Harpagun Evaluation: Colourful Arcade Motion With A Compelling Story

Harpagun delivers a colourful VR arcade shooter-smasher with a compelling narrative. Learn on for our full ideas.

On-rails motion is not probably the most thrilling proposition for VR gaming today, but Harpagun reveals such motion titles can nonetheless get the job achieved. Following final yr’s work on the comfy puzzle recreation Toy Trains, One thing Random’s subsequent title opts for a fast-paced arcade-style shooter. Regardless of a restrictive motion system and unpolished edges on Quest, the core motion stays extremely pleasant.

Harpagun gives humorous sci-fi absurdity with a futuristic Soviet twist whilst you discover a post-apocalyptic world, weaving an intriguing narrative with a satisfying decision. Taking part in as a ‘Harpagun’, our titular protagonist finds their comrades lacking, with armies of mutant fungus able to kill you. Guided by two dysfunctional leaders through a floating TV, this compelling story explores what occurred to this society that leaves me invested in our hero’s survival.

The marketing campaign splits into bite-sized missions with three issue settings, which is helpful should you choose enjoying in brief bursts. You will restart from a checkpoint should you die, although these are frustratingly absent throughout boss fights. Our purpose is to seek out secure passage off this abandoned planet and again to the mothership, armed with two gravity weapons that allow you to shoot stuff alongside merely grabbing objects.

Normal gunfire does what’s wanted, however launching objects like rubble, chairs, doorways, and even elements of an enemy we have torn off into these fungal foes is way more entertaining. Every stage is plagued by throwable objects for entertaining kills, although grabbing enemies immediately and destroying them by throwing them into one another can be enjoyable.

Timed provide drops helpfully present further well being or restricted ammo sorts for elevated injury. Killing a number of foes without delay as lasers bounce throughout one another feels good, shotgun-style ammo for heavy hits at shut vary present helpful crowd management, whereas electrical upgrades cost a lightning ball that outright smokes these wild mushrooms. It is excessive, dramatic, and nice enjoyable throughout.

I admire the creativity with some enemies too, and Harpagun gives selection as you advance by way of missions. For instance, one foe requires you to tug them upwards with the gravity gun and use your different hand to shoot the bubble that quickly seems. One other requires ripping its wings off, which sounds extra brutal than it truly is. Extra superior enemies and weapons steadily roll out at tempo, although you will all the time be outfitted with gravity weapons.

When enemies spawn almost as quick as you kill them, this turns into a juggling act that may overwhelm you should you aren’t cautious. Throwing again a foe’s projectiles with the gravity gun feels nice throughout these moments, as does blocking them by choosing up different enemies. Nevertheless, all it takes is a couple of hits to kill you, so it is advisable to preserve transferring.

Harpagun has a robust basis, but its design feels constrained, and that rapidly turns into obvious when preventing these enemy waves. Teleporting to set factors throughout the map often works nicely till you are attempting to dodge enemy fireplace, supplying you with restricted choices for the place to maneuver. You may usually strafe left, proper, forwards, or backwards from the central space, and that is it.

One thing Random evidently designed Harpagun’s motion to prioritize consolation over immersion, which works as I’ve not had any points to this point even with minimal consolation settings. Nonetheless, a number of further facets might additionally use fine-tuning. Easy digicam turning is simply too quick, making it robust to be exact and in contrast to snap turning, the digicam velocity is not adjustable. Lengthy loading occasions are additionally current on Quest 3, most notable when booting up the sport.

I’ve additionally discovered efficiency hiccups on Quest 3, and the framerate drops are evident in later ranges when extra enemies are onscreen. I additionally observed some moments the place the textual content bubble on display from the leaders through the TV would jitter, which wasn’t uncomfortable however your mileage could fluctuate. I’ve but to attempt the Quest 2, PC VR or PS VR2 variations, so I am unable to examine any variations proper now.

The primary marketing campaign takes round 5 hours to finish, which neither feels overly lengthy nor too brief for Harpagun. Different choices can be found corresponding to a handy arcade mode for replaying particular person ranges past the marketing campaign, alongside an Area mode the place you battle enemy waves. I am not significantly compelled to maintain replaying the latter, although it is a good choice to have.

What advantages Harpagun tremendously on Quest 3 is the colourful cel-shaded presentation, providing well-designed environments and an typically unsettling array of enemies. The soundtrack fits the sport comparatively nicely, even when it isn’t something too riveting, and it is nice to see a selection of efficiency settings out there for individuals who’d relatively prioritize efficiency or constancy.

Harpagun Evaluation – Ultimate Verdict

Harpagun continues a robust streak by One thing Random after final yr’s Toy Trains, delivering an entertaining VR smasher-shooter with an intriguing narrative that instantly grabs your consideration. Some tough edges on Quest boring its shine and the restrictive motion system limits fight, but there’s nonetheless loads to love with its robust motion gameplay. As such, it comes really helpful.

UploadVR makes use of a 5-Star ranking system for our recreation opinions – you’ll be able to learn a breakdown of every star ranking in our evaluation pointers.