The games! And we got ‘Smaaash’ed

As a kid, after coming back from school, taking your bat out of the closet and running towards the field is what I remember about playing. But things have changed and we aren’t kids anymore. So, what’s the most recreational thing that you do after office or on a weekend? Going out with friends in bar and binge drink? But what about playing? Where has that motivation gone to become the next Sachin? Or a Ronaldo (yes, the original Brazilian Ronaldo)? Sitting in the office and attending a whole of lot of calls, I got this one from Smaaash, the virtual reality gaming zone that was recently launched by Sachin Tendulkar himself. I was so ecstatic that I instantly called my editor, Hari and teammates, Siddharth and Shivanshu to visit the place. After slogging for a month, there couldn’t have been a better time to try our hands and feet at this virtual arena that’s making games a reality.

I, Siddharth and Shivanshu had a tough time finding Smaaash in the newly built DLF Mall of India, but eventually we did. The process is simple, get in and ask for your recharged card. For us, a card was given to which was loaded with some money. At every ride, you just need to swipe your card and the console gets activated. The rides are of different variety and thus are charged at different prices. Our journey started in the virtual world with Super Keeper. I and Siddharth got 5 shots each at the goal and the deal was that if we are able to score 5 goals, we get a Harley Davidson bike. But as soon as you kick the ball, the sensors are so good that it’s get really tough to get it past the super keeper.

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Next up, we sat on the Finger Coaster, but believe me, it was nothing short of a roller coaster. We wore the oculus, though huge, but comfortable, and the machine started to shake. As the coaster starts, the visuals are pretty amazing and it feels to be actually sitting in one. We moved on to the next game and that was when I got to know about my walking skills. Siddharth and Shivanshu failed miserably at Walk The Plank. I am boasting about myself and I’ve got every right to do so because I won the mini-battle between the three of us. Virtually walking on a wooden plank, hundreds of feet above the ground, with a dragon spitting fire out of his mouth is no small feat. We were next commissioned to a serious round in the bowling zone. With our names flashing on the alley screen we were ready for another competition. After about 10 rounds Shivanshu, who had the most meagre beginning, won by a fair margin. I finished second due to a miscalculation (Yes, Siddharth still thinks I was given an extra shot).

There came a mini-break for us after an exhaustive bowling session as we moved towards the Mighty Small Café and Bar. The place was nicely done, with paintings of famous cricketing moments hanging by the wall. It served as a perfect ode to some of the legendary moments. We went on with our discussion about my extra chance at the bowling venue, but as soon as the food arrived, we were all hooked to our plates. Chicken bunny chow, with gravy and pieces inside a bread structure stood out among the rest. The succulent chicken pieces were divine. What bowled us over was the hummus with toasted pita. It worked as the perfect snack for our hungry bellies. The NYC Cheese Cake served as the perfect dessert before we moved ahead for the 2nd round.

The break was over and our stomachs were too full to even walk outside the café. Shivanshu and Siddharth tried their luck with the Mechanical Bull. Sid could manage about 20 seconds on the bull before he was thrown away on the couch, but it was Shivanshu who surprised us again by holding on to it for about 2 minutes. Now, the likes of Brett Lee and Shoaib Akhtar were waiting for us in the 360 degree cricket simulator. But to our dismay, the waiting time was about 3 hours before we could try our hands at the virtual stadium. We’ve been promised a game each the next time we visit, though.

From the September 2016 issue of FHM India.