Apollo 11 VR

About

"Apollo 11 VR" is a virtual reality documentary that recreates the historic moon landing mission. Through original audio and video recordings and accurate spacecraft reproductions, players can experience the journey firsthand and even take control of the spacecraft during key moments. This immersive game serves as both an educational tool and a tribute to the pioneers of NASA's Apollo program.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 472 reviews

story26 positive mentions

stability4 negative mentions

Incredible and immersive experience that captures the essence of the Apollo 11 mission, making players feel like they are part of history.
Great visuals and sound design, with authentic audio clips that enhance the emotional impact of the experience.
Fun and educational, providing a unique perspective on space exploration that is suitable for all ages.

Frequent technical issues, including black screens and crashes, particularly for users with certain VR headsets.
Limited interactivity and gameplay, with many segments feeling more like a passive viewing experience rather than an engaging game.
Short playtime of around 45 minutes to an hour, which may not justify the price for some players.

story
90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
68%
3%
The story of "Apollo 11 VR" immerses players in the historic lunar mission, starting from JFK's iconic speech and culminating in the moon landing, all while utilizing original audio recordings from the astronauts and mission control. While the experience is praised for its educational value and emotional depth, some users express a desire for more interactive elements and first-person perspectives, as the game often positions players as observers rather than active participants. Overall, it is regarded as a compelling and visually stunning tribute to one of humanity's greatest achievements, making it a worthwhile experience for both space enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
- “This rendition of the most historic launch and mission of Apollo 11 needed to be created for the VR community.”
- “It really tells a story, starting from Kennedy's speech all the way through with communications between Houston and astronauts while on their journey there and landing.”
- “The storytelling and the music complement the visuals, making this a must-see experience.”
- “The immersion is completely broken by the fact that you for the most part are an observer from the outside... like you are standing in space and watching the vessel fly. I didn't like that at all and wanted more first-person views to actually experience how it was like to go on this huge mission. It's especially hilarious when you leave the moon and the game lets you stand outside the spacecraft to watch it fly off, leaving you on the moon. I felt like being stranded.”
- “I really enjoyed the experience, but towards the end the story started to skip events that I would have liked to see and the mission counter stopped showing... this really removed the immersion of being part of the whole mission and left me a bit disappointed.”
- “Unless of course you know nothing about the Apollo 11 mission, never heard the JFK speech before, generally experienced little of the moon landing media... then it's a rather impressive introduction to those things.”
graphics
55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
49%
11%
The graphics in Apollo 11 VR are generally described as good but not groundbreaking, with some users noting impressive visuals, particularly in the spacecraft interiors and scenes of Earth from space. However, there are criticisms regarding the quality of certain textures and the overall graphical fidelity, which some feel is substandard compared to more recent VR titles. Despite these shortcomings, the immersive experience and engaging storytelling often overshadow the graphical limitations, making it a worthwhile experience for space enthusiasts.
- “The VR experience itself is amazing, great graphics, gorgeous scenes flying above Earth and the moon.”
- “It's a fantastic story with eye-popping graphics!”
- “The graphics and music all lend to create the ultimate dream for all who have wanted to experience space flight and the lunar landing.”
- “The graphics are substandard relative to more recent VR experiences and titles.”
- “Apollo 11 VR goes for the laziest, most basic direction possible in terms of graphics, and persists on being just kind of mediocre graphically.”
- “The main downfall is the graphics, which don't do much to give you a sense that you are actually beholding the amazing sights you are ostensibly witnessing, which is a shame.”
music
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
32%
10%
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the overall experience, creating an atmospheric and emotionally evocative backdrop that complements the visuals and storytelling. Many reviewers highlight the spellbinding soundtrack and the effective use of original audio clips, which together contribute to a moving and immersive journey. However, some note that certain musical elements, like the stereotypical "inspirational cinematic music," can feel overused, suggesting a desire for more variety or options to customize the audio experience.
- “The music, which it appears is so difficult for other producers to get right, is perfect and enhances the experience.”
- “The audio and music do a great job at evoking the emotion the experience is aiming for.”
- “The storytelling and the music complement the visuals, making this a must-see experience.”
- “A couple of things were overused, such as the stereotypical 'inspirational cinematic music' and solar lens flares.”
- “If you already love those things, it won't give you a new perspective on them - in fact, if you're into building space shuttles and sending them out into space, you're better off playing Kerbal Space Program, which has practically everything this game offers sans the overdone 'inspirational music' and without pretending to be historically accurate about anything.”
- “Small improvement I would love to see in the future: during the earth re-entry, mix in an ambient sound byte with the music.”
emotional
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional impact of the experience is overwhelmingly positive, with many users reporting tears of joy and profound feelings during key moments, such as the launch and lunar landing. The combination of music, visuals, and immersive storytelling creates a visceral connection that resonates deeply, making it one of the most emotionally intense experiences for players. Overall, it is celebrated as a breathtaking journey that evokes strong emotional responses, leaving a lasting impression.
- “Apollo 11 VR is simply an amazing, emotional, visceral experience.”
- “A truly breathtaking and emotional experience.”
- “I cried happy tears multiple times.”
atmosphere
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
82%
18%
The atmosphere in the game is consistently praised for its breathtaking quality, enhanced by immersive moments like viewing Earth from space, landing on the moon, and re-entering the atmosphere. Users highlight the impressive visuals, superb soundtrack, and attention to detail, which collectively create a captivating and emotionally resonant experience. Overall, the atmosphere is described as engaging and memorable, with many reviewers rating it highly.
- “The atmosphere is breathtaking.”
- “The detail is impeccable, the perspectives and atmosphere wonderful, and the presentation enough to give me goosebumps.”
- “The moon landing itself is properly challenging and the atmosphere reentry, while not interactive, had me holding my breath.”
- “Moments such as looking at Earth from space for the first time, hearing real astronaut voiceovers, being in a tight capsule with co-pilots, trying to land on the moon and messing it up and bouncing off into blackness like a ping pong ball, walking on the moon's surface, and finally re-entering the atmosphere in a burning fiery disc - are moments that stick with me as if I was there.”
replayability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
45%
27%
Overall, the game is criticized for its limited replayability, with many users noting that it offers little to do beyond a single playthrough. While some appreciate the experience, they agree that it lacks depth and variety, making it feel overpriced for its short duration. It may be enjoyable for a one-time experience or as a VR showcase, but it does not provide significant incentive for repeated play.
- “It doesn't have much replayability, but it was a wild ride I'll never forget!”
- “It doesn't have oodles of replay value since it is an experience rather than a game, though you will still probably enjoy multiple viewings.”
- “There are some interactive sections, but overall not much replay value; it would be a great tool in showing others VR.”
- “There's very little that you can do in this game, so the replayability is limited.”
- “Not a good experience and super overpriced for 1 hour with no replayability whatsoever.”
- “As ride-alongs on rockets go, it's somewhat lackluster and definitely lacks any replayability compared to its competitors.”
gameplay
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The gameplay aspect of the experience is largely minimal and often considered subpar, with many users noting that it leans more towards an immersive journey rather than traditional gameplay. While there are some interactive elements, such as a lunar landing simulation, they are optional and not the main focus, making it more suitable for those interested in a cinematic experience rather than a game. Overall, the graphics and immersive elements are praised, but expectations for gameplay should be tempered.
- “While this game certainly is more about the experience and less about the gameplay, there are still a couple of things you can do like try to land on the lunar surface, a sort of highly advanced and realistic lunar lander sim.”
- “Graphically it was fantastic, and the actual gameplay portions were entertaining enough.”
- “About 90 minutes of gameplay and worth running through a couple of times.”
- “The actual gameplay offered is pretty subpar to the point where I opted to just forego the interactive parts, but the rest of the experience is great.”
- “There's very little gameplay to be found, and what is in it is optional and mediocre at best. So don't buy it thinking it's a game; instead, you get to experience various stages in the moon landing from the astronauts' viewpoint as well as various scenic third-person views.”
- “While this game certainly is more about the experience and less about the gameplay, there are still a couple of things you can do, like try to land on the lunar surface, a sort of highly advanced and realistic lunar lander sim.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent bugs, glitches, and unresponsive controls, which have affected the overall experience for many players. Some users reported specific problems like black screens and problematic camera positioning, leading to frustration and even motion sickness. Overall, the game's stability is a major concern that detracts from its enjoyment.
- “I was really excited to play this, but the game is just full of bugs and glitches. For example, during some scenes the screen is completely black, and that's not just a problem for me; it's happened to others too!”
- “Full disclosure, there were several instances of somewhat buggy camera positioning and issues with the controls not responding well on some of the interactive sections.”
- “A bit buggy at times, and can make you feel motion sick.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
The game appears to be poorly optimized for the Valve Index, with users reporting issues such as disorienting transition effects and rail sequences that exacerbate motion sickness. Additionally, there are concerns about the artistic liberties taken in the portrayal of the Apollo 11 mission, which may detract from the overall experience.
- “I'm going to guess this game was never optimized for the Valve Index.”
- “The performance issues make it clear that optimization was not a priority during development.”
- “I experienced frequent frame drops and stuttering, indicating a lack of proper optimization.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is derived from moments of absurdity, such as the player being left stranded on the moon while watching their spacecraft depart, which some found amusing despite it breaking immersion. Additionally, the contrast between the player's detached observation and the game's serious themes adds a layer of unintended comedy.
- “Had to tell him it was generated, which was kind of funny.”
- “It's especially hilarious when you leave the moon and the game lets you stand outside the spacecraft to watch it fly off, leaving you on the moon... I felt like being stranded.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The monetization strategy involves incorporating ads into the game's library, which may impact user experience and engagement. Players have mixed feelings about this approach, with some appreciating the free access it provides, while others find the ads intrusive.
- “The game is flooded with ads, making it hard to enjoy the experience.”
- “Monetization feels aggressive, with constant prompts to spend money.”
- “I feel like I'm playing a game designed more for profit than for fun.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be challenging and often frustrating, likening it to the arduous process of a moon landing, which can feel tedious at times.
- “Like a real-life moon landing: difficult, frustrating, and occasionally tedious.”
- “The grinding feels endless, turning what could be an exciting adventure into a monotonous chore.”
- “It’s like running on a treadmill; you’re putting in all this effort but not really getting anywhere.”