As virtual reality continues to gain traction in the gaming sphere, developers are continuing to experiment with the medium to create new experiences. AfterValve’s top releaseHalf Life: Alyxrevolutionized first person shooters for the Valve Index, nDreams' latest gamePhantom: Covert Opswants to provide a similar stealth experience to VR. And according to recent reports, the developer has one of the genre’s most famous players onboard.
Solid Snake’s voice actor David Hayterrecently announced that he would be joining the cast ofPhantom: Covert Opsas General Zhurov. In the VR game, players take control of a soldier called a Phantom to complete several missions and assassinations from a kayak. But instead of playing the hero, theMetal Gearalum will play the antagonist, a former Soviet scheming to conquer the globe. In an interview withGameInformer,Hayter explained Zhurov’s backstory and motivations.
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According to Hayter, Zhurov is a vastly different character to Snake. He explained that during the Cold War, a squad of Phantom soldiers had defeated the Soviet officer. However, the general survived the fall of the Soviet Union. Hayter stated that the antagonist was “obsess[ed]” with his desire to avenge the USSR and destroy the Phantom operatives. The voice actor teased that Zhurov would not “let you and your kayak stop him.”
Hopefully,Phantom: Covert Ops’gameplay is as well-developed as its plot and characters. As VR systems' capabilities improve, the potential for innovation grows with it.The horror genre has seen massive strideswith these advances. Perhaps the stealth genre will see a similar renaissance.
Phantom: Covert Opswill be available on June 25th, 2020 for the Oculus Rift and Oculus Quest.
