One of the very first VR zombie shooter games to hit the market was the original Arizona Sunshine. The first Arizona Sunshine game proved to be quite popular despite its general lack of content compared to many other games on the market, but that's where the sequel comes in. Arizona Sunshine 2 is a meatier zombie shooter game, and one that feels like a definite upgrade over its predecessor.
Anyone that has played a VR shooter game before should be able to pick up Arizona Sunshine 2 and know how everything works pretty instantly. The game uses an easy-to-understand inventory system where players have a gun on each hip and the ammo for said gun on their chest. Like other VR shooters, reloading is a bit more involved in Arizona Sunshine 2 than it is in traditional games. Each type of gun in Arizona Sunshine 2 has its own reload process, but it's all self-explanatory.
Arizona Sunshine 2's easy controls ensure that players are able to enjoy the game right off the bat without being bogged down by tedious tutorials like they are in many other VR games. This user-friendly design extends to the game's movement system, which lets players teleport around the map to get where they need to go without too much trouble. Of course, those with the room can physically walk around if they'd like to, but that won't be practical for most. The movement system isn't perfect, though, as teleportation being tied to both sticks makes it easy to accidentally teleport when trying to adjust the camera, leading to some disorienting moments and potential death if there are a lot of zombies around.
Dying in Arizona Sunshine 2 is more annoying than it is in other games thanks to the game's somewhat long load times. Getting killed by zombies in Arizona Sunshine 2 means having to hang around while the screen turns red and then having to sit through a load screen that, while not unbearably long, is long enough that one will feel it, especially in a day and age when load times are near-instant.
Luckily, these tougher sections are few and far between, and most of the time players can avoid death in Arizona Sunshine 2 by simply practicing patience. Even the most densely-populated areas can be cleared out with little risk as long as players take their time and focus on taking out every single zombie in the vicinity. Combat in the game works great, whether one is slamming machetes on zombie heads or blowing their rotted brains out with magnums like they're Walking Dead hero Rick Grimes.
But while the combat works exactly as it should, it can become tedious during longer play sessions. There isn't a ton of tension to the proceedings, as players can mow down zombies with relative ease as long as they commit themselves to standing still and picking them off from afar. Killing zombies may be the game's main draw, but where Arizona Sunshine 2 really shines is in its exploration and the ways it lets players interact with the world around them.
While not quite as extensive as it is in some other VR games like Valve's acclaimed Half-Life: Alyx, Arizona Sunshine 2 does have an impressive level of interactivity. Players are able to manually climb ladders, open doors, shimmy along poles, turn keys, open drawers, collect loot, and more. It all goes a long way in making the game more immersive. Beyond actions that are important for advancing the story, Arizona Sunshine 2 lets players do unexpected things as well, like wear hats they find lying around the game world or even smoke a cigarette if they want.
As players go from one level to the next, they will have a lot more fun exploring than they will killing zombies, so the game can become a little dull when it gets too action-focused. Arizona Sunshine 2 could have benefited greatly by looking to old-school survival-horror games with its approach to combat, employing a "less is more" strategy. Those looking for mindless action will find plenty of it here, though.
While the game is mostly mindless action, Arizona Sunshine 2 does make an attempt at telling a story, and while it has its moments, it's largely let down by its terrible main character. Arizona Sunshine 2's main character is incredibly obnoxious, constantly referring to zombies as "Fred" and making dumb jokes that might entertain children but will have most adults rolling their eyes. The MC's goal is to find patient zero and put an end to the zombie apocalypse, joined by a dog companion who can be ordered to take out zombies and drag obstacles out of the way.
Players can pet the dog in Arizona Sunshine 2 and even play fetch with him if they'd like. The dog is a great companion, but there is a jankiness to it that also makes the pup one of Arizona Sunshine 2's most immersion-breaking features. The dog will sometimes materialize out of thin air, as well as drag dead bodies around without even actually touching them. Other times, players will see the dog slide across the floor like it has roller skates on. The dog's usefulness outweighs its jankiness, but it's a shame that the issues with it weren't ironed out before launch.
Arizona Sunshine 2 has its flaws, but it's still a competent VR shooter game that gives players a great deal of freedom when it comes to interacting with the game world. Killing zombies is perfectly functional, and the combat can be fun, though it's best experienced in short bursts. That being said, it's head and shoulders above the first Arizona Sunshine game, and an easy recommendation for anyone looking for a new VR shooter to play despite its shortcomings.
Arizona Sunshine 2
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 78 /100 Critics Rec: 80%
- Released
- December 7, 2023
- ESRB
- M Due To Blood and Gore, Crude Humor, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco
- Developer(s)
- Vertigo Games
- Publisher(s)
- Vertigo Games
- Engine
- Unity
WHERE TO PLAY
Arizona Sunshine® 2, the next-gen sequel to the fan-favorite VR apocalypse, packs even more gore-geous zombie action!
Welcome back to sun-kissed, zombified Arizona. Narrated by the unmistakable quips of our dark-humored protagonist, Arizona Sunshine 2 sets you on an all-new limb-strewn adventure in search of answers. In a post-apocalyptic world where every bullet counts, experience the thrill of realistic combat as you wield all-new and fan-favorite weapons--from shotguns to machetes and flamethrowers.
And what's better than braving the end of the f*cking world? Surviving it with your new best friend--Buddy. Not only is Buddy your four-legged companion through thick and thin, he’s also the goodest boy and will help take down those pesky Freds for you. And that's not all, because fan-favorite co-op mode makes its return as well.
- Easy to learn controls
- Highly interactive game world makes great use of VR
- Combat works exactly as it should
- Load screens can be a little on the longer side
- Immersion-breaking dog glitches
- Obnoxious main character
Arizona Sunshine 2 launches December 7 for PC, Meta Quest, and PlayStation VR2. The Best War Games was provided a PlayStation VR2 code for this review.