Zero Latency’s Space Marine VR – Defenders of Avarax Launch Event

Having had the privilege of visiting Zero Latency multiple times, I’ve always been impressed by their offerings and attention to detail. Now, with Space Marine and Warhammer lore being as rich and familiar as it is—especially to me—I’m particularly excited.

To give that some context, for the past 13 years, I’ve been a tournament organiser for ARC40K, one of Australia’s largest Warhammer 40K events, and I proudly field my quirky Angry Marines army. Zero Latency really needs to bring their ‘A’ game, as this is a dream come true for me to step into the shoes of a Space Marine. However, if it is not executed perfectly, this could easily turn into my nightmare!

Event

On Tuesday, we made our way to Archie Brothers’ Docklands to be among the first in the world to experience life as the ultimate superhuman warrior, the Space Marine. Luke from Zero Latency greeted us upon arrival, and his team got us booked in for a session of Space Marine VR – Defenders of Avarax. The excitement was already palpable as the trailer played on the big screen, and the empty play area was ready & waiting buzzing with anticipation!

I was fortunate to be there with my good friend, YouTube superstar, and fellow Warhammer enthusiast, Dudi (Link). To say we were excited would be an understatement; the closer it got to 7 PM, the more we hyped each other up. And then, our moment arrived…

Gameplay

Equipped with our Guns and VR headsets, we watched a brief safety and instructional video before stepping onto the play arena where our Space Marine VR adventure, Defenders of Avarax, was about to begin.

As they briefed us on our mission, I found myself less focused on their words and more in awe of my teammates. Their resemblance to actual Space Marines was surreally accurate. With Primaris and firstborn Space Marines towering around me, bolters gripped firmly in their hands, the scene was nothing short of breathtaking.

I was abruptly interrupted when the game prompted us to test our weapons. The surreal feeling of lifting my gun & seeing a Bolter in my hands and then feeling it react to my every trigger pull was indescribable — in that moment, I truly felt like a Space Marine.

As the mission commenced, we battled against waves of Tyranids amidst a complex, multi-level layout of infested buildings. Enemies emerged from all directions, keeping us constantly on guard. This dynamic gameplay was a stark departure from my previous experiences; instead of moving linearly from point A to B, and encountering predictable hordes, this game kept us constantly guessing and adapting.

At one point, while navigating a platform with the mindset of moving from one point to another, we were unexpectedly attacked from the air. This unpredictability and the game’s use of aspects set Space Marine VR – Defenders of Avarax apart from any other VR experiences I’ve had with Zero Latency. It’s incredibly immersive and non-linear, utilizing every inch of the arena to its fullest potential.

I will not go too much into the story, as I don’t want to spoil this for you. But keep an eye out for drop pods, as they hold some of the most iconic & powerful Space Marine weaponry, from Flame throwers, and Heavy Bolters to my favourite the Plasma Canon! Helpful reminder with my beloved plasma cannons, hold the trigger down to charge it & get ready to see hordes of enemy disappear!

Final Thoughts

Having tried Zero Latency’s previous title, I had high expectations, but Space Marine VR – Defenders of Avarax blew me away. Every aspect of gameplay and immersion has improved, and it’s clear they are at the forefront of VR gaming—especially coming from someone whose stomach usually struggles with VR.

Zero Latency’s Space Marine VR – Defenders of Avarax is, without a doubt, the best gaming experience I’ve ever had. And it’s not just because I’m a huge fan of Space Marine. The level of immersion is so intense that I completely lost track of the fact that I was even playing a game!

I’ve already told about 30 of my friends about Space Marine VR – Defenders of Avarax & volunteered myself to each & every one of them if they need additional players. As I don’t want to go again, I need to go again!