PowerWash Simulator VR review- the definitive power-washing experience
PowerWash Simulator has officially made the jump to VR, available for the Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest 3 and Meta Quest Pro.
After going hands-on with the game, I can confidently say it really makes you feel like you're a power washer, even if it doesn't enrich the experience to a mind-blowing degree.
Check out PowerWash Simulator VR below
Advert
Starting off the game puts you in your character's garage to commence the first job, the van, which also acts as the game's tutorial.
This was definitely needed as controls are much different to the console and PC versions, mainly because you have to physically aim the gun and grab the various nozzles and accessories.
Luckily there are plenty of control options to choose from, which customises the way you move, look around and use the various power washing gizmos and doohickeys in your cleaning arsenal.
Movement can either be done with the control stick, or by teleporting, and turning can either be smooth, or snap-based, depending on if you get motion sickness easily.
You'll also need to look around a lot to grab nozzles, soaps and attachments for your washer, so you can adjust the belt to either be higher or lower on your body depending on your height or just personal preference.
Gameplay consists of using whatever cleaning products you have to spray various buildings, vehicles and objects till they're sparkling and shiny, a delightfully relaxing experience.
The jobs were exactly the same as the main game, in the same order, and bonus missions like cleaning the Mars space rover were also present, which was great to see.
Power washing was decent fun in the main game, and more so through a VR lens, mainly because you're actually moving and twisting your arms to clean in the most efficient way, as well as leaning or turning to find the best angles.
You also get access to loads of upgrades and soap bottles to make life easier, all of which are handily stored on your belt. They're spread across three different sections and can be easily accessed by grabbing the belt, spinning it around to whichever section you want, grabbing your nozzle or whatever you need and attaching it to your gun.
It was really easy to quickly switch to whatever attachment I was in need of at the time and was better than cycling through a menu.
Honestly, the whole thing was oddly therapeutic. I'd play in short bursts of about 30 minutes to an hour, standing about slowly washing a park, a treehouse or a fire engine, whilst listening to some tunes or a background YouTube video. There's no challenge other than having the patience to put the work in, and jobs can be easily put down and picked back up exactly where you left off.
I was quite impressed with the graphics too. While they weren't mind-blowing by any means, I think the art style lends itself quite well to a VR format, especially since the gameplay requires you to stand a good distance away from whatever you're spraying down, which hides any imperfections in the textures.
The only trouble I had with the game was moving the steps, ladders or scaffolding, which is done by selecting it and then awkwardly pointing until it moves where you want it to go. This was a bit of a nightmare at first as it'd occasionally pop in and out of existence, in addition to refusing the selected placement, arguing the space was obstructed. It's a minor gripe and one that's thankfully improved following an update.
Now as much as I enjoyed my time with the game, there really isn't much more to say apart from its PowerWash Simulator but in VR. While it's cool that all the same missions have returned from the main game, I wasn't exactly in a rush to replay them, despite having fun with them in the main game. I played the main game all the way to the end, acquiring all the upgrades along the way, so I wasn't in a rush to start from scratch again, but there's not much you can do about that.
I think it would have been better if there were at least a few levels built to complement the VR experience. Possibly taking advantage of your greater field of view, or how much simpler it is to clean with free control of your hands and aiming.
That being said, I'd still go as far as to say this is the definitive way to play the game, and a must-try for all Meta Quest owners, whether they've played the original or not.
While it doesn't necessarily add anything new to the game aside from a different point of view, that could definitely be enough for the majority of people. At its core PowerWash Simulator is a simple title that aims to pull you out of reality for a bit and deliver a soothing, chilled-out gameplay experience. Shifting that experience into VR just makes it that much more enjoyable.
Pros: Fresh perspective, very relaxing gameplay, plenty of content
Cons: Doesn't add anything new to the game, might not be enough to keep fans of the base game occupied
For fans of: Simulators, VR, relaxing experiences
7/10: Very Good
PowerWash Simulator VR is available now for Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest 3 and Meta Quest Pro. Review code provided by the publisher. Read a guide to our review scores here.
Topics: VR