players command an army of troops (units) to protect buildings or planets or raid those of the enemy. In combat, they use resources like in-game currency to purchase technologies to make the battles easier.
RTS VR Games on PICO 4
Although RTS games are available in many formats and can be played on a variety of platforms, many gamers find that they get the most enjoyment when they play RTS on VR. As PICO VR is currently the worldwide standard for virtual reality, let's take a look at three popular VR RTS games available on the PICO 4 VR system.
In the distant future on a world called Orkana, the player and their troops from Earth arrive to set up a human colony. Once they land, they learn that the planet wasn't uninhabited at all and a group of hostile alien soldiers begin to attack. Players harvest resources, create buildings, and fight with a group of soldiers to defeat the enemy.
The game includes five missions, each providing multiple gameplay hours. Unlike standard RTS titles, Orkana Conflict doesn't have thousands of soldiers for the player to command. Instead, they lead a group of 20-25 soldiers, which requires more strategy to win battles and overcome obstacles.
The incorporation of VR makes the game even more exhilarating, as the player oversees and participates in the combat while flying above Orkana. Although most parts of the game can either be first-person or third-person, battles are always in first-person mode, giving gamers the experience of actually flying a ship to destroy enemies and conquer the planet below. With three difficulty levels and endless replayability, Orkana Conflict is perfect for gamers of all skill levels.
A sci-fi VR game set 200 years in the future, Iron Guard sees the player as the First Officer on the doomed ship Avalon, which has crash-landed on the planet Akris. Earth had sent them to investigate the failure of the terraforming robot that had been sent to make the planet inhabitable for a future colony.
The terraforming robots have become self-aware, gone rogue, and can self-replicate. The player and their crew have taken refuge in a tower, which must be defended against the robots at all costs. As there are several paths the robots can take, a good deal of strategy must be employed to ensure the tower's safety.
The player leads his small army from the top of the tower, completing missions that award the team with permanent bonuses that can be used for the rest of the game. It also features an Endless Mode that allows gamers to skip the storyline and face wave after wave of terraforming robots bent on destruction. No matter which mode or difficulty is used, players are sure to enjoy defending their tower in Iron Guard VR.
Guardians is a sci-fi VR game where the player leads the titular Guardians, an elite group of warriors sent to protect Federation scientists and miners working to harvest perovskite. This mineral works as an energy source that is only found in the far reaches of the galaxy.
Guardians can create defensive structures, instantly summon warriors to defend them, and maintain a powerful weapons arsenal. In addition to the storyline mode, there are multiplayer PVE Co-op and PVP battle modes for players to enjoy this amazing game with friends or fellow gamers worldwide.
Additionally, it also contains a level editor that lets players create and reshape the world around them, either individually or cooperatively with a friend. All of these options ensure that Guardians will give players countless hours of entertainment as no matter how many times they play, no two gameplay experiences will be alike.
Conclusion
RTS is one of the most popular genres of video games and adding VR adds a new dimension that gamers of all ages and skill levels will love. For the best and most immersive RTS gaming experience, PICO VR is the premiere option today.