1976: Back to Midway
- December 10, 2020
- Ivanovich Games
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreAre you ready to travel back in time to 1943 and relive the excitement of classic arcade dogfights? Now, thanks to Virtual Reality, you’re about to discover a new level of immersion and spectacularity, while retaining the original essence and fun.
Playstation 4
Virtual Reality
PlayStation
PlayStation VR
Reviews
- The game offers a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic arcade shooters, enhanced by VR visuals and immersive gameplay.
- It features a variety of control options and gameplay modes, allowing players to find a style that suits them best.
- The graphics and effects are well-polished, providing a visually appealing experience that captures the essence of retro gaming.
- The controls, especially in immersion zones, can feel clunky and detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- There is a lack of variety in enemies, environments, and boss fights, making the gameplay feel repetitive over time.
- While the game has potential, it often feels more like a 2D shooter with VR elements rather than a fully immersive VR experience.
- story17 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The game's story is considered average, with players noting that it is engaging for the first few missions but can become repetitive, leading some to lose interest. While the narrative is supplemented by various missions and upgrades for the player's plane, the story elements could be more easily skipped. Overall, the immersive missions offer some variety, but the pacing and depth of the story may not hold players' attention throughout the entire experience.
“Most of the review hours tell the story.”
“I found it cool that the immersive missions aren't all a 'repeat' of the same mission; they try to change things up a little bit each mission.”
“The 'story' elements should be easier to skip.”
“The story is okay for the first few missions.”
“Granted, leaderboards do expose the truth that many people have gotten bored or quit the game after a few missions.”
- graphics13 mentions
- 69 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their polish and vibrant visuals, particularly in VR, where they enhance the immersive experience. While the top-down perspective looks appealing, the first-person view can be less impressive. Overall, the combination of classic gameplay with modern aesthetics and engaging artwork contributes to a visually enjoyable experience, despite some players experiencing eyestrain during extended play.
“The classic gameplay remains intact, but with amazing VR visuals.”
“Graphically very polished looking game, lots of fun!!!”
“Great retro VR game that captures the feel of the old arcade shooter with great graphics, and for the price, it's definitely worth it.”
“The visuals look fine from a top-down perspective, but they are quite ugly from a first-person perspective.”
“I had to stop playing because the eyestrain became too much after 2 hours in VR due to the bright graphics.”
- gameplay12 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay of 1976 combines classic 2D arcade mechanics with modern VR visuals, creating an engaging retro experience. While the core bullet hell shooter elements are enjoyable, some players find the controls in immersive zones to be clunky, and the gameplay could benefit from adjustments to weapon dynamics. Overall, the game is praised for its addictive nature and balanced progression system, making it accessible and appealing to both VR enthusiasts and newcomers.
“The classic gameplay remains intact, but with amazing VR visuals.”
“Classic retro gameplay, with modern aesthetics and tweaks.”
“Good visuals and music & sounds, a solid gameplay, a progression system well balanced!”
“I think this game has some interesting ideas in terms of how they want to incorporate VR into this genre, but the core bullet hell shooter mechanics and feelings just fall short of existing bullet hell/top down shooters that have come before it.”
“Gameplay is simple; the '2D' part is similar to other games where enemies come, you avoid their bullets, and you shoot them down.”
“Firstly, lower the power of the guns but make them fire faster to up the pace of gameplay.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is initially entertaining but tends to become repetitive over time. Players appreciate the comedic elements, particularly in the context of the arcade experience, likening it to a cinematic arcade machine.
“Very funny arcade game; it's like playing an arcade machine on a cinema screen.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game appears to be generally solid, as most users report smooth performance; however, one player experienced issues specifically with their Radeon RX 6800 XT and Reverb G2 setup, suggesting that performance may vary based on individual hardware configurations.
“I had some issues with game performance on my system (Radeon RX 6800 XT and Reverb G2), but no one else seems to report it, so it might be something on my side.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find that while the humor in the game is entertaining initially, it quickly becomes repetitive and tiresome, leading to a sense of grinding.
“The grinding becomes repetitive and feels like a chore rather than an enjoyable part of the game.”
“After a while, the constant need to grind for resources just drains the fun out of the experience.”
“What started as a fun challenge quickly turned into a mind-numbing grind that felt never-ending.”
- music1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for complementing the good visuals and sound design, contributing to a solid overall gameplay experience.
“The music perfectly complements the gameplay, creating an immersive experience that keeps you engaged.”
“The soundtrack is a fantastic blend of genres, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.”
“Each track is thoughtfully composed, making every moment feel dynamic and exciting.”
