Raw Data

For Meta Quest owners, Steam Link does not work. The game crashes. BUT you can get around this by using the Meta app and it does work wirelessly through that. But I absolutely hate using the Meta app and prefer the Steam Link, so this is not a true solution. But wanted to mention this for any others out there. I'm playing on a Meta Quest 3 and got it to work. The gameplay is honestly pretty boring. I have done the first two missions and it just felt like...that's it? But this is a game from 2017, so that makes a bit of sense. Though, the graphics are pretty good for being a 2017 game, I will give them that. As others have said, this game has been abandoned by the developer and that shows for us Meta Quest owners. I got this game for under $10 in a sale, so I'm not too bothered by it. I loathe the controls and tutorial. I am SICK of VR games that force you into teleporting and snap turning. It is such a turn off and this game will not let you turn either off without first playing through the useless tutorial. And they will let you skip a part of the tutorial, but then the game keeps bugging you about "aRE yOU sUrE?!?! yOu hAVen'T CoMPleTed tHE tUTOriAl!!" Such a nag...I prefer to play a game and figure it out for myself in my own way, and especially with my desired controls. I have to mention that even with the snap turning off, the game has this very obnoxious hologram on the floor that wants you to physically face one direction. So they REALLY want you to use the analog stick to turn which makes zero sense in a VR game that is about hordes of enemies. It's ridiculous. I have to move a finger just to turn. Granted, the hologram arrow is near the bottom of the screen, so it's not too noticeable, but it becomes noticeable sometimes and can be quite distracting. I am very frustrated after having to jump through hoops to get it running and then be bothered with hand holding, but I plan to get back in the game later this week and keep playing. But for now. Yeah, I do not recommend this game for most players, especially those of us who love VR games.

Very disappointed with this one. The game would immediately crash at startup. Happened on my friend's computer too. We both of Quest 3S headsets and apparently this affecting everyone with various models of Quest. Not able to play this game whatsoever.

This game was definitely good for its time, I fondly remember playing it initially on the PSVR, but it just doesn't hold up a decade later. The most immediate indicator of this was VIVE wands showing up in place of my index controllers. This game was at no point updated for a better class of VR, and this is supported by limited options in regards to movement and (the lack of) turning. The gameplay itself is fine, exactly how I remember. As an experience, however, it pales in comparison to modern competition from infinitely more polished games like Boneworks and Vertigo. tl;dr: Unless you have a VIVE, I wouldn't recommend getting. Even on discount, this game just isn't worth struggling against its archaic design.

I was excited to try this game but unfortunately, it is a buggy mess. 5/10.

Boring trash, dont buy. Was never a good game, even back in oculus rift days. Don't even buy it on sale.

Do NOT buy! I loved this game when it was new. I loved this game about a year ago when I last played it. The only thing that changed between now and a year ago is I am in a new house in a new state and the game will not fully launch. It maxes out my 4070 and will hang on the EULA screen flickering in and out while spooky noises play in my Vive headset. My guess is that a windows or video card update has broken the game. I was going to look into the "fix for 11th gen processors" but that link no longer works. If I can get this game running, I might change my review. Honestly, the story was a little wild, but a younger me did enjoy it.

crashes when i try to use steam link

Does not work well with modern controllers and is missing basic features (snap turn). Cant possible recommend for 37€. On sale for 5€ you could start thinking about it.

Raw Data is a virtual reality action shooter that helped establish what full-scale VR combat experiences could look like during the early years of consumer VR gaming. Rather than feeling like a short experimental demo or limited tech showcase, the game delivers a complete sci-fi shooter experience built entirely around physical interaction, fast reflexes, and immersive combat mechanics. Combining futuristic environments, wave-based survival encounters, cooperative multiplayer, and multiple playable heroes, Raw Data succeeds because it fully embraces the strengths of virtual reality instead of trying to imitate traditional flat-screen shooters. Set in a cyberpunk-inspired future dominated by a powerful corporation known as Eden Corp, the game follows a resistance movement attempting to expose dangerous experiments and artificial intelligence projects hidden behind the company’s public image. The narrative itself is relatively straightforward science fiction, but it provides enough context to support the action-heavy gameplay and futuristic atmosphere. The world is filled with neon lighting, robotic enemies, holographic technology, and sleek industrial environments that feel highly immersive when experienced inside VR. The biggest strength of Raw Data is its combat system. Every weapon interaction feels physical and immediate because players are actively aiming, reloading, blocking, and attacking with motion controls rather than pressing simple buttons. Gunfights become intense because enemies attack from multiple directions while players physically dodge incoming fire and reposition themselves in real time. The game constantly keeps players moving, making every encounter feel energetic and physically engaging. Few early VR games captured the excitement of full-body action as effectively as Raw Data. The variety of playable characters adds a huge amount of replay value. Each operative has a completely unique combat style and set of abilities that dramatically change how the game feels. Bishop specializes in fast-paced dual-pistol gunplay, Saija focuses on sword combat and telekinetic abilities, Boss uses heavy weapons and explosive firepower, while Elder fights with a futuristic bow designed around precision attacks. Switching between characters significantly changes the pacing and strategy of missions, making repeated playthroughs feel fresh instead of repetitive. The gunplay remains one of the game’s most satisfying features. Weapons feel powerful and responsive, especially during chaotic firefights where players are surrounded by robotic enemies and forced to react quickly under pressure. Physically aiming and reloading weapons in VR adds a level of immersion traditional shooters simply cannot replicate. Every successful headshot or desperate close-range encounter feels far more intense because the player is directly performing the actions rather than watching animations unfold automatically. Melee combat is another major component of the experience, especially when playing sword-focused characters. Swinging energy blades and blocking enemy attacks physically creates exciting moments that highlight the strengths of VR interaction. While the melee systems occasionally lack the weight and precision found in newer VR combat games, they still provide an enjoyable sense of physical involvement that was extremely impressive when the game originally launched. Cooperative multiplayer significantly improves the experience as well. Playing alongside another person creates far more chaotic and entertaining combat situations where teamwork becomes essential. Coordinating abilities, reviving teammates, and surviving massive enemy waves together captures the excitement of cooperative action games remarkably well. The multiplayer mode adds substantial replay value because missions become more dynamic and unpredictable when experienced with another player. The level design works effectively within the wave-based structure. Missions gradually introduce stronger enemies, larger combat arenas, and more difficult encounters that encourage players to constantly improve their positioning and combat skills. Although the game fundamentally revolves around defending areas and surviving enemy waves, the pacing remains entertaining because the combat itself feels so physically engaging. Visually, Raw Data still holds up surprisingly well for an older VR title. The futuristic environments are detailed and colorful, with strong lighting effects and polished sci-fi aesthetics that help create a convincing cyberpunk atmosphere. Enemy designs, weapon effects, and environmental presentation all contribute to making the world feel immersive without sacrificing performance during intense action sequences. The clean visual design is particularly important in VR where clarity and responsiveness directly affect gameplay comfort. Sound design is another area where the game performs extremely well. Weapons sound powerful, robotic enemies create constant audio pressure, and the soundtrack adds energy during major encounters without becoming distracting. Positional audio also plays an important role because players constantly rely on sound cues to detect enemy movement and incoming attacks around them. Despite its strengths, Raw Data is not without flaws. Beneath the polished VR mechanics, the gameplay structure is still heavily built around wave-based combat arenas. While the combat itself remains entertaining, some players may eventually notice repetition during longer sessions because the overall mission objectives rarely evolve dramatically beyond surviving enemy attacks and defending positions. Technical roughness occasionally appears as well, particularly during multiplayer sessions where connection stability and synchronization problems can sometimes interrupt immersion. Although the game generally performs well, it still shows signs of being part of the earlier generation of VR development. The physical intensity of the gameplay may also be exhausting for some players. Raw Data demands constant movement, quick reactions, and physical interaction throughout most combat encounters. Longer sessions can become surprisingly tiring, especially for players not fully accustomed to active VR games. While this physical involvement is one of the game’s greatest strengths, it may also limit accessibility for certain audiences. What ultimately makes Raw Data memorable is how effectively it demonstrated the potential of VR action gaming. The game proved that virtual reality could support full-length campaigns, cooperative multiplayer, and satisfying combat systems capable of standing alongside traditional action games rather than existing as simple experimental experiences. Raw Data remains one of the stronger VR shooters available because of its immersive combat, excellent character variety, and energetic pacing. Even years after release, it still succeeds as an exciting and highly physical sci-fi action experience that showcases why virtual reality can make combat feel far more intense and personal than standard shooters. Rating: 8/10

One of the first and best in VR!