Three brand-new immersive virtual reality experiences have arrived at Birmingham’s NEC, giving visitors of all ages the chance to step into incredible worlds with UniversumVR

Napoleon – The Immersive Saga – by Sandora Studio
Step into the boots of a legend in this thrilling VR journey through the rise and fall of Napoleon Bonaparte. From epic battlefields to secret corridors of power, this breathtaking experience places you at the heart of history. Feel the tension, ambition and grandeur of one of the world’s most fascinating figures – as if you were truly there.

Wild Immersion – Experiment Nature – by Wild immersion
Get up close with members of the animal kingdom in this visually stunning and heartwarming wildlife adventure. Travel from the savannah to the Arctic, from the rainforest to the ocean floor – all without leaving Birmingham. A captivating, family-friendly experience that lets you live among majestic animals in their natural habitats — without disturbing a single paw, hoof or feather.

Fairy Tales – By Universe Studio
A magical treat for all ages, this whimsical VR adventure whisks you away into the worlds of your favourite fairy tales. Expect enchanted forests, talking creatures, mermaids, castles in the sky, and plenty of surprises around every corner. Whether you’re young or simply young at heart, this experience rekindles the joy of storytelling in the most spectacular way imaginable.

Universum Birmingham introduces the next generation of live entertainment – StoryLiving – where you don’t just watch a story unfold, you live inside it. It’s live entertainment reimagined.

UniversumVR Birmingham Review

We were really excited to be invited along for a preview of the VR experience that’s popped up this summer at the NEC in Birmingham.  I brought my 12 and 14 year old with me and it was our first experience of VR.

We first tried out the Wild Immersion VR first.  For this one you’re sat down on stools which can roate 360 degrees, pop on your headset with headphones and then you’re transported around the world as if you’ve stepped into a nature documentary.  You soon realise why the stools need to swivel because you can have a view all the way around you as well as up and down.  At some points you’re soaring high above the savannah or down on the ground as a heard of elephants walk past you.  They’ll come over and it feels like they’re about to nudge you with you their trunk!  I was able to wear my glasses within the VR headset but felt the view wasn’t as sharp as I was expecting and my kids said the resolution wasn’t as high as they were expecting so perhaps wasn’t my glasses after all.

The Napolean experience had been delayed at customs in Heathrow so we checked out Fairy Tales instead and WOW, WOW, WOW this totally blew us away.  Stepping into a mid sized ‘room’ as soon as you don your headset you are instantly immsersed into another magical world.  You totally forget what it might be like outside of your headset and it felt like we travelled a big distance and into huge spaces.

The Fairy Tales adventure drops you straight into an interactive storybook world.  On a quest to find Grandma, you pass through a multitude of imaginery worlds as if you have stepped into a Disney Pixar movie.  You can ‘see’ your hands and touch floating globes that disolve into sparkles as the next part of the story unfolds, push floating jelly fish out of your way, teeter on the edge of a pathway above a city keeping out of reach of a giant, ride Aladdin’s magic carpet and so much more.

We absolutely loved the Fairy Tales VR experience – totally immersive and interactive.