Pistol Whip is proving to be a big hit here at the VRScout offices. Since launching this past November on major PC VR headsets as well as the Oculus Quest, we’ve been actively competing against one another for the top spot on the leaderboards, and while we’ve somehow managed to keep our friendships intact, tensions are definitely high. 

With today’s launch of the Akuma Update, that friction is unlikely to fade. Available now on all platforms, Cloudhead Games’ latest free update adds a new scene centered around a thumping electronica track that’s equal parts modern EDM and classic Japanese folk music. Unlike its predecessor, High Priestess, Akuma focuses on a mix of both close-quarters and long-distance shots. According to developer Cloudhead Games, the level was inspired heavily by the Neo Tokyo aesthetic featured in classic 80’s and 90’s anime such as Akira and Ghost in the Shell. 

The result is a cybernetic landscape filled with colorful Japanese imagery and futuristic environments that look like they were taken straight out of a cyberpunk film; Japanese storefronts with neon signage, samurai-inspired demon statues, a mysterious laboratory lined with human-sized test tubes, the list goes on. Akuma also features what could be argued as the most interesting placement of enemies featured in a Pistol Whip level so far. 

Along with your standard lineup of bad guys popping out from behind corners, several portions of the map have you standing face to face with a row of about 10 enemies staring down at you from a handful of bridges. While this was definitely an intimidating sight my first playthrough, it’s quickly become one of my favorite portions of the level, allowing me to unleash my inner Clint Eastwood and mow down enemies in a series of rapid-fire shots. 

The Akuma Update is available now on Oculus Rift/Rift S, Oculus Quest, and SteamVR for the low low price of $0.00.

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