Rigs: Mechanized Combat League Reviews

Republished on Wednesday 30th August 2017: We're bringing this review back from the archives following the announcement of September's PlayStation Plus lineup. The original text follows.

Whoever came up with the idea of crossing mechs and a first person shooter with competitive sport is an absolute genius. RIGS: Mechanized Combat League is a triumph among virtual reality titles, and if you haven’t got it yet, please consider doing so.

Even though the style of gameplay is one that definitely qualifies as one to try before you buy due to motion sickness, RIGS: Mechanized Combat League is a very enthralling experience that PSVR early adopters should definitely check out.

Rigs: Mechanized Combat League brings fast, intense multiplayer action to the PlayStation VR, but with a few notable caveats. While there was enough variety in the mechs to keep me playing through a full season of matches, the sub-par visuals distract, and big matchmaking issues made online wait times unbearable. It’s fun to play with friends, but try to take it for a spin before committing, if only to make sure your stomach can actually handle it.

RIGS: Mechanized Combat League is part of the launch lineup for the much-hyped PlayStation VR. After hammering the opposition 6-1 in the third match of RIGS’ career mode, I was worried the game’s single-player mode would be like Rocket League‘s overly easy offering. Three games later, I was furiously yelling at my non-sentient AI teammates to carry their load as we were down by the same 5-point margin in a game of Powerslam – at half time. In its multiplayer portion, RIGS succeeds as an all-out action mech game fighting human players in order to rank up and get higher skill ratings. But in its career mode, RIGS transforms into something else. An almost entirely different experience that adds the challenge of managing a squad to play off your strengths.

Guerrilla Games, known most famously for their work developing the PlayStation exclusive Killzone series has once again brought their forte for crafting first-person experiences to the likes of virtual reality. As one of the launch titles for Sony's ambitious PlayStation VR, RIGS Mechanized Combat League brings together FPS gunplay with smaller squads and tactical sports action. So, how does it feel to strap into a virtual cockpit and play the bloodsport of the future?

Graphics are some of the best, considering all the motion, effects, and other competitors, available on PSVR. The announcers, the ambience, and the crowd create a stunning sports environment that turns all the excitement and intensity up to eleven. While RIGS is a bit sparse on content, those with a competitive spirit will find little wanting with this one. It can truly turn some non-believers around on the whole idea of VR. RIGS showcases the grandiose nature of VR, and the insane worlds it can create. I for one have been sold on the future possibilities, based on what I’ve seen here. Strap yourself in, take a deep breath, and watch your back. RIGS: Mechanized Combat League is one hell of a ride.

No summary available

Rigs has been a center point of PlayStation VR’s lineup of games and its marketing for a few reasons: It’s a PlayStation VR exclusive, developer Guerrilla Cambridge has ties to the creators of Killzone and Horizon Zero Dawn, and it represents an online multiplayer experience that would feel different outside of virtual reality. I had some motion-sickness problems, but Rigs has the potential to be PlayStation VR’s premiere multiplayer game.

Proof that first person shooters – and pretty good ones at that – can work with VR, if handled with the right amount of delicacy.