• Home
  • Our Books
  • Our Film
  • Games
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Login

Perspectives on all eras of videogames, computers, technology, and pop culture since 2003

Login

Login
Armchair ArcadeArmchair Arcade
Armchair ArcadeArmchair Arcade
  • Home
  • Our Books
  • Our Film
  • Games
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Login

HTC Vive/VIVEPORT VR Review – Castaway VR

HTC Vive/VIVEPORT VR Review - Castaway VR
HTC Vive/VIVEPORT VR Review - Castaway VR

HTC Vive/VIVEPORT VR Review – Castaway VR

September 8, 2021 Posted by Bill Loguidice Review No Comments

This review was originally created in June 2018 for HTC, targeted to their Vive/Vive Pro (VIVEPORT). It is reproduced here without alteration.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be stranded on a deserted island? How about what it would take to not only survive, but thrive? Castaway VR attempts to answer those questions.

In the game, you’re cast as Caleb, an academic working on research into utopias and primitive tribes. To better understand his research subject, Caleb decides to strand himself on an island. The problems and challenges soon mount, with both survival and eventual escape quickly becoming Caleb’s main goals.

Billed as a sandbox game, Castaway VR requires you, as Caleb, to mine raw materials, gather food and wood, cut trees, hunt animals and barbarians, swim, craft tools and weapons, build structures, ride horses, tame wolves, and more, all in the name of survival. In borrowing some of their ideas and concepts, the developers culled from some of the best source material out there. There are not only obvious nods and similarities to the Tom Hanks movie from 2000, Cast Away, but also to Mojang’s Minecraft (2011).

Because the game is so open-ended and relatively involved, it’s important to play the tutorial. Castaway VR can be played either seated or standing in a room-scale environment, and it makes full use of both Vive controllers. There are two basic movement types to choose from: Touchpad Move and Swing Arms Move. The former simulates running by rubbing your finger on the left touchpad, while the latter simulates running by moving your hands up and down in a pumping motion. Similarly, for most other actions, like gathering and production, you can also choose between more controller-centric actions or more motion-centric actions. Either way, you’ll be spending a lot of time working with radial menus and moving and manipulating various objects.

The graphics are functional.
The graphics are functional.

Visually, Castaway VR is nothing spectacular, but it does have a clean look, so it’s easy enough to tell what everything is. The environmental sounds, including that of the island’s wildlife, helps greatly with immersion.

If you don’t mind its high difficulty level and obtuse control schemes, Castaway VR‘s comprehensive set of challenges and activities can prove to be a deeply fulfilling interactive experience. This really is like a realistic version of Minecraft, set to a more natural and immediate survival motif. As you gather resources, build structures, hunt animals, and sometimes just barely survive through each day and night cycle, you’ll definitely gain a deeper appreciation for how hard it is to go back to a more primitive way of life. And if you just want to build structures with unlimited access to construction materials, there’s even a Creative Game Mode. While not the main point of the game, it’s a welcome addition to an already robust offering.

While some of the in-game descriptions are not written in the clearest English and it can be a real challenge at times manipulating some of the more complex objects like the bow and arrow, Castaway VR‘s lack of polish in spots can be somewhat forgiven considering its impressive scope. It’s a far more ambitious game than what we typically see developed for virtual reality.

Score: 4 out of 5 stars.

Castaway VR is available on Viveport or with a Viveport Subscription.

Related

Tags: htchtc vivevirtual realityviveviveportvr
No Comments
Share

About Bill Loguidice

Bill Loguidice is a Founder and Managing Director for Armchair Arcade, as well as a critically acclaimed technology author and journalist.  He is also the co-founder of creative services firm, Armchair Creative Services, and a noted videogame and computer historian and subject matter expert. See full bio

You also might be interested in

Online Gambling Trends in Poland: from Mixed Realities to Provably Fair Casinos
Online Gambling Trends in Poland: from Mixed Realities to Provably Fair Casinos

Online Gambling Trends in Poland: From Mixed Realities to Provably Fair Casinos

Jun 29, 2022

The Polish segment of online gambling has proven to be one of the friendliest European markets when it comes to technological advancements.

HTC Vive/VIVEPORT VR Review - The Exorcist: Legion VR
HTC Vive/VIVEPORT VR Review - The Exorcist: Legion VR

HTC Vive/VIVEPORT VR Review – The Exorcist: Legion VR

Jun 17, 2022

Playing to virtual reality’s many strengths, The Exorcist: Legion VR presents an expertly crafted, genuinely terrifying horror experience.

Five Next Gen Games to Play on your VR Ready Laptop
Five Next Gen Games to Play on your VR Ready Laptop

Five Next Gen Games to Play on your VR Ready Laptop

Sep 4, 2017

After years of trials and errors, virtual reality (VR) is[...]

Leave a CommentCancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Recent Posts

  • Leveling Up Real Resilience: What Gamers and Communities Can Learn Beyond the Screen
  • The CRUKS Exclusion System: How It Affects Dutch Online Gambling
  • Pre-Orders for Two Editions of DOOM with Super FX 3 and Rumble Controllers for Super NES!
  • Emerging Trends in Online Casinos for 2025: The Role of Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality
  • Why Storage Technology Matters in Logistics Optimization
  • How Small Businesses Can Leverage Technology to Stay Ahead
  • Casino Titles That Deliver Bonus Opportunities
  • Amiga Forever and C64 Forever 11 Released – Big Updates!
  • Demo Mode and Real Money Play Explained
  • Protecting your funds while using online casinos

Recent Comments

  • leads dubai on Should You Be Focusing More On Local Marketing?
  • Aiodensghost on Official Game List for My Arcade Atari Gamestation Pro
  • keyboredom on Quick guide on how to play on the Internet Arcade
  • Bill Loguidice on Official Game List for My Arcade Atari Gamestation Pro
  • Melanie Levenstein on Official Game List for My Arcade Atari Gamestation Pro
  • George on How to Predict CS:GO/CS2 Skins Prices?
  • Bill Loguidice on Retro Games Ltd to release The Spectrum, fully working ZX Spectrum, and here’s the game list!
  • Derek on Retro Games Ltd to release The Spectrum, fully working ZX Spectrum, and here’s the game list!
  • Bill Loguidice on Retro Games Ltd to release The Spectrum, fully working ZX Spectrum, and here’s the game list!
  • Simon on Retro Games Ltd to release The Spectrum, fully working ZX Spectrum, and here’s the game list!

Archives

Categories

Explore

android (46) apple (37) ar (38) Arcade (168) Atari (75) atgames (173) augmented reality (33) book (99) books (98) casino (524) esports (47) firmware (43) Flashback (45) gambling (548) Gaming (41) home arcade (115) htc vive (42) humble bundle (282) humble store (67) ios (37) led (35) legends (40) legends arcade family (46) legends pinball (39) legends ultimate (71) Microsoft (40) Nintendo (71) pc gamer (67) pc gaming (53) pinball (43) playstation (55) PS4 (36) retro (34) Sega (38) slots (84) sony (51) steam (145) switch (34) technology (36) update (42) virtual pinball (36) virtual reality (117) vive (34) viveport (42) vr (122)

Affiliates

+ Amazon

The everything store

+ Humble Bundle

Game deals, including name your price bundles

+ Playasia (Play-Asia.com)

Import games and collectibles

+ DJI Store

Amazing drones and related technology

+ Razer

Amazing PC gamer products!

fullSTEAMahead365 Your total news and information resource for all things Science, Technology, Engineering / Mathematics, Art, and Medicine / Health.

Human Advancement Never Stops.

Key Site Statistics

Posts published: 2,597
Latest publish date: July 9, 2025 @ 7:53 pm
Registered user count: 99,026

Contact Us

If you have a question, would like to provide feedback, or otherwise wish to get in touch with us, use this form.

Send Message

Blog Posts by Date

September 2021
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
27282930  
« Aug   Oct »

Social Media and RSS

Support Armchair Arcade

All editorial content © 2003 - 2025 Armchair Arcade, Inc., an Armchair Creative Services, LLC, property. All rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. All trademarks and copyrights are retained by their respective owners. No content is to be removed or reused from the Armchair Arcade Website for commercial purposes without explicit permission from the principal Armchair Arcade staff, or the original trademark or copyright holders. Armchair Arcade, Inc., is not responsible for the content of any external sources or links. Further, endorsement of any external sources or links is neither implied nor suggested.

We thank you for your support and encourage you to contact us for any reason, including, but not limited to, questions, concerns, business endeavors, or praise. Especially praise.

Armchair Creative Services, LLC, may earn compensation for sales from links on posts through affiliate and other programs. Editorial rigor and objectivity standards are strictly adhered to and any compensation has no effect on coverage or opinions.

Prev Next