When zipping between points the game reduces your field of view to reduce nausea. You walk around with cinematic camera angles similar to games like Chronos but, whatever you need to use a Batarang or aim the grapple gun, you press the A button to jump inside the cowl and aim with your head. The camera, for example, mixes up third and first-person. The problem is that this makes for a dizzying and dull VR game. In fact, it’s even closer to the original Arkham games than Rocksteady’s VR debut was you zip between vantage points using a grappling hook and then, when the time is right, swoop down to launch surprise attacks on enemies and engage in hand-to-hand combat. In fairness to VRSE Batman, it does try to do everything that Batman: Arkham VR didn’t. After that you’re free to place the phone in any other mobile headset to enjoy the game. The shoddy device is only one part of the package, though it also comes with an exclusive new Batman VR game that can only be activated by pairing the motion controller to your smartphone.

The appeal of the gadgets runs out quickly.Earlier this week we reviewed the VRSE Batman VR headset and, well, we’ll let the article speak for itself. Also, Alfred’s face is impervious to being shot repeatedly by a grapnel gun. That’s cool until you realize they’ll only interact with very specific things in very specific ways, and the Batarangs have some crazy auto-aim that makes it all but impossible to miss as long as you're throwing it in the general direction of your target. You get to grab the Batarangs, scanner, and grapnel gun off your utility belt and aim them and shoot or throw, just like Batman would. Using the three gadgets is fun for a couple of minutes.

The only hand-to-hand combat happens without your participation, so that’s a disappointing lack of interactivity. And even though my hands are Batman’s hands, I didn’t get to punch anybody. But here, Batman teleports from place to place (which is more or less standard in VR games) but when he does move he's is just as much of a klutz as I am. What I love most about the actual Arkham games is the way Batman moves as I control him in combat and stealth. “At the same time, all of the gameplay is very simple stuff, and much of the way you move around and interact with the world doesn't feel like a great fit for a character like Batman.

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