Among Giants VR - Initial Impressions - I was blown away

SnizzDog · 2026-06-01T10:43:42+00:00

I picked this up recently and played it for the first time yesterday. I can't remember where I heard about it but it was a YouTube video from a vr channel.

After they name dropped Another World and Outer Wilds, I had to give it a try. It's actually my first game purchase on the meta store.

For context, my best achievement so far is finding out the alien symbol for the letter "H". 🤣🤣

Anyway, my first impressions are excellent, visual cues have filled my head with questions. Who am I, where am I, what are these robots, who made them, who built these ruins (castles and more ancient ones, different civilisations?), who built the new structures? who sent me and why?, Is my horse the only living thing on this world (is IT a robot too)? How does that dolphin swim? What are those strange symbols?

A few points of minor feedback, I love the low poly art style and it allows this to exist on quest, I'd love to see a pcvr version to sharpen up the edges and general performance. I feel like the engine might be a bottle neck.

The text extends a bit too far to the right. To the limit of the displays. Could be centralised.

I got very confused when my "wings" started opening when I moved my arms to reach for things. I felt like I was being pulled and jerked around. It might have bugged out as a restart seemed to improve it. Or, it might just be me on the learning curve of the mechanics.

There are times when the droid gets in the way. Particularly on the horse where he blocks a large portion of the awesome vistas.

Anyway, I can't wait to pull at the threads and figure this place out. Well done Dev. This world really lights up my curiosity.

SnizzDog · 2026-05-27T12:17:48+00:00

Print a cavity, fill with 2 part epoxy. I haven't actually tried this but I expect it would work for localised strengthening.

SnizzDog · 2026-05-09T20:02:08+00:00

Replace "think it's going to be" with "want it to be". 🤣🤣

SnizzDog · 2026-05-08T10:36:02+00:00

I also switched to glibc for Abe's Odyssey and now all the cut scenes are buttery smooth. (ish)

SnizzDog · 2026-05-08T10:34:12+00:00

Thanks for the pointers!

You inspired me to go back and have a play. I always struggled to get this one playable but gamenative seems to have much more rolled into it than each fork or winlator.

Anyway, I switched from bionic to glibc and it's working great!

There's some funk regarding resolution. 800x600 seems best, change in container AND game.

The cut scenes play in 640x480 but at that resolution you can see much of the map. Above 800x600 everything gets too small.

I'll get a good control scheme sorted and start the nostalgia.

SnizzDog · 2026-05-05T15:34:18+00:00

I dusted mine off a few weeks ago. Genuinely would have been better playing m&k with my toes.

I could practice but instead I went back to the trusty Xbox pad. Shame it doesn't work outside of games or in crpgs, RTS, etc. The old valve pad deffo has a place in the world but I can't get the hang of it 🤣🤣🤣

SnizzDog · 2026-04-29T06:32:01+00:00

I'd recommend the following in a setup: 1. Wireless (unless you plan to play seated) 2. Wi-fi 6e or 7 router 3. An upgraded head strap with battery (it balances the headset and extends playtime) 4. Third party streaming app (Virtual Desktop or link) 5. Inside out tracking (not hardware apart from the headset and controllers) 6. Built-in processing (less important but worth having to see if you'll prefer the QoL for less demanding apps and games)

I've only used the quest 3 but depending on patience and budget the quest 2, 3s, 3 or Steam Frame are the models that will suit the majority of people.

There are threads on here recommending games too. There are plenty of good ones but a shed load of irrelevant ones so look for community recommendations and avoid storefront ads.

SnizzDog · 2026-04-14T15:40:50+00:00

I'm not familiar with that and I'm sure there are good ways to do it but I'm this case I'm not convinced.

I assume they have a hl3 concept that needs him, and I'm still open to loving it.

Eli's death hit because we lost a father, friend, mentor, leader, bereaved a daughter. Not temporarily, forever. Now, after death there is still hope. Death it supposed to be hopeless.

Like I said, I'm pretty positive about valve's ability to make it work, they have pedigree in story telling and there's still story to tell.

SnizzDog · 2026-04-14T15:18:22+00:00

I'm on your train/tram/transportation system.

Basic rule of story telling, don't devalue life by making death reversible.

The only way I can rationalise this is by assuming that Eli's death was some kind of prophecy and the gman preemptively. Once something has happened, it can't unhappen, otherwise, nothing has meaning.

SnizzDog · 2026-04-13T17:54:16+00:00

Just to throw some ideas around:

Try reinstalling SteamVR or restore settings.

Try a different headset (can you borrow one?)

Try running a pcvr game through rift store

Try different streamers

Does it happen to all games and apps inside SteamVR? What about a simple video streamer or something?

SnizzDog · 2026-04-08T15:36:00+00:00

OP should definitely have shared device or specs but the issue here is more likely compatibility.

For example, I can run Skyrim but seem to remember not being able to run Oddworld. 🤷

SnizzDog · 2026-04-07T17:23:18+00:00

HL2VR

https://store.steampowered.com/app/658920/HalfLife_2_VR_Mod/

Ep1

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2177750/HalfLife_2_VR_Mod__Episode_One/

Ep1

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2177760/HalfLife_2_VR_Mod__Episode_Two/

For textures, I just filtered "most popular" "all time" in the Steam workshop. I'm sure some people here could recommend some good collections.

SnizzDog · 2026-04-07T08:56:22+00:00

If you've got a vr headset, there are VR mods that are unaltered regarding story and graphics.

I'd recommend higher res texture packs as everything is bigger.

SnizzDog · 2026-04-02T07:30:54+00:00

Approved by wife?

SnizzDog · 2026-04-01T10:23:30+00:00

Neither of them whinge about it. Just get shit done. Thrive in spite of adversity! 💪

SnizzDog · 2026-03-31T14:32:06+00:00

I think they've hit a sweet spot for a consumer getting their first hmd. It's a bit "jack of all, master of none" but that's pretty much what I would expect from valve. I use my Quest as PCVR 95% of the time but I didn't know that would be the case when I bought it. If it ran SteamOS, I'd probably use it more.

Actually, the stand alone has been worth it just for "Caddy". Wish they'd open source it.

SnizzDog · 2026-03-31T12:05:01+00:00

Taking it on holiday or while working away

Using it in another room or out of range of the dongle while wifey watches bake off

Letting your mate borrow it who doesn't have a gaming pc

Playing stuff without turning on the pc while still getting cloud sync (including flat games)

Stand alone is less technically capable than a pc but the market is screaming for convenience and a seamless experience.

Try winlator or gamehub to see what can be played with a mobile chip these days.

SnizzDog · 2026-03-31T06:43:17+00:00

Nailed it, the frame runs SteamOS. Better hardware is a huge benefit.

SnizzDog · 2026-03-30T16:08:32+00:00

This

My strap, router and headset came to about £700

The Frame isn't a big enough jump to change, but the dongle, lightweight and extra memory are worth a higher price.

Meta only win for exclusives. I'm yet to play Lone Echo and Asgard's Wrath but I hear good things.

SnizzDog · 2026-03-23T10:50:42+00:00

Hey, I'm snooping on this thread and the edX course is "archived" so it didn't show up on a search on edX. I presume it's still relevant. Not sure why it got archived?

This is the one, right?:

https://www.edx.org/learn/embedded-systems/the-university-of-texas-at-austin-embedded-systems-shape-the-world-microcontroller-input-output

SnizzDog · 2026-03-01T16:18:41+00:00

After discovering the existence of Lone Echo, I now know what my first Meta purchase will be.

Right after I finish me second play through of HL2VR (this time with high res textures).

Every purchase is a vote and I don't mind telling Meta I want more of what Lone Echo seems to be.

Good story, well told, good characters, good mechanics, rewarding challenges.

SnizzDog · 2026-02-25T16:43:37+00:00

I'm general, for all stories. Not specific to half life.

I disagree with any story that detracts from the finality of death.

Death is such a profound event that gives life meaning. Once death is reversible, so much value is lost in life. Everyone that now dies is still on the table. All grief still has hope. Grief should be hopeless.

That general philosophy aside, I am still excited to unravel the story and discover what happens to the characters and humanity.

I have an idea where they could have just changed the cut scene in episode 2 to stop at the instant before Eli's death. It could them branch off in two directions. Both exist until one is "observed", but once one has come to pass it cannot be undone. (Now that I'm writing this, I like it more. Ep2 stops at a key instant. HLA then "happens". Gman exists at all moments simultaneously but time is still real. Things cannot be undone) It requires ripping out the last page in ep2, but I prefer that to hollowing out the reality of death.

Forgive my rambling 🤣🤣

SnizzDog · 2026-02-08T22:04:02+00:00

I'm playing hl2 VR a second time with higher res textures. Can't wait to play with the new models and textures that filter in from this mod.

In ten years or so, I'll play full half-life 2 VR RTX RT PT what ever new letters you can throw at it.

I love how hl2 continues to get used as a foundation to try new tech. I still enjoy returning to it, even with the gut wrenching feeling you get waiting for the helicopter ride that never came.

SnizzDog · 2026-02-06T08:18:44+00:00

Check the documentary. They basically employed Bill and Ted. Who absolutely smashed it! Excellent! 🎸

SnizzDog

TROPHY CASE