Arizona Sunshine Remake

89%
Game Brain Score Based on 283 reviews
  • graphics
  • story
  • gameplay
Arizona Sunshine Remake Game Cover
If you never played the original, this is the perfect time to give it a go, as Arizona Sunshine Remake is filled with great gunplay and some beautiful environments.
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"Arizona Sunshine® Remake is an upgraded version of the original VR game with improved graphics and combat. Set in a post-apocalyptic Arizona, you play as a survivor fighting through hordes of zombies in a quest for human contact. The remake includes new weapons, the Federal Containment Agency Pack, and is available at a discounted price for owners of the original game."

  • PC
  • Virtual Reality
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
  • Play​Station VR
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

89%
Audience ScoreBased on 283 reviews
graphics26 positive mentions
stability8 negative mentions
  • The remake significantly improves upon the original with better graphics, smoother gameplay, and enhanced mechanics like melee combat and advanced reloading.
  • The game offers a fun and immersive experience, especially in co-op mode, making it a great choice for friends looking to enjoy a zombie shooter together.
  • The inclusion of all DLCs and a friendly upgrade price for original owners makes it a worthwhile investment for fans of the series.
  • The game suffers from bugs and glitches, particularly in multiplayer, where zombies can freeze or teleport, disrupting the experience.
  • Some players find the game too short, with the main campaign being completed in just a few hours, leading to concerns about replayability.
  • The mechanics can feel clunky at times, especially with item pickups and weapon handling, which can break immersion during gameplay.
  • graphics75 mentions

    The graphics in the game have received largely positive feedback, with many users praising the impressive visuals, immersive environments, and enhanced gore effects compared to the original. The remake showcases significant improvements in graphical fidelity and gameplay mechanics, making it a more enjoyable experience overall, although some players noted occasional bugs and performance issues. While it may not reach the heights of top-tier VR titles like Half-Life: Alyx, the graphics are considered a substantial upgrade and contribute to a more engaging atmosphere.

    • “The graphics are stunning, and while the gameplay doesn’t quite reach the level of Half-Life: Alyx, something I hold as a benchmark for first-party games, it’s still immensely enjoyable in its own right.”
    • “Gorgeous graphics and gore-geous fun!”
    • “The remake completely improves on everything from the classic, the graphics, the sound effects, the gameplay, etc. Everything is better here.”
    • “That being said, the original is definitely a product of its time, with less than timeless graphics, simplistic level design, awkward controls, and short run-time; it's past its expiration date.”
    • “In spite of my many gripes with this game, including the buggy graphics, physics, AI (I ain't ever seen a zombie get so confused by a door), missing crafting system (which admittedly wasn't in the original, but was in AS2), and its map design feeling like a huge letdown even by the first game's standards (like seriously? Why is it that the maps look like you're trapped in a box? Every time I look at the vistas of the map I feel like no effort went into making sure it looked natural).”
    • “You guys are tripping because the graphics, especially textures in this game, are passable at best.”
  • story62 mentions

    The story of the game is generally viewed as simple and predictable, with some players finding it engaging and humorous, while others criticize it for being generic and lacking depth. Although the main campaign is relatively short, the inclusion of DLC campaigns adds some content, but many reviewers note that the level design and environments can be bland. Overall, while the narrative may not be groundbreaking, it provides enough entertainment to keep players invested, especially when played with friends.

    • “I actually love the story; the main protagonist is genuinely funny, and it really adds to the experience.”
    • “It proves that a story doesn't need to be 100 layers deep but is easy to follow with laughs along the way.”
    • “This game is probably one of the best VR co-op story games you can play with a friend.”
    • “Unfortunately, the game's biggest problems are remnants from the original, those being the story's short length and simplistic levels. Although it's included with 2 DLC campaigns, which helps with the length problem somewhat, and the wave mode gives you something else to do after the campaign.”
    • “The story is terribly predictable, the protagonist is bearable at best, there is little enemy variation, and the game direction is confused.”
    • “Arizona Sunshine is a simple and linear VR shooter; there is no engaging story, there are no interesting characters, and there are no crafting, upgrade, or progression systems.”
  • gameplay54 mentions

    The gameplay of the remake has received mixed reviews, with many praising the improved graphics, immersive mechanics, and advanced reload system, which enhance the overall experience. However, some players criticize the janky mechanics, particularly the reloading system, and the game's short runtime, which detracts from its potential. Overall, while the remake offers a more polished and visually appealing experience compared to the original, it still retains some archaic elements that may frustrate players.

    • “The remake completely improves on everything from the classic, the graphics, the sound effects, the gameplay, etc. Everything is better here.”
    • “I absolutely love that the modern quality of life mechanics of Arizona Sunshine 2 are adapted to the original now - the advanced reload mechanics make horde mode a lot more fun.”
    • “Game has actual level design and the mechanics feel really good, so overall this game is 100% worth it especially if you're upgrading from the original.”
    • “I found AZ2 to have ridiculously difficult reload mechanics.”
    • “Still archaic mechanics like rudimentary reloading; you can't rack the bolt on a bolt-action rifle properly, for example.”
    • “The skill aspect of shooting flies out the window when the game decides to throw 30 zombies at you at once, and the entire gameplay becomes 'walk backwards while just spamming bullets into the crowd because headshots don't even do anything half the time.'”
  • optimization27 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players noting solid performance on medium settings and a generally smoother experience compared to its predecessor. However, many have reported significant performance dips in darker areas, game-breaking bugs, and graphical glitches, leading to frustration among users with varying hardware setups. While some players appreciate the immersive options and customer-friendly upgrades, there is a consensus that further optimization is needed to enhance the overall gameplay experience.

    • “This game is just optimized better.”
    • “Fun game to play and well optimized, perfect to play before Metro comes out.”
    • “The performance is super smooth and I didn’t experience any bugs.”
    • “I hope they improve performance on dark levels like caves, as it's a noticeable performance hit compared to the rest of the game.”
    • “All that is beside the absolutely terrible performance even on my 4070 Ti and game-breaking bugs.”
    • “I was eager to experience the campaign with my friends, but compared to the first game, this one feels like there's a real lack of optimization, and it prevents players from properly enjoying the story or even completing a session without crashes.”
  • stability10 mentions

    The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users reporting significant bugs and glitches that detract from the overall experience, such as freezing zombies and spawning issues. While some players noted improvements in graphics and gameplay balance, others described the game as a "buggy mess" reminiscent of a tech demo. Overall, stability appears to be a major concern, with performance issues and inconsistent experiences reported by players.

    • “Runs great.”
    • “If it's not buggy for you, it's playable.”
    • “The game is so buggy that your hands go everywhere, and I spawned in the wall, forcing me to start a new game instantly.”
    • “They're uninspired, boring, and sometimes buggy messes that seem like a tech demo or someone's solo hobby project.”
    • “On top of that, there were plenty of problems with game elements not syncing properly, graphical glitches, and sluggish performance.”
  • humor9 mentions

    The game's humor is widely praised for its cheesy and lighthearted nature, enhancing the overall experience, especially in multiplayer settings. Players appreciate the protagonist's comedic charm and the abundance of funny moments, although some find the humor a bit overwhelming. Overall, the blend of engaging gameplay and humor contributes positively to the game's appeal.

    • “Totally recommend this game to all people who like arcade shooting and cheesy humor.”
    • “I actually love the story; the main protagonist is genuinely funny, and it really adds to the experience.”
    • “It has a nice amount of funny moments with the game humor, and the game is hilarious when you play through it with a friend.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    The game exhibits a mixed level of replayability; while some players find it charming and fun with great replay value, others note a limitation due to a small pool of only four maps, which can hinder long-term engagement. Overall, opinions vary significantly, with some users claiming it offers complete replayability for years.

    • “Definitely some great replay value here and a super fun game overall.”
    • “Complete replayability for years!”
    • “Not much replayability value, but wow, it has so much charm.”
    • “My only complaint is the very small pool of maps. Unless I missed something, there appears to only be four maps total, which kind of limits replayability.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is praised for its impressive graphics and immersive gun-play mechanics, creating a compelling and interactive world. While some elements may draw inspiration from Half-Life: Alyx, the overall experience is distinct, featuring a well-balanced difficulty and notable gore effects that enhance the immersion.

    • “It has great graphics and atmosphere, immersive gunplay mechanics, great interactions with the world, a good balance in the difficulties, and awesome gore and dismemberment.”
    • “They copied this storing style from Half-Life: Alyx, I get it, but it's a different game with a different atmosphere.”
    • “They copied this storage style from Half-Life: Alyx, I get it, but it's a different game with a different atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth and immersion I was hoping for.”
    • “Despite the visuals, the overall ambiance fails to engage, making the experience feel hollow.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often requiring significant effort to progress. While the voice chat quality is praised, the overall experience is marred by the extensive grinding needed to achieve goals.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Voice chat quality in the game is good, but joining a game is slightly tedious.”
  • music1 mentions

    The music in the DLC featuring the bridge has been highlighted as a standout element, with players comparing its quality to that of the game Dying Light, enhancing their overall experience.

    • “The music in this game perfectly complements the atmosphere, enhancing every moment of gameplay.”
    • “I love how the soundtrack evolves with the story, making each scene feel even more impactful.”
    • “The DLC with the bridge was my favorite part, mostly because of the soundtrack; it felt like I was playing Dying Light.”
    • “The music in this game is repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
    • “I found the soundtrack to be uninspired and forgettable, which really detracted from the overall experience.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is not directly addressed in the provided text, which focuses on a gameplay mechanic rather than emotional engagement or impact. Therefore, no significant emotional insights can be derived from this description.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

77% average critic score

Buy Arizona Sunshine Remake

Play time

8hMedian play time
7hAverage play time
5-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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