Audioshield

About

"Audioshield" is an arcade-style, single-player game for HTC Vive that lets you experience your music collection in VR, with stellar mechanics, ingenious graphics, and a killer soundtrack. Every song has its own online leaderboard, and the game supports local leaderboards for friendly competition. Polygon said, "Let's punch the hell out of music in virtual reality with Audioshield." Despite some bugs, the game offers exceptional replayability.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

80%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,252 reviews

music954 positive mentions

stability70 negative mentions

The game allows players to use their own music, providing endless replayability.
It's a great workout, especially on higher difficulty levels, making it fun and physically engaging.
The visuals and particle effects are immersive, enhancing the overall experience.

The removal of YouTube support has significantly reduced the game's appeal and accessibility.
The beat mapping algorithm is inconsistent, often leading to orbs not syncing well with the music.
The user interface is clunky and could use improvements for easier navigation and song selection.

music
4,815 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
77%
3%
The music aspect of "Audioshield" has garnered mixed reviews, primarily due to its unique feature allowing players to use their own music libraries or stream from platforms like YouTube. While many players appreciate the ability to play any song they enjoy, the game's algorithm for generating beat maps often struggles with synchronization, leading to inconsistent experiences across different genres. Users have noted that the game excels with electronic and upbeat tracks but falters with slower or more complex songs, resulting in a less immersive experience. Overall, the game's replayability is high for those with extensive music collections, but the removal of YouTube support has diminished its appeal for many players.
- “This feels like swimming through your music, punching evil jellyfishes in bass-fueled fury, it is wonderful!”
- “The best feature about this is that you can play any song from your collection, or youtube, and you are not limited to a set song collection.”
- “The ability to search youtube for music to play in the game is the key for me.”
- “Unfortunately, the music included with the game is dull and boring.”
- “The song tracking can be a bit off (it will depend on the tune) but I'll 1000x rather have variable results depending on the audio I feed it, than having to pay to listen to pop drivel.”
- “The orbs only seem to sync in time with the music on parts of the song where there's very little other than drum beats.”
gameplay
307 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
57%
6%
The gameplay of the game is generally described as simple yet addictive, with mechanics that involve matching colors and blocking incoming orbs, which can provide a fun workout experience. However, many players express frustration with issues such as poor synchronization with music, limited environments, and a lack of variety in gameplay modes, leading to a sense of repetitiveness over time. While the core mechanics are praised for their execution, the removal of features like YouTube integration has diminished the overall enjoyment for some users.
- “The gameplay is incredibly simple, but the tactile feeling of hitting each orb with your shields is just amazing.”
- “The core gameplay is simplistic in the way mono mode in Audiosurf is. It has that same arcade high score focus but the basic gameplay is overall more fun because it encourages you to move to the music.”
- “Gameplay is very intuitive and simple to pick up; you color match your shields to the orbs and try to block or catch them as they come in.”
- “Sadly, the gameplay gets old pretty fast.”
- “This game is not well synced to the music, and it honestly doesn't provide much in terms of gameplay.”
- “The gameplay itself is fairly limited; hopefully they'll add additional 'modes' at some point that mix things up a bit.”
graphics
172 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
48%
5%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the smooth visuals and immersive particle effects, while others criticize them as simplistic or dated. Many users appreciate the fun aesthetics and the ability to customize graphics settings, but there are calls for more variety and higher fidelity in visual presentation. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered enjoyable, there is a consensus that improvements could enhance the experience further.
- “The graphics are incredible, and it really showcases what VR can do with the simplest of design.”
- “The visuals are stunning, the controls are awesome, and you actually get a bit of a workout too.”
- “The graphics suit the gameplay brilliantly with great particle effects.”
- “The graphical presentation of the game leaves a lot to be desired.”
- “The approximations in this game aren't very accurate; graphics and immersion are subpar for VR.”
- “Honestly, the game looks extremely basic and uninteresting just based on videos and pictures.”
replayability
142 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
54%
2%
The game boasts exceptional replayability, primarily due to its ability to incorporate users' own music collections and access to online platforms like YouTube, allowing for nearly infinite song options. While some users note a lack of variety in stages and potential repetitiveness, the overall consensus is that the game's engaging mechanics and customizable music experience make it one of the most replayable VR titles available.
- “This game probably has the most replay value out of any VR game I've tried so far because it is just so damn fun.”
- “The ability to browse YouTube for music gives this game nearly infinite replayability.”
- “As Audioshield can read and analyze almost all types of common music files, it has virtually unlimited replayability, making it worth every penny paid for this game.”
- “Now it's being uninstalled due to a lack of replayability.”
- “Its pretty repetitive and having different music does not elevate the replayability.”
- “Like most Vive compatible games on the market, however, the replayability of this game is somewhat low.”
stability
76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
92%
The stability of the game is widely criticized, with many users reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and bugs that significantly hinder gameplay. While some players have experienced smooth performance, the majority find the game to be unstable and in need of urgent updates and polish. Overall, the game's potential is overshadowed by its current technical issues, making it difficult to recommend.
- “It runs great and I love that you can use any music that you want.”
- “Runs great with only minor slowdown at the very beginning of the song on my GTX 960.”
- “You can get an original Vive (full kit) used for $100-$200 now, and AudioShield runs great even on hardware below minimum VR spec ([email protected], Fury X, Windows 7 here).”
- “Somewhere along the line I lost the ability to browse local files; attempting to do so freezes the game completely.”
- “The problem is that the game is very buggy, and in the hour I played I ended up halfway through the floor twice, SteamVR crashed 3 times, my SteamVR desktop view was broken until I restarted SteamVR twice, and the game crashed every time I tried to close it.”
- “This game is too buggy at the moment to recommend.”
optimization
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
50%
11%
Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its smooth performance and stability across a range of hardware, with many users reporting no crashes or significant issues. While some players with lower-end systems experience occasional hiccups, particularly with streaming, the majority find the visuals and audio well-balanced and responsive. Updates appear to have further improved performance, making it accessible even for those on minimum specifications.
- “The game is very optimized, runs very smooth, and you can really feel the beat of the song with every punch!”
- “Performance wise very, very stable.”
- “Performance is perfect, no frame drops.”
- “Performance is choppy at times for me, even when I dial back the graphics on my 1070.”
- “In some songs, it just completely ruins the fun as the orbs are jittering and stuttering and they arrive off the beat instead of when they should.”
- “If you have trouble with stuttering on an NVIDIA card, look into power saving performance settings in the NVIDIA control panel.”
story
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
80%
10%
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of progression and narrative depth, with users noting that it essentially offers no traditional story elements. While some find the gameplay experience engaging and replayable, it is clear that the game does not provide a structured storyline, leaving players wanting more in terms of narrative content. Overall, the absence of a compelling story detracts from the experience for those seeking a richer narrative.
- “I have played some 'full story' games that have much more depth but play well 1 or 2 times; this game can be replayed a million times.”
- “It can be a bit of a mission finding a song that agrees with the algorithm, but when they line up, the experience is sublime.”
- “This game looks pretty boring on the outside, but once you step into it in VR, it's a completely different story.”
- “I bought the quest and also this version to support the dev, but I guess the dev has happily moved on to other things and has more or less abandoned the project based on other reviews.”
- “The game has no progression or story or anything like that.”
- “Add a story like?”
humor
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players enjoying the comedic aspects of both gameplay and watching others play, leading to shared laughter and memorable moments. Many find the game's silly mechanics, such as dancing and air-punching, to be hilariously entertaining, making it a great source of fun for friends and family alike. Additionally, the inclusion of playful elements like leaderboards and notifications adds to the overall lighthearted experience.
- “Trading off with friends, listening to good music and laughing about how silly it looks to be punching the air in a rhythm.”
- “It's funny to watch, fun to play, and time passes by so quickly while in the game.”
- “Me and my family have spent countless hours playing this, laughing at each other's and our own mistakes in the game and trying to beat each other's scores.”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised, with music playing a crucial role in creating an immersive experience. Players are encouraged to experiment with different tunes to enhance their enjoyment, making it an excellent choice for winding down or for social gatherings, as the music can be shared with others. Overall, the combination of music and ambiance contributes to a vibrant and engaging atmosphere.
- “The music and the atmosphere in this game make it a great way to wind down after a long VR session.”
- “You can pair the in-game music to the TV/PC so that the whole group can listen to the music while someone plays, which makes for a great party atmosphere.”
- “Incredibly atmospheric game.”
monetization
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with some players enjoying the experience while others express frustration over the integration of YouTube ads, which they feel disrupts gameplay. While some users have found ways to avoid ads using ad blockers, the reliance on YouTube for music has led to complaints about forced advertising, impacting overall enjoyment.
- “Then they replaced SoundCloud with YouTube, and now all I can do in this game is watch YouTube ads.”
- “Sorry, it does not deserve a positive review until they stop forcing blatant advertising directly into my eyeballs.”
- “Absolutely love this game.. spent many late hours playing.. my wife loves music so this was a great way to sell her on my HTC Vive.. she doesn't play too much other VR games but whenever I have my computer setup in the front room she always jumps on Audioshield.. I usually am sore for a few days afterwards but that's cause I'm generally lazy when it comes to being active so there's a kinda/sorta/almost perk to playing this and other VR games.. it seems that it normally takes a few seconds for the orbs to sync up with the music but once it does we can easily get into the groove of things.. I have no issues with playing YouTube songs and since I have adblocker installed I don't see any ads or anything other people have been complaining about.. I would recommend not playing any live versions of songs as the audience clapping can cause random orbs causing chaos but when the music starts it's fine again until more clapping.. this is a must have for VR!!”
emotional
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report that the game elicits strong emotional responses, often feeling empowered and exhilarated while engaging with the music and gameplay. The synchronization of movements with favorite songs enhances the experience, making them feel both badass and emotionally connected, despite any self-consciousness about their appearance. Overall, the combination of music and action creates a surprisingly impactful emotional journey.
- “Then kicks in the highs and lows of your favorite song, and honestly, you could be in for a surprisingly emotional experience.”
- “Punching the flying balls to the 'One Man Punch' theme song made me feel absolutely powerful.”
- “In fact, it sometimes even made the game more fun and made me feel more badass even though I deep down know that I probably look ridiculous in real life.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly when it comes to searching for and setting up songs from YouTube, as it often requires cumbersome typing in VR or frequent headset removal. While the ability to play any YouTube content is a positive feature, the process of finding and managing songs is described as long and frustrating.
- “Finding a song you want will be a long and tedious process.”
- “Is there a way to search for YouTube playlists so I don't have to keep taking the headset off to set up another song? I know I could hit the Windows button on the keyboard and copy/paste with desktop view, but that is tedious.”
- “It is worth noting that anything off of YouTube can be played on here; it's just tedious to sit there typing in VR.”