Game Review: Trackmania

Sure you look like you are possessed by invisible demons as you thrash about at thin air, but experiencing the latest in virtual reality (VR) technology is a pretty mind expanding experience.

As entertainment content producers seek to attract our eyeballs via VR for a range of new concepts -- some more socially acceptable than others -- car racing games continue to be more about visual immersion rather than physical.

Indeed, for those without the money or space to set up a racing rig, a VR headset is the next best thing.

Take Trackmania for instance – a gaming series known for its fast and thrilling gameplay experiences, and one for which VR is a natural fit, allowing players to immerse themselves deeper into the game as they race along the mesmerising Trackmania tracks.

Tackmania Turbo, which will be released early next year, won't initially be available to play via VR in Australia, but players will eventually be able to experience the entire game -- including all tracks and game modes, whether they are playing on a console or computer -- with an additional VR device.

For those of us willing to knock over a few vases or walk into walls at home for the sake of an extra level of immersion, things are looking bright. The demos we tried were fabulous and it's easy to lose yourself in a high-definition 3D world for 15 minutes or more.

With or without VR equipment, Trackmania Turbo features an “easy to learn, hard to master” arcade racing universe with time-attack gameplay in which players set their own limits and challenges. The game revolves around an exhilarating combination of matchbox car fantasy and massive scale, focused on the pursuit of the perfect run around the track.

Players can test their skills in the campaign mode, which includes more than 200 head-spinning tracks set in four beautiful environments, each with their own playing style.

At Australia's major geek fest, the recent PaxAus in Melbourne, we tried out both the latest Oculus Rift and PlayStation VR headsets and associated VR gear.

Neither the Oculus Rift (for PC) nor the PlayStation VR (for PlayStation 4) is ready for the market, but they are very close and other manufacturers are either releasing VR equipment before the end of the year or early next, making 2016 the year of VR.

As far as gaming tech companies are concerned, VR is the next frontier in home gaming.