Zero Caliber 2 on Quest 3 is a fun arcade VR shooter that still needs a lot of work
Zero Caliber 2 impresses with a large selection of weapons, but still has room for improvement in terms of gameplay. My hands-on experience with the VR shooter.
Zero Caliber 2 is the latest release from Hungarian developer studio Xreal Games and follows directly on from its predecessor Zero Caliber. The military VR shooter not only offers an extensive single player campaign, but also a co-op mode for up to four players and even a PvP mode. Native mod support should provide additional long-term motivation.
I got an impression of the standalone version for Meta Quest 3 and would like to tell you about my experiences.
Large selection of weapons and clumsy controls
As is customary for VR shooters, my tour of Zero Caliber 2 begins with a tutorial. On a small shooting range, I get to know the different types of weapons. From a simple pistol to a grenade launcher, you'll find everything your heart desires. I also learn how to modify the weapons with different attachments.
It all goes very smoothly, and before I know it, I'm transported to the first real level. The movement in Zero Caliber 2 works pretty well, but I noticed a few graphical bugs right away. Grabbing objects and weapons often feels a bit awkward, too, as the controls are a bit clumsy at times.
Boom and bang through the enemies
As soon as the first shots are fired, it becomes clear that Zero Caliber 2 is more at home on the arcade side of the shooter spectrum. Even if the military look and the large number of realistic weapons at first glance suggest otherwise, the main goal here is to create as much chaos as possible.
The weapons are based on real models, but the action in Zero Caliber 2 is very arcadey. Image: XREAL Games
A cautious approach and well-considered shots are the exception rather than the rule. Instead, I had a lot of fun taking weapons from defeated enemies and plowing through the levels in John Rambo style. Armed with two submachine guns, I stormed through the ruined houses, taking out one enemy after another.
Technically expandable and sometimes monotonous
Unfortunately, during my time with the game, I also noticed some technical weaknesses. The aforementioned problems with grabbing objects and weapons are not the only bugs. It often happened that I could simply run through enemies or even tanks, rendering them incapacitated. The enemy AI didn't exactly blow me away either.
On the low difficulty, I could simply run over most of them without them reacting at all. When I increased the difficulty, they weren't any smarter, but they were able to hit me from all angles with dreamlike certainty. I would have liked more of a middle ground here, and especially smarter, more tactical opponents.
Another point of criticism is the lack of variety. Sure, there are countless weapons and attachments that I can use to my heart's content — no question. Unfortunately, the environments are a bit lacking. I often feel like I'm running through the same houses over and over again, taking out enemies the same way.
After a while, a certain amount of fatigue sets in, and I would have liked to see more variety in the locations and tasks. Still, the six hours or so of gameplay is pretty decent for a VR shooter.
My verdict on Zero Caliber 2 on the Meta Quest 3
All in all, Zero Caliber 2 kept me entertained. The title is definitely fun — especially if you go out with a few friends in co-op and do some damage together. However, you shouldn't go into this shooter with the wrong expectations. If you're expecting a tactical military shooter with realism and ambition, you're likely to be disappointed.
This is first and foremost a light action game, which is particularly entertaining due to the sheer number of weapons and attachments, as well as the arcade-style gunplay. However, Zero Caliber 2 is definitely worth a look if you're in between games — especially if you're in the mood for some shooting.
Graphically, the native Quest 3 version is solid, but doesn't cut any corners. The textures are sharp, and the environments are nice to look at, but Zero Caliber 2 is certainly not a VR graphics marvel. The same goes for the sound: Zero Caliber 2 meets solid genre standards, but does not set any new ones.
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