Arizona Sunshine Remake has now been released on all good VR platforms, and I was lucky enough to get hands-on with the game days before it dropped. Being a fan of the first game and having just finished Arizona Sunshine 2, I was chomping at the brains to get back into the game and bust some undead Fred heads.
This time around, the Arizona Sunshine Remake features many elements wrapped up in the second game, and as it hadn’t been all that long since I’d played the first title, the improvements were clear as day to me.
Read on to check out my full Arizona Sunshine Remake review.
Zombies, Take Two
Arizona Sunshine is, for me, one of the best zombie-slaying franchises to ever grace a gaming platform. I don’t just mean one of the best VR zombie games, but one of the best zombie games, period. The first game sets the scene beautifully, and since it was released way back in 2016, it helped to spearhead the popularisation of VR shooters.
Arizona Sunshine 2 was released just last year, emerging to an overwhelmingly positive reception. It features a dog called Buddy and you can pet that dog, that’s all I’m saying.
Arizona Sunshine Remake takes the scene-setting adventure of the first game and fuses it with the innovations and combat mechanics of the second game, making for a sublime combination. It looks stunning on screen (or on headset), it feels smoother, more responsive, and most importantly, more visceral.
The array of weapons players can utilise has been expanded to also include melee weapons and two-handed guns, the first of which you’ll get your hands on very early on. There’s a tantalisingly violent cooperative multiplayer mode to explore, and the zombie models look better than ever.
Worth Every Penny
Arizona Sunshine Remake might only be around four hours long, but there’s a lot packed into that playtime. It’s a mostly linear adventure with a few puzzles to solve here and there, but the bulk of your entertainment will come from the bloodthirsty combat mechanics. It feels so satisfying popping some Fred heads or hacking at them with some kind of bladed article.
I’ll say that the story isn’t as immersive as Arizona Sunshine 2, but it’s a perfect ‘introductory episode’ that sets the stage for the follow-up game. In terms of playing order, I’ll say pick up Arizona Sunshine Remake and then leap straight into Arizona Sunshine 2.
One of my favourite elements of both games is the vocal work of Sky Soleil, whose quips keep me energised throughout the entire story (twice over). That paired with the masterful visual creations of Vertigo Studios is enough to keep me well and truly switched on.
Ultimately, Arizona Sunshine Remake is worth the investment, ten times over. It’s a phenomenal VR shooter and one of the most immersive games I’ve played on Meta Quest 3 since picking up a headset. I have struggled to find a fault with the game – if I had one complaint, it’s that it leaves me desperately wanting more by the time it wraps up. Is that really a bad thing?
Arizona Sunshine Remake Verdict
Arizona Sunshine Remake is a fantastic VR shooter with some brilliant combat mechanics and an immersive atmosphere. It’s a little short, but that’s par for the course for VR games. It won’t overtake the sequel in terms of quality and depth, but it’s an entertaining few hours of zombie-slaying goodness, and with the various improvements made by Vertigo Games, it’s well worth a second dip for those who have already played it.
Arizona Sunshine Remake was reviewed on Meta Quest 3 with a code provided by the publisher. For more on Insider Gaming’s reviews, view our full review policy. Let us know what you think of Arizona Sunshine Remake and Insider Gaming’s review on the Insider Gaming forum.
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