Yesterday, we journeyed to Shepherd’s Bush in West London for a virtual reality exploration of the stunning city of Machu Picchu, high in the Peruvian Andes.
Our experience began in the unremarkable confines of the W12 Shopping Centre, where we were fitted with VR headsets and introduced to our guide: a supremely annoying, wise-cracking flying robot called TERI.
The Good Bits: spectacular immersion
The virtual world created was nothing less than spectacular.
It afforded stunningly detailed views inside the city and breath-taking panoramas of the mountains and the sky.
The final sequence was a random but exciting trippy adventure – a Roger Dean-inspired skyscape of floating giant rocks and whizzing serpents.
The Bad Bits: an inescapable barrage of chatter
Sadly, the immersion was continually sabotaged by our whirring guide.
TERI’s dialogue often went off on bizarre tangents completely unrelated to the historical scene in front of us, making it impossible to concentrate on the virtual world.
At times, the robot simply would not STFU and became a major distraction (fun fact: you could put your head inside TERI but unfortunately there was no off switch to be found there).
We also encountered occasional strange VR glitches, such as being repeatedly told to follow non-existent yellow lines when only blue lines were visible.
Our verdict
This was a fascinating experience, but one that would drastically benefit from offering an optional, quieter, facts-only soundtrack.
While there’s no denying that the visual spectacle is outstanding, the inescapable guide might prove too much for some adults (although some kids might lap it up).
More info
Machu Picchu: Journey to the Lost City
W12 Shopping Centre, Shepherd’s Bush Grn, London W12 8PP
Duration: 1 hour
Price: From £14.50 (Child) & £18.50 (Adult)
Tickets available at