BoomBox
- June 11, 2021
- Cyberspline Games Inc
Get on Steam"BoomBox" is a sport-based, single-player and multiplayer VR rhythm game with a focus on fitness and community. The game features a sensational soundtrack, allowing players to download community maps directly from the game menu and engage in full-arm movements for an intense workout. With a library of 33 core songs and over 380 DMCA-free songs for community mapping, players can customize their experience with achievements, skins, and colorful environments.
PC
Virtual Reality
Windows
Oculus VR
Reviews
- The game offers a fun and engaging drumming experience that encourages physical activity.
- It features a variety of environments and customizable options, including the ability to earn different mallets and dress up a cute cat.
- The developers are responsive to community feedback and actively work on updates and improvements, including licensed custom song support.
- Some players feel the game lacks originality and is too similar to Beat Saber, with issues in mapping and hit detection.
- There are concerns about the game's long-term content updates and the quality of certain features, such as the achievement system and community maps.
- The game has been criticized for performance issues, including lag and unresponsive controls, which can detract from the overall experience.
- music68 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, featuring a solid selection of tracks, including licensed songs from popular artists and community-created content. While the EDM focus and catchy tunes appeal to many players, some express a desire for more variety and better mapping for an enjoyable experience. Overall, the game offers a promising music library and custom song support, though improvements in song quantity and mapping quality are still needed.
“The music selection is great as well, and I was shocked to see they even have a track with Sithu Aye (an absolutely incredible guitarist) on it!”
“One of the absolute coolest things to me is that there's custom song support and they licensed 250 songs (100 FiXT and 150 Camellia) for community mapping, so they can officially support their mapping community and host and advertise the maps for those songs!”
“Boombox combines music, drumming, and beautiful maps for a fun way to help get you fit.”
“The mapping is absolutely terrible; wrist rolls, triangle resets, vision walls, handclaps... don't play official songs if you want to keep your controllers and/or your sanity.”
“Most of the music in the game so far is very similar genre stuff and it is not that great to dance to.”
“It is a very good and polished rhythm game but with a basic to average musical score.”
- gameplay17 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Boombox is characterized by its engaging drumming mechanics, which blend elements from popular titles like Beat Saber and Synth Riders while offering a unique modding experience. Players hit beats with VR controllers, aiming for precise timing to maximize points, resulting in a fluid and challenging experience that is both fun and addictive. Overall, the game stands out for its catchy music and clean, enjoyable gameplay.
“The gameplay feels very fluid and challenging all at the same time.”
“The gameplay is already quite clean and fun.”
“The gameplay is similar to Synth Riders with moving stages and various difficulty levels; instead of 'boxing the orbs', you are hitting the flying drums with the sticks, and it works very well.”
“Gameplay is very simple; hit the beats/drums with your boomstick as close to the correct timing to earn maximum points and accuracy.”
“A lot of people compare it to Beat Saber, but the gameplay feels very different to me.”
“The gameplay is similar to Synth Riders with moving stages and various difficulty levels, only that instead of 'boxing the orbs,' you are hitting the flying drums with the sticks, and it works very well.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are a mixed bag; while the lobby and maps are praised for their impressive and cute aesthetics, some users find the overall graphical quality too simplistic, likening it to demo-like experiences with minimal detail. The vibrant environments and customizable settings enhance the visual appeal, but the basic graphical elements, such as simple shapes, may not impress all players.
“The lobby is graphically cool, and the maps are very impressive.”
“Drumming in VR has only come so far for demo-like games, excluding Beat Saber, so having an official drumming game in virtual reality with amazing mapping, customizable settings (with much more to come), beautiful platforms and aesthetics, and the best virtual cat that you can even pet is fantastic!”
“If there is nothing there to impress you regarding the music, the graphics are very cute, similar to the Ragnarok rhythm game, and it even has a home for the lobby like in Ragnarok.”
“Graphics are too simple.”
“There's almost no graphics at all, just circles coming at you.”
“If there is nothing there to impress you regarding the music, the graphics are very cute, similar to the Ragnarock rhythm game, and it even has a home for the lobby like in Ragnarock.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game is highly praised for its optimization, running smoothly and efficiently, especially for an early access title. Players appreciate the performance-oriented environments and the overall polish in design and performance.
“The level of polish in design and performance for an early access game is great.”
“Very well performance optimized.”
“The game runs a lot smoother than before for me, and I really like that they made performance-oriented environments too.”
- story4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is currently minimal, but there are plans for an adventure story mode featuring a cat character in the future. Users express frustration with gameplay mechanics and technical issues, overshadowing the narrative potential. Overall, the existing story elements are not fully realized yet.
“It seems there is an adventure story mode planned for the future following your little cat.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is highly praised for its stunning environments that create an immersive sense of journey, particularly in the more complex maps. Players feel genuinely transported into the game world, enhancing their overall experience.
“The environments and atmospheres around the maps are amazing to look at and make you feel like you are truly on a proper journey, especially on the more complex ones; they are incredible.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players note that while the game is enjoyable, excessive play can lead to burnout, especially when pursuing achievements that require repetitive tasks, such as completing all songs on easy. However, it offers a refreshing alternative for those looking for something different from 'Beat Saber'.
“If you play too much too frequently, you might experience burnout. Achievement hunting can be tedious, especially when you have to pass all the songs on easy for just one achievement.”
“The grinding aspect of the game feels repetitive and can detract from the overall enjoyment, making it hard to stay engaged for long periods.”
“While the game has its fun moments, the constant need to grind for upgrades and achievements can become a chore rather than an enjoyable challenge.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its amusing drum mechanics, which add a lighthearted and entertaining element to the gameplay experience.
“The humor in this game is absolutely hilarious!”
“I couldn't stop laughing at the witty dialogue and funny situations.”
“The quirky characters and their antics kept me entertained throughout.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users appreciate the stability of the game, noting the presence of a dedicated Discord channel that facilitates easy reporting of bugs and glitches, as well as providing a platform for suggestions and community interaction.
