While you cruise along, you’ll enjoy the sights and sounds of procedurally generated, artificially intelligent wildlife. Attract and feed the virtual fish as you navigate the waterways. The ride is on rails, so you can’t steer the kayak. However, you can stop at various points and enjoy the scenery by using the throttle speed controls of your motorized kayak or by exiting at scenic rest stops. The tour is short, and there’s no historical background information for history buffs. Still, it is a fun ride perfect for someone new to VR. The user interface is a giant globe you rotate with your VR controllers. Once you decide on the place you want to visit, tap the area on the virtual globe, and you are instantly whisked away to the exotic locale. One interesting destination is a cell in the infamous Alcatraz prison. When you arrive, you’re greeted by an unseen narrator, presumably a former prisoner in the cell next to you, who recalls their experiences. It’s museum-like and an educational adventure worth having. There are other destinations of varying size and complexity, and the experience is updated with new realities regularly. The original Titans of Space was one of the first polished virtual reality experiences available; it created a lot of buzz about all the potential VR had to offer. This app provides a theme park-style ride through the solar system and beyond, allowing you to control the pace of the experience. Factoids about the planets and moons are provided throughout your journey, as are distances and other measurements of interest. The sense of scale of the planets and moons is truly awe-inspiring and gives a unique perspective only astronauts usually get to have. You’ll experience Mount Everest in five iconic scenes. Prepare for your expedition at Basecamp, traverse the terrifying Khumbu Icefalls, spend the night at Camp 4, ascend the perilous Hillary Step, and finally conquer the summit of Everest. After completing your first summit attempt, unlock God Mode to reach a unique vantage point of the Himalayas that’s only possible in VR. Towering over the mountain range, this is a stunning VR diorama. EVEREST VR is a must if you’re into mountain climbing but don’t like its possible death and frostbite aspects. This free app holds amazing educational value with incredibly detailed scans of some of the world’s most famous paintings and sculptures. Look at the brushstrokes of Monet’s Water Lilies or take a 360-degree tour of Michelangelo’s David. This is an art lover’s delight. The experience makes you feel as if you’re visiting a museum, complete with a pamphlet map to help you navigate your way around the exhibits. Stand on the deck of a sunken ship while a gargantuan whale swims by and looks you straight in the eye or swim in a sea of bioluminescent jellyfish. There’s no need for expensive scuba equipment or diving classes, or even to leave your living room, for that matter. The level of detail in this app is amazing, and the sense of scale (especially during the whale encounter in the first episode) is jaw-dropping. Change the sun’s position, scale objects to any size you like, and fly around the world. The detail levels depend on what you’re trying to view. For example, tourist destinations are likely to have more detailed geospatial imagery than rural areas. There is so much to see, and Google offers virtual tours to help you get started. Google has even added several comfort features to prevent virtual travel sickness in this must-see virtual reality app.
