Phantom: Covert Ops

Jun 26, 2020

Phantom Covert Ops isn’t a simple VR experiment, proof-of-concept, or a short VR title that’s over before you realise it’s a cool theme park ride - it’s a full, feature-packed game. And a damn good one at that. The missions are varied, the pacing is spot-on and it has all the cinematic tension and thrills of a Mission: Impossible film. Knowing Tom Cruise, he just might decide to film an entire movie as Ethan Hunt on a kayak. Stealth fans in 2020 have been blessed, locally sourced indie Wildfire is a systemic blend of stealth goodness presented as an old-school side-scroller, and now Phantom Covert Ops delivers what is without a doubt the definitive VR stealth experience.

Jun 25, 2020

It’s easy to see why Phantom: Covert Ops received the commendations it did at E3 2019, and it’s now taken the second spot on my personal recommendation list of must-have VR titles. Here’s hoping this isn’t the last we’ve seen in the Phantom line.

Jun 29, 2020

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Oct 13, 2020

While it seems strange at first, Phantom: Covert Ops has been one of my best experiences with VR to date. Despite playing the entire game from within a kayak and a formulaic narrative, the meat of the game comes from its impeccable mechanics and immersion. Phantom: Covert Ops uses realistic water physics for its locomotion in a way that lets the player avoid any feeling of nausea or discomfort. The layout of your gear is convenient and easy, and the control scheme takes minutes to master. It’s an exciting experience that puts you in the shoes of a special agent and you feel empowered while playing. For fans of stealth games who are just getting into VR this is an essential experience, and one that sets the bar for stealth in VR.

Jun 25, 2020

Phantom: Covert Ops offers a decent slice of immersive VR gaming that will be well suited to most gamers. The main campaign is a little short especially as the levels are repeated and the core gameplay does lack depth for more experienced players. Even so, Phantom: Covert Ops is entertaining and there’s enough to keep you invested for a good few hours. Hopefully, nDreams will build upon this concept rather than letting it sink into the depths.

Jun 25, 2020

Phantom: Covert Ops is a bit on the short side, but it's a top-tier virtual reality game while it lasts. Any Metal Gear Solid fans that own an Oculus Quest or Oculus Rift should definitely consider checking it out. Phantom: Covert Ops is out now, exclusively for Oculus devices.

Jun 25, 2020

Far-fetched as it may be, Phantom’s fantastically immersive design makes for a VR mission well worth accepting, even if its campaign is shorter and simpler than hoped for. But what it lacks in gameplay complexity, it often makes up for in its giddy role-playing, going a step beyond many other VR games to convince you that you’re really in its (admittedly daft) world. A deeper sequel with more advanced gameplay would elevate the series to essential status, but Phantom already navigates the rough waters of VR stealth better than most. Phantom: Covert Opts is available from today on the Oculus Rift and Oculus Quest headsets.

Jul 2, 2020

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Feb 25, 2021

While Phantom: Covert Ops only contains several hours of content and the guards may need training, I enjoyed replaying missions and completing the short challenges. The rowing felt great and trying to completely avoid detection and figure out the best routes kept me interested in the campaign, along with the active world. This is no Splinter Cell or Metal Gear Solid, but it is a unique virtual reality experience. PHANTOM: CONVERT OPS IS RECOMMENDED Many thanks go to the PR company on behalf of Oculus/nDreams for a review copy.

Jun 29, 2020

The visuals are gorgeous, the goofy premise works perfectly in context, and the mechanics are an intuitive and downright rewarding use of VR. While you may need a great deal of VR callus to deal with the smooth motion of the game, Phantom: Covert Ops is VR stealth done right.