What: VIREL

Where: 24 Ray Street, Bhowanipore

Timings: Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 8pm

Pocket pinch: Rs 350 onwards

I don’t fit the proper description of a ‘gamer’ but I do enjoy a good action or racing game — think Max Payne, Need For Speed: Burnout or Grand Theft Auto. Those few hours of gameplay are nerve-wracking and you get lost in the virtual world. Now imagine actually being in a game! VIREL (Virtual Reality Entertainment and Leisure), a VR gaming cafe, can simulate exactly that experience.

The second outlet of the cafe (the first one is in Salt Lake at AE 324, Sector I) is spread over 1,380sq ft and has the latest gear when it comes to VR setups like HTC Vive, Oculus Experience, Kinect and PlayStation.

I tried my hand at a few of the games.

Fancy Skiing: I have never gone skiing but am quite keen to try it after having played this one. The game makes you feel like you’re skiing down a snow-capped mountain. The challenge is to avoid falling rocks and avalanches. Jumping off the steep slopes is the scariest part. I was launched into the air and I could see myself almost about to land after a huge fall and all I could think was, “Abort mission”. Word of caution: one must always keep their feet planted on the ground while playing this game, otherwise you are sure to fall.

Dance Central 3: I thought this game would be a piece of cake. I played it on the Kinect where I was supposed to copy the dance moves appearing on the screen. Then Poker Face by Lady Gaga started and I started moving. Points are given on your moves and timing. My moves? A total fail! My timing? Even worse! It’s safe to say that I am not the dancer I thought I was.

Dream Coaster: As I put on the headset, it felt like I was transported into a different world. I was on a roller coaster and the tracks were going through the most beautiful landscapes. If one second I was going through a land filled with lit mushrooms and trees, the next scenery was of green mountains and blue skies. This is one of the best games to be in when one wants to escape reality.

Loyalty: I was sitting on a VR prop called the synced hydraulic seat-based horse. In one hand I was holding the reins and in the other was my sword. I had to ride through a lane and fight soldiers in my way, who were running towards me in big groups with their arms ready. From the sides soldiers were shooting arrows at me. With the little knowledge I had from watching Troy, I swung my sword and removed every one of them from my way. The bravery lasted till I reached the end where I was faced with a giant. I just took my headset off, so technically I didn’t lose!

Richie’s Plank Experience: This game is definitely not for those afraid of heights. It starts with a lift taking you to the topmost floor of a building. From that height the roads can’t be seen; there are birds and helicopters in the sky and the only way out is by walking on a wooden plank. I took a step trying to balance myself on the plank, which in reality was only the ground. I fell off at my third step and I could see myself free-falling right onto the ground. Yes, I did scream out loud!

The Brookhaven Experiment: Scary movies and games are just not my thing, but I was talked into trying this game. It starts with you standing in a deserted location amidst burning buildings and destruction. In one hand you have a torch and a gun in the other. And what must appear during the darkest hour of the day? Zombies! You have limited ammo, so shooting away isn’t the best option, as I learned the hard way. The zombies came attacking me and soon it was game over.

Owner speak: “We want the children and their families to have a good time together. A person must play these games gradually to get used to the VR consoles, otherwise they can get hurt,” said Siddharth Raisurana who co-owns the place with Sneha Raisurana and Ashish Raisurana.

Text: Urvashi Bhattacharya. Picture: Pabitra Das