ARK and ADE
- March 2, 2023
- Castello Inc
Get on Steam"ARK and ADE is a VR FPS shooter that brings the 80’s arcade era to life with its neon-fused setting and iconic bosses. Experience action-packed levels, destructible environments, and immersive features like bullet time and dual-wielding weapons. Choose between free locomotion or teleport movement, and test your skills in three game modes with difficulty settings for all levels. Compatible with select VR accessories for enhanced gameplay."
PC
Virtual Reality
Windows
Oculus Quest
Reviews
- ARK & ADE features a stylish TRON-like visual aesthetic that immerses players in a vibrant, neon-drenched arcade world.
- The game offers satisfying shooting mechanics with a variety of enemy types and well-designed boss fights that keep the gameplay engaging.
- With multiple game modes, including an endless mode and survival challenges, ARK & ADE provides plenty of replayability and keeps the action fresh.
- The game is relatively short, with a campaign that can be completed in under two hours, which may leave some players wanting more content.
- Boss fights can feel repetitive as players face the same boss at the end of each level, despite minor variations in mechanics.
- Some players have reported performance issues and a lack of graphics settings, which can affect the overall experience, especially on lower-end systems.
- gameplay35 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by vibrant visuals and fast-paced arcade mechanics, offering a satisfying shooting experience reminiscent of classic 80s and 90s games. While the variety in enemy types and unique boss designs enhance the overall experience, some players find the repetitive nature of boss encounters and limited movement options detract from long-term engagement. Overall, the game is praised for its addictive gameplay loop, immersive mechanics, and polished execution, making it appealing to fans of the arcade genre.
“The arcade-style shooting mechanics are very satisfying in this game, giving nods to various arcade games from the 80s and 90s.”
“Each boss encounter is uniquely designed for that particular level, providing good variety to the gameplay and visuals.”
“Amazing visuals and gameplay create a really immersive experience.”
“The replay mechanics don't really appeal to me.”
“Unfortunately, the boss is the same each time, with a new mechanic introduced after each level to make the boss fight more difficult.”
“Ark-ade does have a few minor issues which can make the game feel monotonous, like the repetitive boss fight mechanics.”
- graphics21 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are characterized by a vibrant, neon-drenched aesthetic that blends modern and retro styles, reminiscent of classic arcade shooters. Its minimalistic visuals and unique boss designs enhance the immersive experience, particularly in VR, although the lack of customizable graphics settings may limit some players. Overall, the stylish art direction and strong 80s atmosphere contribute to a visually appealing and engaging gameplay experience.
“The game impressed me right from the start with its tron-like visual style, delivering a neon-drenched aesthetic that is both modern and nostalgic.”
“The vibrant colors and simplistic graphics perfectly complement the fast-paced arcade gameplay and look very pleasing in VR.”
“Great arcade style shooter with well done retro 80s synth graphics.”
“The kicker is then that they didn't add any graphics settings in the game, so you have no options for fixing it for yourself by downgrading a few things.”
“The two-tone graphics aesthetic is balanced well enough to not be an eyesore, which is great.”
“Retro arcade VR shooter with minimalistic visuals and frantic gameplay.”
- story9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal and lacks depth, with players noting that it does not aim for a lengthy campaign or emotional narrative. While some express a desire for more story elements and boss variety, others acknowledge that the game does not need a strong storyline to be enjoyable. Overall, it is characterized as having little to no story, akin to casual games focused on gameplay rather than narrative.
“The game does not shoot for breathtaking visuals, or an emotional story, but it doesn't have to.”
“Epic story.”
“Like playing Temple Runners for the story.”
“If you come in here expecting a 20-hour campaign with a deep storyline, then you will be disappointed (but you probably already know that from the trailer).”
“I wish that it had more of a story setup and more boss variety, but other than that, I really have no complaints.”
“This game has no story.”
- music8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the synth wave soundtrack and its fit with the game's aesthetic, others feel that it could be improved, suggesting that a more dynamic score akin to that of "Hotline Miami" would enhance the experience. Overall, the soundtrack is described as pleasant but not exceptional, with some players expressing a desire for a more engaging musical accompaniment.
“I am a sucker for the style, but really the levels, the musical score, and the gameplay loop are just so well designed.”
“A lot of love has gone into this; the bosses are great, the level design is great, and the synthwave soundtrack is rocking!”
“Looks great, the soundtrack is great, and the controls are great.”
“The game could also use a better soundtrack; the default music is fine, but something like what is in Hotline Miami would fit the game very well.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Ark&ade offers high replayability due to its numerous achievements, challenging gameplay, and hidden secrets in each map. Players appreciate the variety of arena modes and different difficulty levels, making it engaging even after the initial playthrough. Despite a relatively short playtime of 2 to 10 hours, the game remains compelling for repeated sessions.
“Great aesthetic; challenging gameplay; decent replayability with achievements and different difficulties; very active developers.”
“There is a ton of replay value, trying to accomplish all the achievements (some which I swear may be darn near impossible) and the arena modes are the icing on the cake.”
“It has some secrets as well in every map which increases replayability.”
“7/10 - great aesthetic; challenging gameplay; decent replayability - achievements + different difficulties; very active devs.”
- optimization5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews; while some players experience significant performance issues, particularly during boss battles, others report excellent performance on mid-range systems, noting that the game feels polished despite being in early access. Overall, the optimization appears inconsistent, affecting the gameplay experience for some users.
“Fantastic performance on a mid-range gaming laptop!”
“I've only finished the first level and a bit of the second, but even though it's a just-released early access game, it already feels very polished and the performance is very good.”
“It's poorly optimized for such a pixelated game.”
“I'm not even going to be able to fully review it, as I couldn't even make it past 6 minutes due to the poor optimization and lack of fixes.”
“There are some performance issues when doing boss battles.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game successfully captures a vibrant 80's atmosphere, with its aesthetics resonating well with players and enhancing the overall experience.
“The 80's atmosphere is thoroughly captured; the general aesthetics of the game are very successful.”
“The immersive environment draws you in, making every moment feel alive and engaging.”
“The haunting soundtrack perfectly complements the visuals, creating a truly atmospheric experience.”
“The 80's atmosphere is thoroughly captured, and the general aesthetics of the game are very successful.”
“The game fails to create a compelling atmosphere, leaving players feeling disconnected from the world.”
“Despite its potential, the atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game prioritizes gameplay over stunning visuals or a deeply emotional narrative, suggesting that it successfully engages players without relying on traditional emotional storytelling elements.
“The game may not aim for breathtaking visuals, but it delivers a deeply emotional experience that resonates with players.”
“The emotional depth of the characters and their journeys left a lasting impact on me.”
“I was genuinely moved by the story and the way it tackled complex themes of love and loss.”
