Genre: VR Movie
Release date: September 20, 2016

“Narrated by Elijah Wood, and developed with former creative talent on the Brave and Toy Story 3 teams, Henry is the story of a little hedgehog with a big problem…he loves to hug! After ending up alone on his birthday, he’ll make a wish that changes everything.”

That description from the Oculus Store pretty much says it all. Or at least all that I would want to say without ruining the movie for you.

The VR is very comfortable. You can spend the whole time just sitting and watching the story with no danger of motion sickness. Or you can stand up and walk around the room (assuming you have the room to do so without tripping over your computer). You can bend down to look under the table or lean over the railing and look down.

That is the difference with VR. You aren’t just watching. You’re there.

And winning an Emmy definitely helps legitimatize the new VR medium.

Bottom line is that the Oculus Story team took a tried-and-true storyline, applied it to a new medium and nailed it. If you have a Rift, there’s no reason not to get Henry.

(find out more about our grading system)

 

+ It’s short, cute and moving + Excellent for beginning VR users + You’re on the stage and can move around with the “actors” + It’s “free for a limited time”   – Clichéd, formula-driven plot. No surprises here. – No interaction. It’s just a very short movie.

 

Trailer: