C-Smash VRS: A VR Sports Game Inspired by a Forgotten Sega Classic
With C-Smash VRS, developer Jussi Simonen reimagines a forgotten Sega game as a VR sports game that blends squash with Arkanoid in outer space. Many familiar with the Nintendo Switch Sports fix will find the core gameplay well done, but others might be taken aback by the strict timing and unforgiving misses.
Blast off in your very own space shuttle to the moons beyond Earth! Reimagined from a forgotten Sega arcade game Cosmic Smash, C-Smash VRS turns the classic game into a VR sports game. It combines elements of squash, tennis, and Arkanoid as players aim for targets by swinging their arms. Our C-Smash VRS review takes you through a journey from beginner to … Slightly Better Beginner.
C-Smash VRS’s learning curve is steep, if only because players might already be familiar with actual squash and Nintendo Switch Sports. Still, the controls are pretty straightforward: use the left thumbstick to move the character and swing the paddle by swinging the arm.
The first round starts with a missed ball, and this disconnect from reality immediately throws off the player's confidence. Swinging the arm expectantly, there is no movement and connection of the ball, leaving players flailing to the shock of their crew. Despite an actual arm being present, C-Smash’s VR detection somehow misses this, resulting in swings that don’t register correctly.
Eventually, a better sense of movement and timing is gained, but it takes a lot of time and misses yet again. In reality, squash can be given to novices because the special rackets require softer swings, with nuances only discovered by veterans and the rules written in their arm muscles. In comparison, players might feel like their left arms are going to have repetitive strain injury by the end of this.
As players run through the campaign, they find that C-Smash VRS’s foundation of blended squash and Arkanoid has potential for newcomers, with simple targets for experienced misses. Each level has a strict time limit, and failing to clear every block means failure. New obstacles and challenges are introduced, so despite being stingy with its checkpoints, the game challenges players to improve their accuracy in a good way.
Once players are given more time, however, missing even one shot challenges their patience, as multiple shots are required to clear wide columns. The several levels that encourage full-circle swings are even worse culprits. The Zen Mode might be a little dry by removing timers and making levels repeatable, but at least it’s not a complete free-for-all. Still, missing a shot even in that mode still means starting that whole level over again.
Fortunately, C-Smash VRS’s visual design is clean and visually appealing. Its futuristic aesthetic complements the orange foreground detailing that pops against a simple, mostly blue background. The shuttle crew provides some background storytelling, which could make C-Smash VRS a good family game except for the nature of frequent deaths. Still, it’s not unwelcome humor, with the occasional self-deprecation and fun lines by the poor shuttle mates.
In the end, C-Smash VRS offers a unique, immersive VR experience that recalls a classic game and deserves praise for, but the terrible obstacles of strict timing and unforgiving misses test players' patience at times. This is further exacerbated by the bad VR detection, which can frequently disrupt gameplay without player intervention. A solo mode that takes advantage of the immersive factor is sorely missed.
Still, there is much potential in taking a classic like Cosmic Smash and breathing new life into it for VR, so space squash fans should check out our C-Smash VRS review for its excellent visual design and fun gameplay.
