We go a few rounds in Hong Kong’s first VR fighting game, Unbound Fighting League
- Pick up a sword, strap on a shield and step up to try Hong Kong’s first locally developed one-on-one virtual reality game
- A haptic vest, a VR headset, a backpack to carry the console, and body and motion capture sleeves complete the illusion
The fight is intense and the cheering is loud. I cannot wait for the next round to start so I can knock out this young guy in front of me – again. It has become apparent that his head is his weak spot and that will be the target of my attacks. I have picked a sword so I can deal deadly blows from a distance. But I need to use my shield better – so I don’t lose any points unnecessarily.
It’s time to get inside the ring and the crowd starts roaring again. We are not inside some gladiator-style Colosseum but a 600 sq ft green room in Hong Kong. All the action takes place in virtual reality.
The game, Unbound Fighting League (UFL), is the city’s first locally developed player versus player VR game. It was launched by Sandbox VR in late December last year.
The title is entering a market dominated by first- and third-party shooter games, according to Alan Lam, general manager of Sandbox VR. This is the company’s fourth in-house developed game and it took three to four months to realise.
“Players interact with human opponents. It offers a different experience to shooting games,” says Lam. “This is a more dynamic e-sport. They do not just sit still.”
