You can play Tiny Archers VR with an Artemis Smart bow

How does the Artemis smartbow feel on Quest? We went hands-on with Tiny Archers VR to find out.

Developed by 1DER Entertainment,

adapts the Tiny Archers VR for most major VR platforms. You are a ranger on a tower who must protect the Northern Kingdom from a 24 day assault. It was released in full after an initial early-access launch. Virtual reality archery games have been around for a while. The first archery games, like mobile game and

were a hit. More recent efforts, like Elven Assassin and The Lab are also good, but they don’t focus on the sport. Tiny Archers VR has a lot of fun, but isn’t particularly inventive. The hardware smartbow adds a nice twist. It can be used for mobile gaming via an app on your smartphone, but I was primarily interested in VR compatibility. Tiny Archers VR currently only supports Artemis on Quest, though Pico support is coming this fall.QuiVRHenry Stockdale holding the Artemis BowHorizon Call of the MountainConstructing the Artemis bow is relatively easy, though several moments required assistance from my partner because of its size. Connecting the Tiny ArchersVR to your battery-charged and assembled Artemis bow is easy. Then, load the game in your headset and go to the Settings menu. Hold down the “Artemis” button for Bluetooth connection, then attach the right Touch Controller into the Holster. Artemis allows you to access a simplified ‘Arcade Mode’ that skips the extras of your hub and jumps straight to selecting stages. Quest’s tracking of the bow allows you to select menu options by shooting the arrow. The Artemis button can be pressed quickly to switch between special arrows. We’ll talk more about these arrows in a moment, but if you double-press it, the menu will open. Regardless of your chosen difficulty, using Artemis disables the aim line entirely for a tougher, well-balanced challenge by providing more gold, and landing those kills feels more rewarding.Dungeons of EternityTiny Archers VR Steam screenshot

The bow fails to provide enough resistance to really satisfy people looking for a simulation that feels exactly like a real bow, though removing the aim line does help the sim quality. Tiny Archers VR can be launched from Horizon’s app menu by launching the Artemis Bow for a friend. This is a great way to try out VR for the first time. Every stage has five goals that are worth one star. The first objective is to always survive. You can also earn stars for completing other targets, such as shooting fish or preventing enemies from climbing the tower. The enemies, which include shield-bearers, bombers and armored goblins are not very different. Special arrows provide some fun power-ups, like freezing enemies or armor piercing, though limited stock while in missions and high pricing means you have to pick your moments.Wonder Fitter’s Artemis smart bowTiny Archers VR Steam screenshot

Man holding the Artemis bow indoors while wearing a Quest 3 headset — That’s not to say I didn’t have fun – hitting weak points between the armor and landing shots on far-off enemies feels satisfying, and you score more points for hitting them at a distance. After several hours, I wouldn’t say it was particularly exciting. I also do not feel the need to replay stages in order to get a better score. This is true even when using online leaderboards. However, Tiny Archers VR ties earning stars with unlocking better bows as the campaign progresses.

If you’re not using Artemis, you can explore the hub once you return but there isn’t tons to do. You can buy special arrows with gold after you reach a certain stage of the campaign. The shooting gallery provides a quick distraction, but it wears out quickly. Side quests are provided by the white raven, though these feel more like filler than a meaningful expansion.

Tiny Archers VR Steam screenshot

I’m hoping 1DER’s

Someone holding a bow and protecting farmland from goblins — adds that necessary variety – it lists three campaign expansions, new game modes like asynchronous PvP raids, and more. The game has a competent but uninspiring premise. I would like to see the Artemis Bow fire with more force. Tiny Archers is a fun game for those who want some lighthearted entertainment. Order the

for just $198.