Crisis on the Planet of the Apes VR
A VR game set between two Planet of the Apes films.
Crisis on the Planet of the Apes VR is an action game released in 2018 that requires a virtual reality headset. It was built by Imaginati and put out by FoxNext for PlayStation 4 and Windows PCs. The story fits into the Planet of the Apes film reboot series, occurring after *Rise of the Planet of the Apes* but before *Dawn of the Planet of the Apes*.
The game puts players in a first-person view as an ape locked up in a human research lab. Five years after the first film, the Simian Flu has killed half of humanity and boosted ape intelligence. The goal is to break out and get back to Caesar’s group, teaming up with two other captive apes named Bone and Spear. Movement is linear, with players using ape-like actions like climbing pipes and swinging from ceilings to reach set spots. Human guards block the path and must be taken out with three gun types, and players can duck behind cover during fights.
Plans for a VR *Planet of the Apes* game were first announced in January 2017, with the title and story revealed a year later. Imaginati, which had previously made *Planet of the Apes: Last Frontier* in 2017, handled development using Unreal Engine. FoxNext published it on April 3, 2018, for Oculus, HTC Vive, and PlayStation VR headsets.
Critics pointed out the short playtime—about two hours. Gabe Gurwin of *Inven Global* noted that the game ended just as it was building toward big action scenes. Matt Kamen of *Empire* said it touched on interesting mechanics but used them only once, calling it a missed chance for VR. Jamie Feltham of *UploadVR* saw it as a step forward for VR games, praising its ideas even if they were underdeveloped. The inability to explore freely was a common complaint; Kamen felt it was more of a guided experience than a full game. *Jeuxvideo.com* criticized the difficulty and tracking problems, while others found the controls sluggish or frustrating. Graphics and immersion earned some praise. Calum Marsh of *IGN* called the game repetitive and lacking the films’ depth. Gurwin argued the events felt irrelevant to the movie canon, and that players never got to know the ape characters well. Ian Dean of *PlayStation Official Magazine – UK* described it as a fun detour for fans but noted no hidden secrets to find.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Crisis on the Planet of the Apes VR
- Developer
- Imaginati
- Publisher
- FoxNext
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Platforms
- PlayStation 4 / Microsoft Windows
- Released
- April 3, 2018
- Genre
- Action
- Modes
- Single-player
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Crisis on the Planet of the Apes VR takes place five years after the film Rise of the Planet of the Apes and prior to Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. The Simian Flu has wiped out half of the human population, leading to an uprising of highly intelligent apes. The player controls an ape imprisoned at a research facility by humans searching for a cure, with the goal of escaping and rejoining Caesar's group. The player teams up with two other captured apes, Bone and Spear.
The game is played from a first-person perspective on a linear path, requiring ape-like movements to progress. Players must kill human guards encountered along the way, using three types of guns and taking cover during shootouts. Climbing pipes and swinging from ceilings are also possible. The game was developed using Unreal Engine and released on April 3, 2018, for Oculus headsets, HTC Vive, and PlayStation VR headsets.
Reader's Guide
Crisis on the Planet of the Apes VR is notable as a virtual reality tie-in to the Planet of the Apes reboot series, filling a narrative gap between two major films. Its significance lies in its attempt to expand the film universe through immersive VR gameplay, though critical reception was mixed. Reviewers highlighted its short length of roughly two hours, with Gabe Gurwin of Inven Global noting that the game ended just as it seemed to reach its climax. Critics also pointed to the inability to freely explore levels, with Matt Kamen of Empire describing it as 'more of a guided VR experience than a full game.' The game's best ideas were considered underdeveloped, though Jamie Feltham of UploadVR called it a step forward for VR games. The game received some praise for its graphics and VR immersion, but was criticized for repetitive gameplay, sluggish controls, and a lack of depth compared to the films. Calum Marsh of IGN felt it lacked the films' depth and seriousness, while Gurwin stated its events feel entirely superfluous to the film canon. For fans of the series, Ian Dean of PlayStation Official Magazine – UK called it a 'wonderful rabbit hole' but noted no hidden secrets.
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