A First-Time VR Trip — Nerves, Shock, and Pure Excitement

I’ll admit it — I was terrified walking into Sandbox VR in Murray. I’ve played video games, sure, but real full-body VR? That was a whole different beast. Still, a friend convinced me to join their “mission” for the night, and I braced myself for something… intense.

Stepping Into the Unknown

From the moment I opened the door at the Murray location, everything felt futuristic and slightly surreal. The lobby had this soft neon glow, and I watched other groups laughing, flexing their VR gear, pointing at their wrists and ankles where the sensors tracked their every move. My palms were sweating just watching them.

The staff greeted us like VR veterans — calm, friendly, confident. While I fumbled with the straps on my headset and the backpack unit, a team member explained how the system tracked our full body, including wrist and ankle sensors. He even said the haptic feedback would make hits feel… real. My heart raced at the thought.

That First Moment Inside VR

Once we were in, my legs felt wobbly. The world we stepped into was nothing like sitting on a couch. My avatar mirrored every move — crouch, step, turn — and when I fired my virtual weapon or moved through the space, I felt more than just visuals. The rumble on my back when I was “hit” made me jump, and I laughed in surprise and delight.

At first, I hesitated — not sure where to go, what to do, or what was even real. But then I glimpsed my friends sprinting forward, shouting directions. There was something remarkable in that moment: I felt connected to them in a totally new way.

Fear Turning into Joy

Midway through our mission, I found myself grinning. My fear melted, replaced by an odd kind of joy — a mix of exhilaration and wonder. The virtual world we were exploring had us battling zombies, ducking through corridors, solving puzzles, and coordinating as a team. It was scary, but in the best way possible.

One highlight: there was a moment when I didn’t expect a big threat, but suddenly — “bang” — my haptic pack buzzed hard. My teammate shouted, “Cover me!” I dove forward, hit my target, and for a second, I forgot I was even “playing.” It felt… real.

After the Game — Headset Off, Mind Racing

When it ended and I removed the headset, the room around me felt ordinary, but I didn’t. My legs were a bit shaky, my heart still racing, and my mind replayed every jump, every close call, every burst of laughter.

Sitting with my friends afterward, we talked through favorite moments. “Did you feel that hit on your ankle?” “That puzzle was trippy.” “I couldn’t stop smiling.” There was this shared energy — the kind you only get when you’ve done something wild and felt alive doing it.

Why It Was Worth the Fear

The full-body tracking made VR feel totally different — I wasn’t just playing; I was “in” the world.

Haptic feedback added real physical sensation to virtual actions — crazy how much that changes things.

The staff made it easy for a newbie like me to just step in and try, without feeling judged or overwhelmed.

It was a social experience: with friends, we strategized, laughed, and supported each other.

For someone who’s never tried real location-based VR, Sandbox VR in Murray isn’t just a cool thing to do — it’s an adventure you don’t want to miss. It pushed me past my comfort zone, gave me genuine goosebumps, and left me buzzing. If you’re curious about what “being in a different world” actually feels like, go play one mission. Trust me, the fear is worth it.

Rating: 5/5 — a mind-bending, heart-racing first VR experience I’ll never forget.