A surprisingly fun VR game which puts you in the centre of spider hunting action.

Do you hate spiders?

You wouldn’t be alone in your detestation of those eight legged monsters, as millions of people around the world have some kind of disdain for them. Perhaps you’ve even thought of inventive and wildly out of the box ways to rid your home of the vile little beasts, while cowering from the one that escaped your vengeance.

While some of your more creative methods of dispatching spiders may never come to fruition in real life, a new virtual reality (VR) game may give you the chance to play out your fantasies.

Developed by Casey Donnellan Games and published by tinyBUILD, Kill it with Fire VR was released for the PlayStation VR2 (PSVR2) and other headsets Nov. 7. The game, which turns you into a spider hunter, is a VR version of the 2020 flat screen release.

In a nutshell, spiders have invaded your hometown and you are the only hope for getting rid of each and every one of them.

Armed with whatever you can get your hands on, you can entertain yourself for a few hours by becoming the ultimate spider killer. Whether you want to throw a book, hit it with a pan, or even use the more outrageous gun and flamethrower options, your methods of killing are only limited by your imagination – and potentially the items which you have unlocked.

In this game they are everywhere, and you must check ALL those places to completely rid each location of spiders. Luckily, you’re armed with a set of gloves which are made specifically for tracking and wiping them from existence.

These gloves not only help your track spiders around each location – thanks to a nifty locator on your right hand which looks like a Wi-Fi meter – they also contain your inventory – with the ability to drop items you find into them for later. There is also the option to see your objectives and challenges pop up – rather than holding onto the clipboard you’re given at the start of the game.

As you enter each location, you’ll notice that there are not only a TON of spiders, but rooms around you that can only be unlocked once you murder a certain number of the beasts.

In addition to the spider body count being the thing to unlock new spaces, completing challenges in each location will also open new places for you. These unlockable spots can contain items like equipment upgrades, weapons, and other items for you to use in your quest for supremacy over the spiders.

You want to be sure to complete all the challenges before you, as it not only extends the game length, but the unlockable items can be very useful – and fun depending on what you get.

In addition to the challenges, levels also come with what’s called the ‘arachno-gauntlet.’ These are unique challenges that usually task you with killing spiders with a specific weapon – and within certain parameters. While it may not seem like you gain anything right away by completing these, your persistence in finishing these will pay off.

Unlike some other games you play in VR, Kill it with Fire is one of the rare few where you can interact with nearly everything around you. Want to open a drawer, grab a pillow – or even a television? You can. But be warned that chances are high there’s probably a spider hiding underneath.

Being able to interact with everything adds a layer of depth to the game that you don’t often see in VR. In real life, you can essentially touch and interact with anything around you – within reason of course – so why wouldn’t the same be said about VR. Being able to do this in a game where spiders are everywhere, also adds an extra level of creep as they scurry away not long after you reveal their hiding spot.

Speaking of the creepiness of this game, everything looks great – it’s animated but crisp – and this only makes the tarantula sized spiders running around even more arachnophobia-inducing. The animations are blocky and definitely cheesy, but the spiders are grossly vibrant in a way that makes you forget you’re in a VR game.

Playing through the game, you may experience some issues opening a door here and there, but chances are this will happen very infrequently. The only thing that presented a slight annoyance was trying to open an early drawer, only to find out later that it was locked behind completing a certain number of objectives.

Why there was nothing to signify this drawer had an objective to complete before opening, we may never know. But unlike the places locked behind a body count – notifying the player in bright green – this was not shown when trying to open the cupboard.

Overall, the game is fun in a way you wouldn’t expect – especially when it costs only $19.99.

With the VR landscape what it is – usually one disappointing waste of money after another – it’s refreshing to see a game that’s not only cheaper, but also holding itself to a higher standard.

If you’re not afraid of spiders – or if you want to conquer your fear by dispatching them in droves – this is the game for you.

Kill it with Fire VR was reviewed after purchasing from the PlayStation store at full price.