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(Image: Sony)

For the first time in a long line of PlayStation VR games, we finally saw the future and potential of Sony's PSVR adventure.

Don't get us wrong, past PSVR releases have been fun, but we've had more fleeting moments than full on experiences that we wanted to stay in for hours at a time.

But then, a couple of weeks ago, we got the chance to try out Farpoint, a new virtual reality title heading to PlayStation VR next week and the first game from relatively new developer Impulse Gear.

The game might sound familiar because it kicked up quite a bit of attention at E3 last year, however at the time, it seemed to stem more from the new PlayStation VR Aim controller (more on that later) than the actual game itself.

10 months on and we've finally had some decent time to try out this creative new game and safe to say we're impressed.

Not only does it look and play like a AAA first-person shooter - which in itself is a unique proposition given the rest of PSVR's releases - but it also sets a new benchmark for PlayStation VR games moving forward.

We say this, not just because the game is great fun from an action third-person shooting sense, but also because it's great fun in co-op, which is something we've seldom experienced in VR with friends, when not playing small party games.

PSVR in itself is quite an insular past time, so being able to effectively transport yourself to an alien planet and experience everything with a buddy makes for an even greater feeling.

For anyone who's yet to see any info on Farpoint before, then here's a quick crash course.

There's a single player campaign which sees you journeying across an alien planet’s surface to find out what happened to your ship’s expedition party.

Overall, this story is expected to last players anywhere between four and six hours, depending on the individual.

You've then got four co-op levels - where we spent a lot of our time recently - which by-en-large features a lot more action and shooting than exploration, as bad guys and creepy spider monsters come at you thick and fast in waves as you progress through a level.

Intriguingly, while you can choose to play the game sat down, there's a far more interesting option for those who stand, as players are required to physically turn around if they want to look in a particular direction.

It's not tricky and if anything enhanced the experience as it felt more intuitive during firefights as we crouched behind huge rocks and popped our head around corners popping off a few rounds and ducking back in again.

One thing we will say needed work was players animations when they run, because to say it looked a little odd would be a bit of an understatement.

It was as if they were gliding along the surface rather than running full pelt, but that's a small gripe, which we could otherwise ignore with all the action that's stealing out the majority of our attention.

But while the running might be a bit off, Impulse gear has made some great and fun features simply in the way players change weapons.

For instance, to pick up a new weapon, Farpoint requires players to basically set their controller down in the virtual world.

Likewise, if you want to change your weapon for the secondary weapon on your back, you move the PS VR Aim Controller upwards as if you were going to store it on your back like any one of the famous gaming characters you've seen do a hundred times before.

It's a small thing, something that could even have been nothing more than a button press, but it's neat and a welcome addition to not only looking really cool in practice, but also in terms of improving the games Immersion.

Speaking of the Aim Controller, we should probably talk about that for a second.

Farpoint + Sony PlayStation VR Aim Controller (PSVR)

Farpoint + Sony PlayStation VR Aim Controller (PSVR)

So, yeh, you're going to want to buy one of them too in a bundle with the game.

While it's possible to play the game with a standard DualShock 4 controller, Impulse Gear would much rather you experience the game with the newly designed PlayStation VR Aim controller - not least so you can try some of those cool weapon switching techniques we just mentioned.

For all intents and purposes, this is the natural evolution of the PlayStation Move Sharp Shooter released for the PS3.

Like most console accessories, it looks suspect and your first instinct is to think, this is going to be a bit naff in practice.

But as mentioned, the whole thing just works and works well.

It's lightweight, but solid and feels good to hold in your hand.

Those buttons, whilst daunting at first are surprisingly easy to find when you need them and in all the right places.

It's also far more satisfying to use instead of a standard DualShock controller.

Not just for the purpose of switching weapons as we've gone over, but also because there's a whole world of difference between simply thumbing some analogue sticks in your lap and actually aiming down the holographic sights, firing, and swivelling your body from left to right and letting off a few more rounds.

Or, in the case of shotguns and a whole load of creepy crawlies, when you're desperately waving it around the room in an absolute panic firing in every direction.

Whilst most Sony PSVR adverts can be a little outlandish, the one below for Farpoint is fairly good simply for illustrating how you'll be playing when standing.

The downside to all this is that yes, you may have to come to terms parting with another £25 (£74.99 for the game and Aim Bundle).

But having already forked out £350 for PlayStation VR you've pretty much all in at this stage, so why not go the whole hog and make the most of it, especially for what is going to be one of the stand-out titles on the system.

Should you buy Farpoint? Absolutely, but not just because it's the closest we've come to a genuine AAA PSVR blockbuster, but also because it's been one of the most fun, engaging and cooperative games we're yet to play in VR.

And should you fork out the extra on an Aim Controller? Again, it seems like a no-brainer.

Not least because it enhances the game no end, but equally, because Sony has said they'll be supporting the peripheral with more games in the future.

Hopefully, that's not a load of old fluff, because it's plausible that PlayStation could have themselves the equivalent of a next-gen Namco GunCon accessory on their hands.

It's a piece great kit that's now only lacking a series of top notch games to make the most of it.

And if that's not an excuse for someone at Sony to reboot or remaster the PlayStation 1 classic Point Blank, we don't know what is.