The Watcher stood tall in my household room, bald and berobed, nestled amongst my youngsters’ toys, sleeping cats and TV. I used to be being requested to assist save the multiverse! So started Marvel and ILM Interactive’s What If…? on the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional. Just like the Disney+ collection and comics of the identical title, this interactive expertise recontextualizes Marvel’s characters in quite a lot of intriguing methods — what if the Allies by no means received World Conflict 2 and the Captain America experiment was a failure, for instance.
What If…? has at all times been a enjoyable idea, however can it truly be reworked right into a worthwhile augmented actuality showpiece? Nicely, sure and no — at the very least, based mostly on the hour I spent with it on the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional.
Earlier than I dive into main criticisms, I am going to say up entrance that What If…? is clearly an experiment, so tough edges are to be anticipated. I give Marvel and ILM Interactive credit score for making it utterly free for Imaginative and prescient Professional customers and for taking a large swing at a platform with out many customers. Your complete expertise additionally appears to be like splendidly detailed, because of the mix of Marvel and ILM’s immersive environments and character animation, in addition to the sheer energy of the Imaginative and prescient Professional’s M2 processor. It is the closest you will get to dwelling within a comic book.
Marvel has already dabbled in digital actuality with Iron Man for the PSVR and Quest, in addition to Marvel Powers United VR, however What If…? is an try to perform one thing much more immersive: What when you may work together with superheroes proper in your house? Largely, although, I discovered myself asking “What if this experience was actually fun to play?”
You are positioned within the function of a mystical apprentice, wielding powers much like Physician Unusual. Initially you may maintain up a fist to manifest a protect, or look in the direction of objects to make use of telekinesis. However you ultimately achieve the power to shoot mystical blasts and entice enemies. All of it sounds extremely cool in principle, however in apply it felt worse than the first-gen VR video games I performed a decade in the past.
Largely, that is as a result of What If…? depends in your fingers for every part. The Imaginative and prescient Professional would not have a devoted VR controller just like the Oculus Quest or HTC Vive, which supply instantaneous button inputs and could possibly be tracked via IR sensors. As a substitute, you need to wait a fraction of a second for Apple’s headset to acknowledge your fingers and decide what you are attempting to do. Consequently, What If…? feels extra such as you’re sitting via a Marvel theme park journey, transferring from one state of affairs to the following with out a lot energetic participation. It is a poor solution to make you are feeling like a multiverse-hopping adventurer.
On the very least, What If…? exhibits off what Marvel may do if it centered extra on the Imaginative and prescient Professional and no matter Oculus has cooking subsequent. Like a campy 3D movie, the sport wastes no time attempting to blow you away with its core gimmick. It kicks off with a remixed Marvel intro montage in 2D, floating in entrance of you in augmented actuality. As Michael Giacchino’s iconic rating crescendoes, you are immediately surrounded by clips of the collection drifting in from outdoors your subject of view. It is a temporary second, nevertheless it’s the kind of factor that would not be as impactful in a standard VR headset, the place you are immersed in an alternate actuality from the beginning.
The expertise really begins with the aforementioned Watcher — one in all Marvel’s cosmic beings who observe its many universes — roping you in for an journey. You recognize the drill: Discover the entire Infinity Stones and cease whoever is attempting to destroy all identified creation. Youngsters’ stuff. Alongside the best way, you will run into alternate-universe variations of acquainted characters: Thor’s sister Hela, who solely needs to avoid wasting her beloved large wolf Fenris; a model of Steve Rogers who appears to be like eerily just like the Purple Cranium; and a extra sympathetic Thanos.
What If…? strikes between digital environments that totally immerse you within the motion and augmented actuality situations, the place The Watcher and some companions putter round your room. You are able to do the identical, generally, however throughout the VR segments, the sport expects you to remain nonetheless. You will additionally need to click on via Imaginative and prescient Professional pop-ups about being aware of your environment earlier than each VR scene — a needed evil for individuals unfamiliar with VR, but in addition one thing that kills immersion since it is not built-in into the sport.
Regardless of my points with the gameplay, I in the end had a decently entertaining hour with What If…? It was a fast Marvel repair in a time the place I’ve grown bored with the onslaught of Disney+ MCU exhibits. I simply cannot assist however want it have been extra enjoyable to play. I am hoping this launch helps Marvel and ILM Interactive get higher at constructing AR and VR experiences. And for Apple, it is a clear signal that some kind of Imaginative and prescient Professional controller can be useful down the road.