Bootstrap Island
- February 22, 2024
- Maru VR Productions
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam"Bootstrap Island is a single-player Simulation game that offers an exceptional roguelike survival experience in a beautifully rendered 17th century setting. With dynamic, physics-based gameplay and randomized resources, every player's experience is unique. As you progress, unlock new resources and uncover the island's secrets in this compelling, consequence-based narrative."
Reviews
- The game features stunning graphics and immersive environments that enhance the overall experience.
- The physics and interactions are satisfying, making tasks like breaking coconuts and building fires feel rewarding.
- The developers are responsive to community feedback and have made improvements, such as extending the day length.
- The day/night cycle is too short, leading to a frantic gameplay loop that can feel stressful and repetitive.
- There are significant performance issues, including lag and crashes, even on high-end systems.
- The lack of an inventory system makes it difficult to manage items, leading to frustration during gameplay.
- gameplay63 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is characterized by a repetitive survival loop that often feels stressful and lacks depth, with many players expressing frustration over poor controls, collision detection, and a lack of content. While the mechanics are praised for their ingenuity and potential, the current early access version is seen as limited, with players desiring more features like an inventory system and varied enemy types to enhance exploration and engagement. Overall, the game shows promise but requires significant improvements to its gameplay experience to fully realize its potential.
“The mechanics are incredibly ingenious for the most part and it'll definitely become one of, if not my favorite game in the future.”
“Even in its early state, it's beautifully polished and atmospheric with a fun main mechanic of daytime exploration and nighttime defense.”
“The graphics, gameplay, and everything for such an early access game is amazing.”
“I spend more time worrying about having a fire than I do actually figuring out the game mechanics and exploring.”
“Not fun, especially since the gameplay itself is so repetitive and boring; there's nothing interesting to do, all there is to the game is figuring out how to survive the night.”
“The gameplay loop is too small.”
- graphics52 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 23 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their stunning quality and immersive realism, particularly in VR, with many users noting the breathtaking visuals and attention to detail. However, some players experience performance issues and lag, especially on lower-end hardware, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these concerns, the graphical fidelity is often described as among the best seen in VR games, contributing significantly to player enjoyment.
“The graphics are truly insane; if you have the computer to run it, the graphics in this game are truly mind-blowing, especially for a VR game.”
“The graphics are amazing, and it really feels like a real-life shipwreck experience.”
“The graphics are some of the best I have seen in VR.”
“Way too laggy; I had all my graphics on the lowest with a 3060 Ti and it's still unplayable.”
“There are some FPS problems, especially at night when there are creatures. It also gets worse as you play; things like bodies, charcoal from burnt wood, coconut shells, and burnt food never despawn, causing a lot of lag even on the lowest graphics.”
“Graphics are a visual symphony, a feast for the eyes, but the fun's lost in the mail, leaving you trudging through a desert of boredom and tedium, all flash and no substance.”
- story34 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed feedback, with some players praising its potential and immersive elements, particularly the engaging narration and humor that enhance the experience. However, many users feel that the story is currently limited, expressing a desire for more content and depth, especially given that the game is in early access. Overall, while the foundation is appreciated, there is a strong call for further development to enrich the narrative and gameplay experience.
“Story/lore - 10/10 (the narrator in the background was really cool, therefore 10/10)”
“Amazing game! I love how the story expands as you discover the world. The commentary is great as well and adds a slight humor to the game but doesn't break immersion. This is the best and one of the few I've ever seen. It's amazing that the devs listen to the players. I have enjoyed every thrilling second of it and absolutely recommend buying it, even in this earlier stage of the game. There is so much to discover and do.”
“I have a great deal of trouble finding a worthwhile VR game; I have refunded many simply because I need it to be the right mix of story, difficulty, and skill... and this game hit the nail on the head!”
“The game is in early access and the story does not go very far yet.”
“Realistic and good physics and mechanics in the game, really enjoyed it, hope more content would be added in the future as I thought there wasn't enough story and things to do in the game.”
“So far, I don’t recognize much about the 'story' component in my gameplay; also, things like flintlock are one of the unique features in this game, unlike Bonelab, where infinite ammo is prone to boredom.”
- optimization13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting severe performance issues, long load times, and stuttering even on high-end hardware. While some users noted impressive graphics and potential for better performance through OpenXR, the consensus is that the game is currently hindered by its optimization, making it unplayable for many with standard VR setups. Frequent requests for performance patches indicate a strong desire for improvements in this area.
“Stunning graphics and great optimization with some good physics.”
“Fortunately, the game uses OpenXR and will provide optimal performance no matter if you use Index and Meta HMDs.”
“It's so nearly brilliant but... it's held back by performance and quality of life issues.”
“If you pick up a coconut or stab a crab or walk 5 steps, I hope you're ready to pay the punishment of sitting on a load screen of 5 minutes. Great game, but absolutely terrible optimization that doesn't allow 95% of people with affordable VR setups to play. Absolutely do not recommend.”
“Performance on my 4070 Ti is not great; even on low settings, it stutters every half minute or so. Over time, it gets worse and worse until the game crashes out around the 3-hour mark.”
“Also, this game needs to do a lot more optimization. I have above minimum requirement specs, and there is no way this is running on minimum.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its polished design and immersive tension, particularly during the transition from daytime exploration to nighttime defense. While some players note that the initial mystery can be diminished by spoilers, the overall sense of discovery and interaction compensates for any graphical limitations, creating a captivating experience.
“Even in its early state, it's beautifully polished and atmospheric with a fun main mechanic of daytime exploration and preparation and nighttime defense.”
“While the graphical fidelity may not rival that of its AAA counterparts, the palpable sense of atmosphere and the thrill of discovery more than compensate for any visual shortcomings.”
“It looks great and the atmosphere is really something.”
- music5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The music in the game is noted for its effectiveness, particularly during tense moments, such as when enemies attack, with players appreciating the quality of the battle music. However, some users feel that the overall soundtrack could be improved to enhance the gaming experience further. The sound design plays a crucial role in signaling gameplay changes, such as the transition from combat to safety.
“To put it simply, if there are enough beasts, the music kicks in (which is really good for some reason) and they start dive bombing you, avoiding the fire as much as possible.”
“As soon as you hear a change in tone of the music, it means the combat is over. Even if the enemies are still in front of you, you can just drop your weapons and get moving.”
“Overall, it's a good game, but soundtracks would make it much better.”
“I will say that once you learn to make the fire before the scary music starts playing, you've mastered the most lethal part of the game.”
“Also, every night past like 2 nights you'll get attacked and it'll play battle music, but if you have a fire, the beasts will never actually run at you and attack. Even then, you can't really fight back as far as I could tell (I loaded like 5 shots into one of those bat things and it didn't seem to affect it at all) and they'll only attack you that one single time.”
“As soon as you hear a change in tone of the music, it means the combat is over, even if the enemies are still in front of you. You can just drop your weapons and get moving.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some users report only minor glitches that don't significantly impact gameplay, others experience frequent freezing and compatibility issues, particularly on lower-end VR setups like the Oculus Quest 2. Players with high-end systems still encounter persistent glitches, suggesting that optimization is needed for a smoother experience.
“You need the highest-end VR and PC just to walk in the game. I have a high-end PC and an Oculus Quest 2, and my game just glitches out every half a second. If this is a problem with compatibility, please make it playable on Quest 2.”
“Update 2: this game has a really cool feature where it puts you back at the start every time you finally get it running, and that's coupled with an even cooler feature where the game freezes and then you have to relaunch it.”
“Very fun and engaging, though there are still small glitches for now, but not so many that it would ruin the game.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, as the rogue-like mechanics, resource management, and day/night cycles contribute to a repetitive experience. The frequent deaths and long distances to traverse add to the frustration, making the gameplay feel more like a chore than an engaging challenge.
“The 'rogue-like' approach, food/drink, and day/night cycles just make it a grindy chore. You die a lot, put in hours, and then you can finally get equipment!”
“It's just tedious moving a football field's distance, then having to prepare for night or face automatic death.”
“These are definitely weapons that VR could only handle correctly without it just being a tedious and long animation.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game has a solid foundation but currently suffers from low replayability after the initial hours, particularly for players who prefer not to engage in hardcore modes that require starting over upon death. Improvements in accessibility and gameplay variety could enhance its long-term appeal.
“Get to a more playable and accessible place or you won't get the success you deserve.”
“The game has a really good foundation to build upon, but right now it has very low replayability after the first few hours, especially for people who don't normally play hardcore mode in games (for example: if you die, you lose your character and have to start over).”
“The lack of meaningful content updates makes it hard to justify replaying the game after completing it once.”
“Once you finish the main storyline, there isn't much incentive to dive back in, as the side quests feel repetitive and uninspired.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is subtly woven into the narrative and commentary, enhancing the experience without detracting from immersion. Players appreciate the lighthearted moments, such as amusing interactions like hitting a funny dog with a rock, which contribute to the overall enjoyment of the game.
“Amazing game! I love how the story expands as you discover the world. The commentary is great and adds a slight humor to the game without breaking immersion. It's amazing that the devs listen to the players. I have not died so far and have enjoyed every thrilling second of it. I absolutely recommend buying it, even in this earlier stage of the game. There is so much to discover and do. This is my favorite VR game and easily in my top two. Most definitely recommend buying it, as long as your specs are good enough to run the game.”
“10/10 hit a funny dog with a rock.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate a strong concern that the game is perceived as a cash grab, with users expressing skepticism about its potential for a full release and fearing it contributes to the negative trend of monetization practices in the VR marketplace.
“I hope this is not just another VR cash grab that is plaguing the VR marketplace.”
“This is a pure cash grab; it will never see the light of day in a full release. How do I know?”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users express that the emotional experience of the game can be frustrating, as mechanics like objects flying away or getting stuck lead to feelings of helplessness and anxiety, detracting from overall enjoyment.
