VR Blogs

Vertigo Games finally released the first patch for Arizona Sunshine 2 (patch 1.1)

Post taken from the Steam Store - 20/12/2023

LIV Integration

• Vertigo Games has added LIV support, allowing content creators to elevate the quality of their VR gaming experience.

QoL Updates

• Balancing adjustments include shotguns dealing more damage at higher levels and a boost in grenade explosions.

• We’ve also listened to your feedback and added a Toggle Grip option, reduced respawn delays, sorted co-op ammo issues, and improved zombie interactions.

• From better climbing mechanics to smoother checkpoint experiences, we've fine-tuned everything from tooltips to cosmetics and weapon animations.

Finally, let’s have a look at the full patch notes:

Difficulty

• Rebranded & rebalanced all 4 Difficulties, now having a dedicated screen for it, together with explanations of what to expect!

• Magazines you'll find in the world won't always be fully filled with rounds on the higher difficulties. You'll need to scavenge more whilst receiving less total ammo!

• The highest difficulty spikes have been smoothed out whilst still roughly keeping their original feel. Noticeable changes are the ‘SUNSET RIDERS’ end fight & both the ‘OOPS’ bridge & end fight.

• Configured Fungus Counts per difficulty with our brand new system, greatly increasing how much fungus spawns on Survival & Apocalypse.

• The new difficulties are called ‘Story, Adventure, Survival, Apocalypse’. We recommend most players that have prior VR experience to try out Survival!

• ‘Story’ is meant for players that want to experience the campaign without too much threat or challenge - allowing you to focus on the story and play fetch with Buddy!

• ‘Adventure’ is for those new to VR. You might like some challenge but prefer it to still be balanced in your favor.

• ‘Survival’ is how we’ve always envisioned Arizona Sunshine 2 to be experienced. This is the recommended difficulty for those that have prior VR experience.

• ‘Apocalypse’ is for those that want a hardcore zombie experience. You’ll have to scavenge every nook and cranny to get by and will be dead in just a few hits.

Toggle Grip

• Added a new Grip Mode option. You can now select ‘Toggle Grip’ within your Settings!

• Toggle Grip will keep your weapon stuck to your hand even after you stop pressing down on the Grip button.

• Dropping weapons entirely - for example to share them with your co-op partner - can be done by pressing on the bottom face button for 1 second.

Balancing

• Changed the Tommy Gun to use rifle ammo instead of pistol ammo, as to make it a more viable option!

• Health regen is now fixed for all difficulties, preventing the red 'throbbing' vignette from staying on at higher difficulties if you couldn't find any food.

• Made the Shotgun deal more damage on higher difficulties, now allowing you to still one-shot zombies when you’re close enough!

• Reduced the Penetration Force of Shotguns, preventing one pellet from going through 5 zombies at a time.

• Made the M67 Frag Grenade have a bigger explosion radius, whilst slightly reducing the Stick Grenade’s radius.

• Zombies’ Attack Impact Fraction should now better match their animations, preventing unfair situations where you'd get damage before the zombie visually hits you.

• Dynamic ammo Spawning will no longer kick-in as hard when you start running out, preventing some of the fully-stacked ammo crates you would find from time to time.

Fixes & Tweaks

• Added LIV support allowing content creators to better capture their experience!

• Reduced the respawn delay after dying, now allowing you to reload the level earlier.

• Fixed the co-op player losing resources and ammo in co-op after a level load.

• Fixed co-op players spawning at the start of the level after a checkpoint had been loaded.

• Fixed zombie ragdolls breaking after playing for a long time.

• Fixed doors not being able to be properly opened due to zombie bodies.

• Added tooltips to the settings menu to better explain what each option changes.

• Added a dedicated menu where you can scroll through all your available cosmetics!

• Fixed snapping points for climbing sections in various levels.

• Fixed the bloom post processing effect for all Steam versions.

• Fixed items sometimes not dropping in manual grip mode when releasing the grip button.

• Fixed when zombies fell down they sometimes used the wrong stand up animation.

• Fixed Buddy sometimes still wearing his equipment during the hospital cutscene.

• Fixed the toy helicopter causing your hand to move in slow motion.

• Fixed that crafted items were not properly saved in checkpoints.

• Fixed the ammo belt not properly re-enabling after a checkpoint in the level ‘BAD DOG’.

• Fixed that zombies would already be banging on the windows when entering the gas station.

• Fixed the orientation of the minigun when the other player was holding it in co-op.

• Fixed players spawning in the same exact location in the level “BAD DOG’ in co-op.

• Fixed not all waves properly triggering when dying and reloading the checkpoint in the level ‘BEST FRIENDS FOREVER’.

• Fixed selection circle lagging behind when holding a grenade.

• Fixed the heating effect of the minigun. It now only heats up the barrels instead of the entire front part.

• Fixed not being able to climb back up when respawning at the checkpoint on top of the gas station.

• Fixed parts of the Canyon culling in the level ‘OOPS’ when Buddy is searching for a weapon.

• Fixed the gun sometimes not equipping when pressing grip with ‘equip on no target’ enabled.

• Fixed the ‘Back to menu’ button not working in the score results screen when playing single-player horde mode.

• Fixed screen staying red when dying in co-op and getting the ‘waiting for players’ screen.

• Fixed container door handles that were hard to grab in the level ‘CHOO-CHOO, MOTHERF*CKERS’.

• Fixed offline players not being able to connect to the local server in cases when loading a level happens twice within a second.

• Fixed zombie animation when they’re hit by a blunt weapon on the legs.

• Fixed lobby screen not showing correct region when game started without internet access.

• Fixed PlayStation 5 host not showing the joined player in the lobby screen.

• Fixed drum-based weapons (e.g. revolver) not always closing by flicking it.

• Fixed player getting stuck in the void after loading a level in co-op occasionally.

Buy Arizona Sunshine 2 on Steam

Hey Fred... come and get it

In the relentless Arizona desert, where the sun beats down and the undead roam freely, there's a term that often gets tossed around when referring to these relentless adversaries—'Fred.' Yes, you heard that right; the menacing zombies in Arizona Sunshine 2 have been affectionately dubbed 'Freds' by our dark-humored protagonist. But don't be fooled by the playful moniker; these 'Freds' are anything but friendly.

A Playful Nickname for the Undead

As I ventured deeper into the sun-soaked wasteland of Arizona Sunshine 2, the frequent use of the name 'Fred' by our Lone Survivor added a touch of dark humor to an otherwise dire situation. It's as if our hero had found a way to cope with the chaos by giving the undead a mundane name.

Battling 'Freds' with Buddy

As you navigate the treacherous terrain of Arizona Sunshine 2, you'll encounter hordes of 'Freds.' These aren't your typical slow-moving zombies; they come at you with relentless determination. Yet, with the assistance of your trusty companion, Buddy, the battles against 'Freds' take on a unique twist.

Buddy, the loyal canine companion, is by your side throughout your journey. While he may not be able to fully comprehend the dire circumstances, Buddy proves to be an invaluable ally. He assists you in locating essential items and adds an extra layer of strategy to your confrontations with 'Freds.' Whether it's alerting you to approaching undead or simply offering companionship in the darkest moments, Buddy's presence adds depth to the gameplay.

Flame Thrower vs. 'Freds'

In the world of Arizona Sunshine 2, firearms aren't your only option for dealing with 'Freds.' Enter the flamethrower—a fiery spectacle that turns encounters with the undead into a pyrotechnic extravaganza. Watching 'Freds' succumb to the searing flames adds a unique thrill to the gameplay.

The flamethrower's introduction emphasizes the developers' dedication to making Arizona Sunshine 2 a memorable experience. It's not just about surviving; it's about doing so in style while engaging in thrilling battles with 'Freds' that make your heart race.

The Machete Melee

If the flamethrower isn't your preferred choice for dispatching 'Freds,' there's always the trusty machete. Close-quarters combat with these relentless adversaries becomes a dance of blades and undead limbs. The machete offers a visceral and satisfying means of dispatching 'Freds' who dare to get too close.

A Zombie Shooter Like No Other

Arizona Sunshine 2 has earned its reputation as one of the best VR zombie shooters to date. While the name 'Fred' adds a hint of levity to the game's grim atmosphere, the relentless nature of these adversaries keeps you on your toes. The thrill of battling 'Freds,' whether with flamethrowers, machetes, or firearms, is an experience that's both exhilarating and unforgettable.

Embrace the 'Freds'

So, as you plunge headfirst into the sun-soaked, zombie-infested world of Arizona Sunshine 2, remember the name 'Fred.' These undead adversaries may have a playful name, but their relentless pursuit and formidable numbers will test your survival skills to the limit. Embrace the challenge, make use of Buddy's assistance, wield the flamethrower and machete with skill, and confront the 'Freds' head-on. Only then can you truly appreciate the unique blend of dark humor and heart-pounding action that defines this exceptional VR zombie shooter.

AS2

Hello VR enthusiasts,

Vertigo Games, the developer behind the popular VR zombie shooter 'Arizona Sunshine,' has been on a journey to refine the undead-slaying experience in the virtual world. While their recent release, After the Fall, showcased stunning graphics, it faced a fair share of challenges upon launch, including linear gameplay and various issues.

However, Vertigo Games appears to have taken these lessons to heart. Rather than resting on the laurels of their successful title Arizona Sunshine, they've been hard at work on its highly anticipated sequel, aptly named Arizona Sunshine 2, released December 7th 2023.

Arizona Sunshine 2 emerges almost seven years after the original game's release, and it's shaping up to be a significant leap forward in the world of VR zombie shooters. The sequel promises a host of improvements across the board, aiming to deliver a more immersive and intense experience for players.

One of the first things players will notice is the enhanced fidelity throughout the game. Vertigo Games has overhauled the environments, making them look better than ever. Expect more detailed, eerie landscapes that truly immerse you in the post-apocalyptic Arizona setting.

Of course, what's a zombie game without zombies? Arizona Sunshine 2 introduces a new cast of undead horrors that are more realistic and fearsome than ever before. These gruesome foes will test your survival skills to the limit.

For those who enjoy getting up close and personal with the undead, the game offers an expanded arsenal of melee weapons, including the exciting addition of a flamethrower. You'll have plenty of opportunities to take on the hordes in style.

Vertigo Games has also amped up the gore system, promising more gruesome visuals when you dispatch zombies. Prepare for visceral, satisfying combat as you hack, shoot, and burn your way through the undead.

While Arizona Sunshine 2 maintains its first-person VR action-horror roots in the sun-soaked Arizona desert, it introduces some new dynamics. Players can still venture solo, but now they have the option to team up with friends via online co-op play. Additionally, a trusty companion, a loyal canine called 'Buddy,' will be there to assist you in your fight for survival.

With Arizona Sunshine 2, Vertigo Games recapture the magic of the original but also raise the bar for VR zombie shooters. Get ready to face the undead in an entirely new way. Arizona Sunshine 2 is shaping up to be a must-play for VR enthusiasts and zombie-slaying aficionados alike. The game was released on the 7th December 2023.

Virtual arena is a designed multiplayer shooter with free roam, integrated in the prepared room. The game is uploaded through the connection to headsets via a remote server of the company with a unique number. There is a special address for every arena. This address leads to the location that was chosen by the operator for struggle. Powerful routers are installed in the room. These routers provide a good connection, and the perimeter of the arena is equipped with tracking strips, providing the initial basis for the device. Before the arena launching the headsets are calibrated by operators and read the entire perimeter through their external cameras. The placement of standard arena can vary from 60 to 400 m², that allows 4- 10 players to participate at a time.

Half-Life: Alyx - Pistol

There are only three guns you’ll come across in Half-Life; Alyx, the Pistol, Shotgun and Small Machine Gun (SMG), all of which can be upgraded at the Combine Fabricator. There are also two types of grenades at your disposal - the standard grenade and the Xen grenade.

Alyx's Pistol

The pistol  - your very first weapon; a modified M1911 with the default clip storing a maximum of 10 bullets - it’s the standard weapon. You acquire the pistol in the chapter ‘Entanglement’, shortly after you obtain the gravity gloves (‘Russells’). Alyx (you) are given the pistol by Russell... well, thrown to you from the top window of his secret hideout. The pistol is automatic, so fires rapidly, ideal for taking out Zombies, Headcrabs, and Combine soldiers from almost any distance. The pistol isn’t as powerful as the shotgun by any means, but holds more bullets and is more manageable - in that it’s quicker to load.

Loading the pistol

Reloading the pistol is a doddle. Gun in hand, retrieve a new magazine by reaching and grabbing over your shoulder with your non-dominant hand. Then physically load it into the butt of the gun. You then need to engage the magazine or it won't fire. You do this by simply pressing the button on your controller (usually the top one). To eject an empty magazine press the opposite button (usually the bottom one).

As with all guns, the pistol can be upgraded. Upgrades vary and are dependent on how much resin you’ve collected. The chart below show the various costs in ‘resin currency’ and what each upgrade provides.

Note: You'll need to locate a Combine Fabricator to upgrade your weapons... after you've solved the holographic puzzle that is!

Reflex sight: Enemies vunerable areas are highlighted in orange when you look down through the sight, such as the head of a Combine soldier. This feature is especially useful in the dark, especially when you encounter a headcrab.

Burst Fire: Double-tap the top button (B) on your weapon hand, to automatically fire off 3 bullets in quick succession. Just make sure you’re on target or you’ll be wasting 3 bullets!

Bullet Reservoir: Tired of running out of bullets and fumbling around reloading? The Bullet Reservoir allows you to store a second clip of 10 bullets (20 shots in total) inside your pistol without having to reload. Simply load 2 magazines as opposed to one. So, load the first clip and press the top button (B) to engage it, then eject the empty clip, then load your second clip.

Laser Sight: The laser sight increases accuracy, helping you track enemy targets without having to focus too much on manually aiming. It’s especially useful for taking out confined groups of enemies quickly. It's an expensive upgrade, but cruitial as you move further in to the game and the combat becomes more challenging.

Tip: I wouldn't upgrade to the Reflex Sight straight away, although this will probably be the only upgrade you can afford at the time. The Reflex Sight doesn't give you much more of an advantage - the only benefit is that it highlights enemies in the dark and their weak spots, a nice touch, but not essential. You’re better off just aiming down the normal barrel sight and wait until you have enough resin for the Laser Sight or Bullet Reservoir. It's a tough decision - The Laser Sight is great for accurately targeting the enemy and definitely assists in saving ammo, however, the Bullet Reservoir allows you to store more ammo, so less fumbling around when loading. The Bullet Reservoir was my choice.

Lightning Dog

The Lightning Dog - not resembling a dog in any way apart from it being on all fours. This nasty piece of work is probably one of the smartest and fastest movers of the Headcrab species. They scurry around at super speeds, emitting blots of lightning from their body in almost every direction. If you happen to be in the path and get caught by the shocks they give off, then you'll become momentially paralised, losing a fair bit of health at the same time.

What makes the Lightning Dog stand-out from all the other headcrabs is that it has a unique defence system and when threatened, which doesn't take much, it will cloak, surrounding itself within a haze of electrical fog. So invisible right?  Not quite… they can still be spotted. As it passes nearby objects it creates a loud and bright electrical discharge, giving away it’s location. You'll end up running frantically around while the little cretin mucks you.

Lightning Dogs are very tough and take a lot to kill. They can cause a lot of damage with electrical attacks, so be prepared! Just make sure your guns are fully loaded and you have a grenade ready to go. It will take five shots from the shotgun to kill a Lightning Dog. Once killed and as a reward, the lightning dog will drop a ‘Reviver’, an organic battery cell which operates the same way as a regular Combine battery and even fits into the same battery slots.

Killing the Lightning Dog

The best way to kill the Lightning Dog is with grenades, however, becasue the Lightning Dog is constantly moving you'll probably just end up wasting it. Your alternative, and probably the best option is the shotgun.

Lightning Dog Zombie

Technically a Lightning Dog Zombie is a Lightning Dog that has occupied a corpse. It’s a fairly challenging enemy, in that you need to kill both the Zombie and the Lightning Dog whilst avoiding the deadly electrical attacks.

Tip: The best way to kill the Lightning Dog Zombie is by shooting the blue glowing areas within its body, which will eventually explode, forcing the Lightning Dog off its host. Then it’s just a case of popping the Lightning Dog off with the shotgun.

Half-Life: Alyx - Game tips

Stuck on Half-Life Alyx or just want some advice or tips to improve your gameplay and beat the pesky headcrabs. Hopefully some of these may help.

These tips on Half-Life: Alyx are an abstract from the game review

Don't Forget To Save

Although Half Life Alyx has an auto-save feature, it's still a good idea to save your own progress, especially in those areas where your about to confront the Zombie Dog or a nest of Headcrabs.

Resin - find as much as you can

Probably one of the most important items in Half-Life: Alyx is resin. Resin is more abundant than you think, you just have to look, even areas that appear to be a dead-end you'll probably find a slice or two. Check on shelves, in cupboards, cabinets, behind boxes, under desks, pipes and even in sewer drains... yuck! 

Ammo Is Crucial

Need more ammo? Just like resin, if you look there's plenty around on shelves, lying around on floors and on dead bodies - to mention a few. Other places to look - open any large yellow cooler boxes you come across, throw down to smash wooden boxes. Sometimes shooting Barnacles will also reward you with ammo or sometimes a grenade.

Reserve Your Ammo

Find alternative kill methods: Shoot at the dark orange gas canisters to take out multiple enemies. Gas canisters can also be picked up and thrown into the vicinity of the enemy, then shot at when the timing's right. Sometimes if there's a Barnacle nearby and an the enemy walks near it, the Barnacle will suck it up for lunch, saving you ammo. Also, use the standard grenades or Xen grenades where you can.

Be Tactical When Using Grenades

Carefully open doors, just ajar, take a peek. If there's a bunch of Headcrabs or Zombies in the room use the grenade to clear the path. It will save you a lot of ammo. Although you can only store two grenades in your wrist pockets, you can still carry one in each hand, giving you a total of four at you disposal!

Take Cover and Hide

Use the environment for cover. Hide behind objects and peek around corners before you go all guns blazing. When in deep trouble run to a safe distance and re-approach with caution, pecking out our enemies with head-shots.

Pistol Upgrades: Choosing The Right One

I wouldn't upgrade to the Reflex Sight straight away, although this will probably be the only upgrade you can afford at the time. The Reflex Sight doesn't give you much more of an advantage - the only benefit is that it highlights enemies in the dark and their weak spots, a nice touch, but not essential. You’re better off just aiming down the normal barrel sight and wait until you have enough resin for the Laser Sight or Bullet Reservoir. It's a tough decision - The Laser Sight is great for targeting the enemy and definitely assists in saving ammo, however, the Bullet Reservoir allows you to store more ammo, so less fumbling around when loading. The Bullet Reservoir should be your first choice, then the Reflex Sight followed by the Laser Sight. The Burst Fire is a nice to have later on and should be the last of your upgrades.

Shotgun Upgrades

When you first upgrade the shotgun go for the Laser Sight. Later on when you have enough resin, upgrade to the Autoloader. Double shot is a nice to have but remember you can fire off two shots quick enough anyway, so not that important. The Grenade Launcher should be your next upgrade, followed by the Double Shot, the last of the shotgun upgrades... although you're probably better off saving those 25 resin blocks for upgrading the SMG.

SMG Upgrades

Upgrade to the Laser Sight first, then the Extended Mag. You would've already saved 30 resin blocks from not upgrading to the Reflex Sight and Burst Fire on the pistol and a further 25 from opting out of the Double Shot, shotgun upgrade, a saving of 55 resin blocks!

Barnacles: Alternative Ways to Kill

Barnacles are pretty stupid really, best of all they're greedy and will eat almost anything thrown at them. With that in mind - toss an active grenade into the vicinity of its tentacles or a gas cylinder. It will soon gulp it up and explode on doing so.

Headcrabs - Shoot At The Mouth 

The best method for killing all Headcrabs is to wait for the Headcrab to rise back on its hind legs, exposing its tender underside, namely its mouth. Then aim and shoot there for a quick kill. This tactic certainly needs to be applied when tackling the Armored Headcrab.

Headcrab Zombie

The quickest way to kill the Headcrab Zombie is to aim for the head, basically shooting at the Headcrab. Three headshots using the pistol, or a single blast from the shotgun is usually enough.

Toxic Headcrab Pit

In chapter 5: The Northern Star (where you find the SMG), you will come across what seems to be a dirty, broken-up basement infested with Toxic Headcrabs. Don't waste your ammo shooting these, they will just keep coming. Use the Xen grenade's nearby to clear the path enough to get into the room below - taking a spare Xen grenade with you. When you've acquired the SMG, throw the Xen out the window to clear your path, then run straight towards the elevator shaft, climbing the ladder to safety.

Lightning Dog Zombie

The best way to kill the Lightning Dog Zombie is by shooting the blue glowing areas within its body (corpse), which will eventually explode, forcing the Lightning Dog off its host. Then it’s just a case of popping it off - if you can locate it that is.

Bloaters: Keep Your Distance

The best way to kill Bloaters is from a distance. Any weapon will kill one. For a quick kill, toss in a Xen grenade, use a single shot from your shotgun or shoot at it several times with the pistol. For the more adventurous - if you're very careful and time it right, you can approach a Bloater and back away just before it reaches critical mass and it will explode on it's own.

Shoot Flammable Barrels

Just like the orange gas cylinders, you'll also come across large oil-type looking barrels. They're easy to spot, they're white with a red bands. Wait until the Combine gets close to one and shoot the barrel, killing the enemy outright.

Combine Soldier: Aim For The Backpack

Some Combine Soldiers have backpacks that contain a flammable liquid. Yes, you got it! Shoot the backpack to quickly kill the enemy and others in the vicinity. It’s also a great way to split up soldiers if they are part of a squad.

Manhack Soldiers: Some Combine Soldiers can deploy Manhack's, you'll see a perfect example of how troublesome this can be near the end of the level 5 'The Northern Star', where you're constantly bombarded with these flying menesses. Take out the soldier that's releasing the Manhack's before you do anything else.

Combine Machine Gunner

Watch and listen. Wait until the gunner stops firing then peek around from cover and shoot for the head if you can. You may have to repeat the process several times, but it's the safest way to kill them.

Combine Heavy

Although the Combine Heavy is a formidable enemy, armored to the hilt and brandishing a force-field, it does have a weakness... it’s slow and not very agile! Take advantage of this flaw and try to flank it. The Combine Heavy turns around very slowly, so as he turns, move quickly to a good position, taking aim and shooting at the exposed areas, especially the head. Another tactic is timing, shooting it just after its stopped firing. Grenade ready - if the Heavy drops its shields at any point, be quick and toss a grenade at it.

Antlion - Take out The Legs

The best way to kill the Antlion is to shoot its two front legs, finishing it off with shots to the body. They can also fly into the air, exploding, so anything nearby will take some collateral damage, so be warned.

Advice - Background Processes

If you experience issues with Half-Life: Alyx, try rebooting your PC and updating your graphic card drivers. Check and turn off any unnecessary background processes that could interfere with game performance, such as a DTP program.