Undead Citadel on PS VR2: A New Benchmark for VR Melee

If you’ve ever swung a virtual sword and felt more noodle than steel, Dark Curry’s Undead Citadel on PlayStation VR2 aims to change that. Built around true 1:1 weapon tracking, adaptive trigger tension, and headset haptics, this wave-based slasher promises your every strike to land with real-world heft. But does it truly outpace competitors like Blade & Sorcery or Until You Fall? We go under the hood.

Gameplay Mechanics

At the heart of Undead Citadel is its physics-driven combat. Each weapon—whether it’s a two-handed warhammer, a swift dagger, or a fully draw-correct longbow—feels distinct in weight and balance. The PS VR2’s adaptive triggers add resistance as you pull back on a drawn bowstring, while haptic pulses warn of nearby enemies. In practice, this combination cuts down on that “floaty swing” sensation that plagues many console VR slasher games.

Enemy AI largely sticks to classic zombie-style behavior: shuffling hordes that converge and occasionally break formation to flank you. Because headshots register with precise collision detection, you’ll find yourself altering tactics—ducking under giant club swings or sidestepping to avoid being cornered. That said, spawns can feel predictable after several hours, a drawback shared with games like Arizona Sunshine. Future patches could benefit from more varied attack patterns or smarter flanking routines to keep encounters fresh.

Weapons aren’t just visual skins. Damage resistances and swing speeds vary, so pairing a heavy mace with a quick off-hand dagger creates meaningful loadout choices. Throwables like grenades and firepots introduce crowd-control layers, and a light magic system lets you freeze or slow enemies in tight spaces. This tactical cocktail edges Undead Citadel beyond your standard hack-and-slash formula.

Game Modes & Replayability

Undead Citadel offers three core modes:

• Story Mode: A ten-chapter narrative that mixes set-piece arenas with scripted events. You’ll activate siege engines, push carts through narrow corridors, and face boss variants that test your weapon mastery.
• Horde Mode: Endless waves of undead, stacked with leaderboard challenges. If you remember the thrill of Pavlov VR’s combat arms race, this scratches a similar itch but in a medieval context.
• Armory Sandbox: A free-form arena to try new weapons, refine combos, and experiment with potion effects without threat of death.

Having a dedicated practice space is a smart inclusion—new VR titles like Fracked could learn from this. Yet long-term replay depends on fresh enemy types and dynamic maps. Right now, you’ll revisit the same four arenas across modes, which may feel repetitive once the novelty of weighty swings fades.

Performance & Comfort

Running at a smooth 90Hz, the PS VR2 version minimizes motion lag and keeps lateral movement comfortable. Teleport and smooth locomotion are both supported, but turning settings require careful calibration to avoid player discomfort. The headset’s built-in haptics strengthen immersion, especially when a zombie’s claw graze sends a ripple through the device. Frame-rate dips are rare, but VR veterans know that even brief stutters can break the illusion.

How It Compares

Unlike Blade & Sorcery, which excels in open-ended physics sandbox on PC VR, Undead Citadel focuses on structured combat arenas. Compared to Until You Fall, it trades neon fantasy for a grim plague-town aesthetic but matches that title’s emphasis on precise parries and ripostes. Both competitors still outperform Dark Curry in enemy variety and level design dynamism, but Undead Citadel holds its own on console hardware.

Conclusion

Undead Citadel brings VR melee closer to the dream of “every swing counts.” Its 1:1 physics, adaptive haptics, and tactical weapon diversity deliver satisfying moments. However, predictable AI patterns and repeated arenas reveal room for growth. For PS VR2 owners craving visceral swordplay, this is a leading contender—just temper expectations on longevity until updates expand enemy behaviors and map layouts.

At $29.99 (with an optional launch discount), it undercuts many full-price VR slasher titles, making it a solid pick for those wanting to test next-gen combat without a steep investment. If you’re looking to see whether Dark Curry has truly raised the melee bar or merely polished old bones, Undead Citadel is worth your first few dozen swings.