Holo Indie, Hololive’s fan-made game brand, has released “Holo Hokey,” their first VR game based on air hockey. The retail price is 500 yen (tax included).
VR air hockey games are rare in themselves, but this one stands out with its unique gameplay and intricate gimmicks. This article will provide a mini-report on my experience playing Holo Hokey.
A rare title that lets you become a Hololive VTuber.
holo Indie is characterized by its wide range of game genres, with games based on the Hololive IP created by independent creators. Initially, most titles were 2D, but as the number of releases increased, 3D titles also became more prominent. In this particular game, it uses official 3D models provided by holo Indie, resulting in a look very similar to the VTubers seen in their streams and 3D live performances.
To begin with, opportunities to meet Hololive VTubers in virtual space are not very common. In the past, there was a virtual live event called “Cinderella Switch ~Let’s Create Hololive Together~,” but it is no longer viewable due to the termination of the VR live service “VARK.” Furthermore, the company’s own metaverse platform, “HoloEarth (non-VR),” has also been announced to be shut down, so currently, experiences are mainly limited to video content and real-life live events. For this reason, this game offers a very valuable opportunity.
This game lets you enjoy air hockey as a Hololive VTuber in VR. When you start the game, you can choose one of eight members to be your player character. Of course, the key point is that you can also become a Hololive VTuber yourself, and I was a little surprised that I could become Marine Houshou or Pekora Usada through the mirror.
While I was engrossed in the game, I didn’t really feel like I was a VTuber, so the only thing I could do as a VTuber was enjoy posing in front of a mirror. However, considering the low price of 500 yen, the fact that you can easily have this unique experience is certainly appealing.
A work that offers an unconventional experience for air hockey fans.
This game has three modes: “Practice Mode,” “Challenge Mode,” and “Arcade Mode.” Challenge Mode is a game where you conquer stages filled with gimmicks, while Arcade Mode involves competing against opponents in air hockey.
When you start playing this game, begin by playing in practice mode. You can choose your favorite member to play against, making it an appealing experience to play one-on-one with a Hololive VTuber. There are three difficulty levels, and the higher the difficulty, the more accurate the AI becomes.
A key feature is that each character has unique special abilities, allowing for mechanics such as bouncing or altering the movement of the disc. It’s a slightly unconventional gameplay style compared to simple air hockey.
In Challenge Mode, stages themed around each member appear, and the objective is to get the disc into the opponent’s goal while navigating through obstacles and gimmicks. This type of strategy-based air hockey is quite rare, and the experience is closer to pinball.
The game is anything but easy, with discs bouncing off obstacles traveling at high speeds and bumpers that cause discs to disappear upon impact. Sometimes you can’t clear a stage no matter how many times you try, while other times you can clear it on the first try with perfect timing, so luck plays a big role and it’s quite challenging. There are 10 stages per character x 8 characters, for a total of 80 stages, so there’s plenty of content.
Arcade Mode is a elimination mode where you compete against three opponents, with the difficulty gradually increasing. I managed to beat the first opponent without giving up a single point, but in the third match, I experienced a nail-biting, close battle where I suffered a last-minute defeat. Apparently, there’s a secret boss waiting for you after you’ve conquered Arcade Mode…?
On the other hand, one thing that bothered me about this work was the lack of sound. While some holo Indie works allow you to hear the voices of the VTubers based on their live streams, in this case, the members’ voices are silent, which makes it feel a bit lonely. The lack of variety in the background music makes the atmosphere rather bland, and I felt it needed a bit more flair.
My impression after trying this game is that, despite costing only 500 yen, it offers a substantial amount of content and is a title that you can play without feeling too stressed. While it has some rough edges typical of an indie game, it offers a unique experience that can only be found in this title, and I feel it would be just right for Hololive fans who have the environment to play PC VR games to enjoy it casually.
holoIndie features a wide variety of games across genres, including many follower titles of popular games and experimental works, and includes inside jokes that will make hololive fans smile. There are still many lesser-known titles, so why not try searching for something you might like?
Hokey Holo is available for download here (Steam).
https://store.steampowered.com/app/4536040/Holo_Hockey/