Preview: Brazen Blaze - new VR multiplayer game

At Gamescom, I had the opportunity to take a first look at a new VR multiplayer game by the Japanese developer MyDearest. The developer studio is known for several spin-offs such as "Tokyo Chronos" and "Dyschronia". The Japanese proudly told me that the screenwriter of the "Castlevania" Netflix series, Warren Ellis, even worked on the brand new virtual reality action game called "Blaze", in which two teams of three compete in the favour of shooting, jumping and grabbing.

The multiplayer shooter was inspired a little by "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate", as I was told at the stand. Well, to me the first throw of the platform VR shooter seemed more like a mixture of the arm-wrestler racing game "Sprint Vector", paired with a touch of fast dash moves from the samurai shooter "Sairento". Only here you don't have a sword, but a standard weapon each. If I remember correctly, each includes alternate fire such as mini-missiles and fun throwing arcs.

Simple game principle, but the controls could be a little better

In the Business Area at Gamescom, I was allowed to play an early pre-alpha version of "Brazen Blaze" on Meta Quest 2. The basic moves include Jump, Dash (fast forward movement), Shoot, Grab or climb walls and Punch with Super Gloves to push enemies off the stage even faster. Each game character also has an arsenal of their own special attacks, for example, to set objects on fire or cause more explosions.

The combination of melee attacks, weapons and fast dash moves promises a lot of adrenaline. However, it took me a little longer in the tutorial to internalise the few basic moves. For example, I found it a bit unnatural that the game move for dashing (fast forward movement) is realised via a trigger button of the Quest 2.

I would have found it cooler here if the dashing had been solved via a hand or push movement. However, I find it funny that you race through the air and can also destroy walls with small bombs.

Still too early for a final verdict

The characters and the weapons exude their special Japanese comic charm. As I said, it is still a very early version. Let's hope that the game worlds will also be enriched with more artefacts.

The one arena in which I was allowed to let off steam with five other players for 20 minutes still adorned a rather barren VR landscape and contained the most important objects such as walls, bricks and platforms, as if "Neo" were "booting" himself into his empty setup environment like in the film "The Matrix" to try out a new fighting technique.

If all goes well, "Brazen Blaze" will be released later this year on Quest and SteamVR appear. Currently, there is the possibility to participate in a closed alpha test phase. You can try this via the official Discord Server from MyDearest.