Sandbox VR — Attraction in San Antonio

It's possible to love something without loving everything about it (like most relationships) or without loving the cost (like Disney World). That's how our family of four (parents and two teens) felt after playing Rebel Moon. We had an amazing time and talked about our 30 minutes of gameplay for at least an hour throughout the rest of the day. Is that worth the $245 for a public session? Maybe, maybe not. We're glad we had the opportunity to give it a go as a family event, and we even took advantage of the 20% discount for a repeat booking (but which won't be for another six months).

We're Escape Room addicts, so we're familiar with spending too much money on something that doesn't last very long. There was certainly teamwork involved here, but it didn't have the same sense of group accomplishment and individual contribution as (good) Escape Rooms do. If we had to choose between this and an Escape Room, it would probably be an Escape Room. However, if the choices were saving up for two rounds of Sandbox or purchasing our own Meta Quest, we would 100% just buy the Meta Quest.

We have spent many hours on VR with Oculus / Meta, PlayStation, arcades, etc., so we generally knew what to expect from the gameplay experience. We weren't completely blown away by the technology or how much exercise it can be. Even so, 30 minutes was a good length of time, and I don't think we would've lasted much longer without a break. I didn't like the prices of their snacks and water, but I can see how they have a market for it

Pros: the staff were engaging and very helpful, the equipment (MoCap limb adapters and a haptic vest) worked well, the game was a fun unique story to play that isn't just another Meta game, the guns were comfortable (although a front grip on the rifle would have been helpful), everything was wireless, and the gameplay cost included player statistics and three videos of game highlights starring your team... seriously, those videos alone were almost enough to entice us to return.

Cons: heated up even with the fans to the point of significant sweat, slight lag in talking to other players, headset sat a little awkward and started to cause neck ache and headache for us older adults, the down angle for reloading the rifle was difficult when kneeling, the chance for smacking into someone else in the chaos is moderate, and we were distracted by another rooms' players yelling louder than our own game and internal comms.

Recommendations to the company: the orientation session should include more movement around the room to realize just how much you can (and will need to) move; the rifle rounds didn't seem to have any more effect on the enemies than the pistol round but certainly should; the games on the website should include parental warnings and age ratings.

SEP 25 Update: Lessly was our game host (along with help from Zane) and was just wonderful as our first experience. This time, we played Squid Games and loved everything about it. Still little hangups with slight legs in movement and delays in speaking to each other, neither of which were distracting enough to detarct from our fun family-bonding. Live the Netflix hit and listen closely for the ominous sound...

From an experience perspective i would say 5/5 stars.

We were in the area and saw a 5 star VR experience and decided to try it. The initial guy we talked to when we walked in about the game types and different levels was super awesome and informative.

-1 star for the lady we talked to while setting up the game. She was relatively rude and acted like she had more important things to do, which is mildly ironic since we are two middle aged (male and female) just trying out a new experience for our anniversary day and we were literally the only people in the building. But whatever the game was still fun.

-1 star for them trying to upsell me on a gun. We paid $120 for two people to play 1 game for 1 hour. Why are you trying to upsell me a gun? im a gamer and have real issues with purchasing DLC in games.... like why? we already paid for the experience just let me play the game or dont bother to show me guns that arent included in the base price.

All in 5/5 on the experience itself. We happened to be in the area eating lunch across the street and thought it was a cool concept. Honestly i really enjoyed it once we got into the game. I just cant support microtransactions in games (and now they have even made it into these types of games). Seriously I'm shocked we didn't have to sit through ads to get our base guns and/or ammo.

All in we would probably go again but not sure i would pay full price, and we would absolutely request a different person to help us get in the gear and...

I had the pleasure of experiencing Sandbox VR recently, and Israel's exceptional service truly elevated the entire visit. From the moment we arrived, he went above and beyond to make our group feel welcomed and prepared for the adventure ahead.

Israel's professionalism and enthusiasm stood out immediately. He was incredibly knowledgeable about the games and equipment, patiently guiding us through the setup process with clear instructions and helpful tips to enhance our gameplay. His passion for VR gaming was contagious, and he made sure everyone in our group was comfortable, even those who were new to virtual reality.

What really impressed me was Israel's attention to detail and ability to create a fun and immersive environment. He anticipated our needs, promptly resolved any technical hiccups, and even offered personalized recommendations based on our preferences. His upbeat attitude and friendly demeanor kept the energy high throughout the session, ensuring we had an unforgettable time.

Israel's dedication to customer satisfaction is truly commendable. He went the extra mile to ensure our experience was seamless and enjoyable, leaving us eager to return. Sandbox VR is fortunate to have such a talented and committed team member. If you're visiting, be sure to look out for Israel—his exceptional service will undoubtedly enhance your adventure!

Highly...