How We Soar (2016)
Description
How We Soar delivers an immersive virtual reality flight experience, allowing players to take control of a magnificent, oversized Phoenix and navigate a captivating papercraft universe. As the rider of this legendary creature, players traverse the intricate landscapes inspired by the personal diaries and artistic creations of the “Author.”
Explore a Unique Papercraft World
Players are invited to explore a visually rich environment, entirely constructed from delicate, hand-crafted paper textures. Each area reflects the imagination and creativity of the Author, offering detailed landscapes, hidden pathways, and interactive elements. Flying through these spaces, you actively reconstruct the pages of the Author’s works, witnessing the stories and illustrations come to life before your eyes.
Uncover the Author’s Personal Story
The gameplay experience revolves around discovery and reconstruction. While soaring through the virtual world, players gradually piece together the narrative embedded within the Author’s diaries and artwork. This process reveals insights into the Author’s life, thoughts, and creative journey, connecting the flight mechanics with a compelling story exploration experience.
Immersive VR Flight Mechanics
Powered by Unreal Engine 4, How We Soar offers smooth, responsive flight controls optimized for virtual reality. Players experience the sensation of gliding, turning, and ascending on the Phoenix’s back, interacting naturally with the 3D environment. The game is designed exclusively for Sony PlayStation®VR, providing a fully immersive visual and auditory experience.
Single Player Experience
The game is designed for one player, emphasizing personal exploration and reflection. There are no competitive elements or time constraints, allowing players to move at their own pace while absorbing the detailed environments and the unfolding story.
Technical Requirements and Features
- Platform: PlayStation®VR
- Software License: Usage is subject to license terms provided by Sony (us.playstation.com/softwarelicense)
- Online Features: Require a PlayStation Network account and are subject to PlayStation terms of service and privacy policy (playstationnetwork.com/terms-of-service & playstationnetwork.com/privacy-policy)
- License Model: One-time purchase allows play on the account’s primary PS4™ system and additional PS4™ systems when signed in with the same account
- Motion Sickness Warning: Virtual reality games may cause discomfort or motion sickness for some players
Artistic and Audio Design
The game combines visual artistry with a carefully designed audio landscape. The sound design complements the papercraft environments, enhancing the feeling of flight and the discovery process. Players encounter atmospheric sounds that respond to the Phoenix’s movement and interactions within the world, creating a coherent and immersive sensory experience.
Conclusion
How We Soar offers a distinctive VR journey that blends artistic exploration, narrative reconstruction, and flight simulation. By guiding the Phoenix through the Author’s creative universe, players engage with a dynamic combination of storytelling, environmental interaction, and immersive virtual reality mechanics, all within a uniquely handcrafted papercraft world.
Our Verdict
How We Soar is a unique VR experience that lets you fly on the back of a giant Phoenix through a beautiful papercraft world. The game is visually stunning and has a relaxing, magical feel that makes exploring a joy. It’s simple to play and offers a quiet, imaginative escape from the everyday.
The storytelling is subtle but touching, revealed as you interact with the Author’s creations. While the game is short, the experience is memorable, and the VR immersion is handled well. Motion sickness might affect some players, but most will enjoy the smooth flight mechanics.
We recommend How We Soar for anyone looking for a calm, visually charming VR adventure. It’s perfect for fans of exploration and artistic worlds, even if you’re new to VR.