While fast-paced paced action and rhythm games like Pistol Whip have become more common in the VR space over the years, more methodical, stealth-driven games have yet to really find their stride in the space. However, as of today, one new release has finally come about to buck that trend.
Developed by nDreams, Phantom: Covert Ops is a stealth-focused action game where you must use cover, silence, and strategy to your advantage. The game places you in the shoes of a special agent who sets out to defeat a former Soviet operative named Nikolai Zhurov. To take down Zhurov, who is voiced by David Hayter, famous for portraying Solid Snake from the Metal Gear Solid series, Phantom: Covert Ops takes you through various levels where your goal will be to quietly take out different foes before advancing onward.
You can check out the game’s launch trailer below to see it in action:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GWDewIIQQ8]
While a more stealth-focused experience might be somewhat more unique to the virtual reality space, what really sets Phantom: Covert Ops apart from some other titles is how it utilizes 1:1 movement for every action in the game. This means that everything from reloading your weapon, planting explosives, or eliminating different enemies must come about directly from the actions that you take with your own arm and hand movements. Even the game’s “military-grade kayak”, which is one of the main accessories at the disposal of your character, must be used in the same way you’d operate a kayak in the real-world.
“Phantom: Covert Ops has had so much passion, hard work and creativity poured into it by the team here at nDreams. They have delivered a truly immersive VR game and words can’t express how proud I am of them,” said nDreams CEO Patrick O’Luanaigh in a statement to accompany the game’s launch. “I’ve been blown away by what they, along with the support of Oculus Studios, have achieved throughout development, especially on the Oculus Quest. This really is stealth action redefined for VR and we can’t wait for people to be able to play it.”
Even though Phantom: Covert Ops might not have you up and moving about as some other first-person action games do, it should certainly provide you with more than enough opportunity to break a sweat. Considering how much movement the game asks from the player, this is one title that you’ll surely need to get up off of the couch to play.
Phantom: Covert Ops is available now on the Oculus Store and can be purchased for either Rift or Quest at $29.99.
