When Kayak VR: Mirage released alongside the PSVR 2 in 2023, it arguably carved a niche for itself as a resolutely relaxing and tranquil kayaking affair that was both impressive and welcome in the face of more frenetic fare. What it didn’t really do though was immerse players in the competitive, white-knuckle rough and tumble of kayaking through extreme rapids and other such whitewater environments. Looking to address this particular situation is Whitewater VR: Extreme Kayaking Adventure, a passion project from developer Adam Horvath which, though flawed, still manages to reliably capture the thrill of yeeting yourself down some fast moving waters in what amounts to an especially aerodynamic open plastic coffin.
Whitewater VR: Extreme Kayaking Adventure PSVR 2 Review
An Enjoyably Challenging White-Knuckle Ride
As I have already alluded to, Whitewater VR: Extreme Kayaking Adventure has been primarily crafted as a rather faster and more competitive affair than the decidedly more chilled out Kayak VR. Though there are free play events that allow you to paddle at your own pace so to speak, the more linear environments on offer here are arguably a better fit for the more urgent, competitive spirit that Whitewater VR otherwise exudes from every digital pore.
That competitive spirit is encapsulated in the various time trials that arguably serve as the backbone to Whitewater VR’s offering. Spread across five very different extreme locations that run the gamut of alpine valleys, tropical jungles, desert canyons, spring mountains and even the especially frosty climes of Eastern Iceland itself, Whitewater VR presents players a variety of theatres of war with which for them to test their mettle against Mother Nature.
And boy, is that easier said than done, too. Thanks to a realistic handling system underpinned by accurate water and physics simulations, trying to accurately control the direction and speed of your trusty kayak is entirely dependent upon the player. Overcommitting to a steer, can result in you being smashed up on the nearest set of rocks, while under committing can see you fail to avoid an incoming hazard in time, all the while you must struggle to keep your kayak stable against the onrushing fury of the white waters which surround you.
To say that Whitewater VR has something of a learning curve would be an understatement then, though it’s also equally true that when you nail a rush down a set of rapids without ever grazing the sides, the feeling of satisfaction is also keenly felt. Though a barebones tutorial is present to help you wrap your head around the handling of your kayak, Whitewater VR does little else to really help you to perfect your form. This is very much a case of learning on the job, so to speak.
While Whitewater VR can be played either standing or seated, there are a couple of caveats that need to be observed here. First, if you’re intending to play seated then for the love of Crom make sure that you’re not on a seat or chair with armrests, as I have lost count the number of times I have smashed my hands and wrists into the darn things without meaning to. When it comes to playing in a standing posture, it’s important to remember that Whitewater VR can prove to be quite a tiring and ferocious workout so not only make sure that there is nothing close by you can accidentally hit, but prepare yourself for bucketloads of sweat, too.
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Ultimately, Whitewater VR is all about time-chasing and getting the quickest time you can and while the five environments provide a decent amount of variety, Whitewater VR could still do with a few more maps for wannabe virtual kayakers to tackle. Though it can feel a bit churlish to bemoan at length about the content offering of Whitewater VR considering its budget price, it’s clear that the game isn’t quite as polished as one would like, with a relatively basic set for menus, the aforementioned poor tutorial and some really odd physics bugs that occasionally kick in when you crash into the scenery (in one case my kayak found itself hilariously shot up into the sky while spinning extremely quickly – though a handy reset button allows you to get back on track easily enough).
In spite of its budget price and modest development scope, it turns out that Whitewater VR is actually something of a looker. Making full use of PSVR 2’s higher refresh rates and foveated rendering technology, together with some great water simulation and environment lighting, Whitewater VR is certainly very easy on the eyes and a technically impressive VR offering in its own right.
A technically accomplished and satisfyingly challenging, if content light take on competitive kayaking, Whitewater VR: Extreme Kayaking Adventure is an entertainingly frenetic counterpart to the more chilled kayaking since elsewhere in the PSVR 2’s portfolio.
Whitewater VR: Extreme Kayaking Adventure is out now on PSVR 2.
Review code kindly provided by developer.