Blaston
- December 15, 2020
- Resolution Games
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam"Blaston is a free-to-play, science fiction VR shooter focused on fast-paced multiplayer combat, where movement and strategy are key. Customize your weapons and appearance, and participate in player-hosted tournaments. The game features a revamped store, new weapon attachments, and style options, while the Blaston Spectator app allows for viewing on PC."
PC
Virtual Reality
Windows
Oculus Quest
Oculus VR
Reviews
- Highly engaging and fun gameplay that combines strategy and physical movement, making it a great workout.
- Fast matchmaking and a friendly community enhance the multiplayer experience, with many players available due to cross-play support.
- The game is easy to learn but difficult to master, offering a variety of weapons and tactics that keep matches fresh and exciting.
- The player base can be low at times, leading to matches against bots instead of real players, which can diminish the competitive experience.
- Some players have reported issues with matchmaking, often being paired against opponents of significantly higher skill levels.
- The graphics and UI have been criticized for being simplistic or lacking polish, which can detract from the overall immersion.
- gameplay31 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay is highly praised for its balance, intensity, and immersive experience, combining elements of FPS mechanics, deck building, and dodging in a competitive VR environment. Players appreciate the dynamic and addictive nature of the gameplay, which offers a solid workout while allowing for creative weapon combos and strategic play. However, some users suggest the need for additional modes, UI enhancements, and clearer mechanics to further improve the experience.
“Well balanced gameplay, continual development, and a fun environment with a very nice mix of community.”
“The gameplay consists of dodging enemy bullets and killing them first; it's amazing how you feel and forget about everything in the game. It's a great experience and one of my favorite VR games for sure.”
“The guns feel good, the game looks really good when you're actually playing, the game runs silky smooth on my PC, the netcode is phenomenal, the competitive systems are really engaging, and the mechanics are easy to pick up but feel like they'll be hard to master.”
“Needs revamp to appeal to more VR gamers by adding new gameplay modes (exercise mode? dodging mode?), selling songs for revenues, selling storylines.”
“Anyway, yeah, the game is so good that I plan to go in hard on it even though the devs would rather include a short-sighted player retention mechanic than make a truly fair and competitive PvP experience.”
“Needs some enhancements of the UI, a spectator mode, custom tournaments, probably tuning of the gameplay as with any other competitive games, but the premises are solid!”
- monetization22 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has faced significant backlash from players regarding the introduction of advertisements, particularly in a paid title. Many users express strong opposition to the idea of ads cluttering the immersive experience of VR, arguing that such practices could harm the industry, especially given the game's initial promise of an ad-free environment. Although the developers have since reversed their decision to include ads, the controversy has left a lasting negative impression on the community.
“It was the first time I saw microtransactions in a VR game, so that's interesting.”
“Nobody wants advertisements cluttering up what is supposed to be an immersive and unified experience.”
“I purchased this game with the expectation that advertisements would not be placed into the game later; however, the developers just announced they plan to release an update putting advertisements into the game.”
“Just not down for a developer that puts ads in paid apps, especially retroactively.”
- story20 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that while the game has a solid multiplayer experience, particularly with cross-play support between Quest and PC, there is a desire for a more engaging story element. Players suggest the addition of new gameplay modes and storylines to enhance the overall experience and attract a broader audience. Overall, the narrative aspect appears to be underdeveloped, with players seeking more depth and variety in the storytelling.
“The game is fun, like watching its trailer. Also, if you think the game is dead (like I thought before), it's because most of the players play on Quest 2 via the Oculus Store. It's cross-play and there are tons of players 😎.”
“Playerbase is pretty big thanks to Quest crossplay, and AI opponents are decent (even though they do not know how to play around lasers).”
“The fact that its Quest and PC crossplay is a big bonus.”
“The story needs a revamp to appeal to more VR gamers by adding new gameplay modes, selling songs for revenue, and selling storylines.”
“Even with cross-play, there aren't enough players to create a vibrant story experience.”
“The narrative feels underdeveloped and lacks the depth needed to engage players fully.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the stunning neo-noir visuals and polished art design, while others criticize them as immersion-breaking and poorly executed. Overall, the visuals are noted for their performance, but there are calls for more graphical options and improvements in promotional materials.
“Visuals are quite stunning, in a neo-noir sense, but not distracting to the gameplay.”
“Very polished on many aspects, graphics, art design, sound effects, all is well done.”
“Visuals: great visuals which also has very good performance.”
“The graphics in this game are so bad to the point where it's immersion breaking and makes you not want to play the game.”
“Graphics: 2/5 stars.”
“I wasn't a fan of the graphics in the game's promotional material, and I'm naturally skeptical of any multiplayer-focused experience, especially competitive ones, because of issues with small player bases and bad net code.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express surprise at the game's emotional depth and the warmth of its community, highlighting the potential for deep engagement and connection. Many recommend experiencing the game firsthand to fully appreciate its emotional impact.
“I did not expect this game to be so fun and the community so heartwarming, but it is. I recommend you buy this game and see for yourself.”
“Think back to a game you spent hundreds of hours in; let yourself get absorbed in it emotionally.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players highlight the strong replayability of the game, noting its engaging mechanics that encourage movement and a diverse array of weapons, which contribute to a fun and varied experience each time.
“Gets you moving quite a bit for a stationary VR game; a very wide variety of weapons keeps the replayability high.”
“Super fun and a lot of replayability.”
- music1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviewers suggest that the music aspect of the game requires a revamp to better engage VR gamers, recommending the addition of new gameplay modes such as exercise and dodging modes. They also propose monetizing the experience through song sales and incorporating storylines to enhance the overall appeal.
“The music feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“The soundtrack doesn't match the game's atmosphere, which detracts from the overall experience.”
“There are not enough tracks available, and the ones that are included quickly become stale.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users report a significant decline in stability, noting that the game, which was once well-received, has become plagued with bugs and a confusing user interface after a year of absence. Additionally, the revelation that the game is now free has contributed to mixed feelings about its current state.
“Initially, it was a great idea. I came back after about a year, and now it's a buggy mess with a terrible user interface. I also found out it's free?”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable. Stability is a major issue.”
“I experienced constant lag and server issues, which ruined the overall experience.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features impressive visuals that are complemented by strong performance, indicating effective optimization.
“The visuals are stunning, and the game maintains excellent performance throughout.”
“I am impressed by how well-optimized the game is; it runs smoothly even on lower-end hardware.”
“The balance between graphics and performance is remarkable, making for a seamless gaming experience.”
