MAGE, presently in its early access phase on the Quest 3, is a sandbox game that blends magic and physics into delightful chaos, all while providing the smooth experience of 120 frames per second.
Charlie Shenton, who handles the game’s engine and is one half of the development duo, shares, “We believe that no game has truly harnessed the power of standalone VR hardware.” Shenton points out that nothing detracts from immersion more than games that struggle at 72Hz, with visuals that are far from sharp and clunky physics.
To counter these issues, Shenton, alongside fellow developer Matthew Alexander Gregory, crafted an entirely bespoke game engine named ‘Micron,’ along with a tailored physics solver for standalone VR. They’ve accomplished feats typically reserved for the more robust hardware of dedicated PC graphics systems.
While Mage isn’t an epic spanning dozens of hours, as a showcase for what Micron can do, it stands out remarkably. Shenton informs Road to VR that the game achieves a “steady 120Hz” performance even with dynamic lighting, shadows, magical visual effects, and over 100% render resolution, handling hundreds of high-quality dynamic physics props with ease.
Beyond demonstrating technical prowess, Mage also presents a sandbox environment that strives to realize “the ultimate magical power fantasy.” Players can wield destructive fireballs, reverse time, perform telekinesis, fly, and much more.
Currently available in early access on Quest, the developers promise “a lot more is planned” as they continually seek out innovative ways to extend Micron’s capabilities and conjure even more jaw-dropping magical marvels.
If you’re interested, Mage is downloadable on the Horizon Store for the Quest 3 and 3S, retailing for $20.
