Arizona Sunshine 2 is one of the few titles that seems to stand between the two worlds of gaming. Whether you’re a standard console/PC gamer, or you’ve taken the deep dive into virtual reality, there’s a good chance you have heard of the zombie epic from Vertigo Games.
The original entry in the franchise, Arizona Sunshine, was a great success among critics when it released to the world on December 6, 2016. It was praised for its realism, its range of firearm options, and smooth overall gameplay. Now, almost exactly seven years later, VR gamers will get to return to the sandy post-apocalyptic Arizona landscape.
While it was certainly going to be challenge to top the original fan-favorite first-person shooter, the team at Vertigo has outdone themselves. Arizona Sunshine 2 not only proves to be a fitting sequel to its beloved predecessor, it is a necessary step forward in VR gaming.
Arizona Sunshine 2 Sends the Player on a Thoughtful Journey of Solitude and Survival
Although the setting of Arizona Sunshine 2 often puts our unnamed protagonist in secluded and lonely locations, narrative is not an afterthought. There is a clear goal in mind, and by subtle means the player delves into the emotions and motivations of the main character. This time around, with Buddy as the new canine companion, the player will get an even greater understanding of what it means to live in Arizona with only undead friends.
One way that Arizona Sunshine 2 really accomplishes this narrative feat, is by significantly extending the playtime as compared to the original. There are 19 separate chapters in the game and each one is both unique and reasonably paced, especially for VR. When I reached the end of the story, I was truly left with the sense that I had traveled a long distance.
Another way this title will stand apart is by the truly incredible voice acting. While there are several aspects of this game that make it such an enjoyable experience, I would be remiss not to mention the talents of Sky Soleil. As the primary voice who brought the first game to life, Soleil returned to Arizona Sunshine 2 with an incredible energy, armed with an arsenal of hilarious quips.
Soleil once again delivers an impressive performance that will have you laughing at the most unexpected times. Some of the most fun I had in the game was simply smoking cigarettes to hear his one-liners. Vertigo could have added 500 more and I would have listened to every one.
While Soleil brings with him a lot of the dark humor that makes Arizona Sunshine 2 so much fun, he is also the narrator who guides the player and essentially tells them how to feel. Sure our protagonist has his issues with people, hallucinations, and Fred (zombies), but he is the guiding voice and must be heard. He may be a little psychotic, but in this insane ride, he might be the most sane person out there.
The Gunplay in Arizona Sunshine 2 Is Ridiculously Good
The gameplay mechanics that made Arizona Sunshine such a win, get a major upgrade in the sequel. When it comes to VR, it is important that intractable items have a purpose, and Arizona Sunshine 2 absolutely follows this rule. While some VR games showcase a plethora of items with absolutely no purpose, Arizona Sunshine 2 lets you use almost everything in some way.
Now, when you grab an axe, a crowbar, a machete, etc. you can use those items against charging zombies. And there is nothing better than gruesomely hacking and slashing through the undead as a way to work off those extra holiday calories.
The game not only completely improves the combat system, it gives you an excessive amount of options along your journey. This makes the experience much more individualized as you decide what guns, explosives, and melee gear work best for you.
My personal preference was always to lean into duel wield semi-automatic pistols. Despite the fact that shooting and reloading with your non-dominant hand can be tricky (kudos to you ambidextrous gamers out there) it is a top tier form of combat.
In fact, the firearm mechanics are so smooth there were times where it felt like I was in a John Wick movie. As you run through the various chapters getting zombie headshot after headshot, you will start to have that smooth Gun-fu experience that is simply a gold standard.
The References and the Replayability
It wouldn’t be a proper zombie game without references to other iconic films and games in the genre. While not every reference will be as obvious as others, it would be a surprise if the team at Vertigo did not intend some of their destinations in Arizona Sunshine 2 to be nods to horror films and games. The airport reminded me of Warm Bodies, the trainyard felt reminiscent of Train to Busan, and the hospital felt like an obvious mirror to The Last of Us. Throw in a couple possible Resident Evil and The Walking Dead mentions and you have yourself a zombie game.
While I may be reaching on some of these, they are all common locations for a protagonist to find themselves in a zombie apocalypse. The experience of these surroundings only adds to what the game has to offer and I loved the added time to explore these places. Given the fact that I did not find as much memorabilia scattered through the game as I would have expected, there’s probably even more I will get to enjoy on my second playthrough.
As to the replayability, I think this game offers more depth than its predecessor, or even other VR games on the market. Not only would I play the campaign again, I could also see the Horde Mode bringing a lot of value to the post-campaign fun. There is also the element of multiplayer, which should add even more replayability for gamers to enjoy.
Arizona Sunshine 2 Is a Solid Shooter With a Bright Future
Although I will not spoil any major plot points, I will say that Arizona Sunshine 2 could easily expand its universe. There are so many places the devs could go, and I would love to see even more of a narrative push. If Vertigo were to introduce other survivors and possibly throw in some shootouts, that would make for an exciting future installment.
The undead do present their own challenge, but it would be even more intense to see some of the horrors of humanity played out before your very eyes. These moments coupled with Sky Soleil’s signature commentary could take the series to the next level, but I digress.
Arizona Sunshine 2 does an excellent job with the world that it builds, and my expectations were definitely met. As VR gaming continues to improve and become more accessible to gamers, I am excited to see what Vertigo Games chooses to do next. While we do not know exactly what the plans are for this franchise, it would not be a surprise to see some DLC in the future.
As for you zombie fans out there, I recommend this shooter as it will likely bring you hours of fun and a new perspective of where VR games will be in the next ten years.
9/10
Arizona Sunshine 2 was played on Meta Quest 2 with a code supplied by Vertigo Games.
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