BREAK ARTS II
- February 8, 2018
- MercuryStudio
- 12h median play time
Get on Steam"Break Arts II" is a cyber battle racing game where you can customize your robot and battle against others in online, offline, or time-attack modes. Its gameplay offers a thrilling combination of racing and battling elements. The biggest draw of the game is its deep level of robot and weapon customization, with interchangeable parts that can fold, unfold, come apart, and rotate, allowing for unique and imaginative designs.
PC
Playstation 4
Windows
PlayStation
Reviews
- The game features extensive mech customization, allowing players to create unique and visually appealing designs.
- The racing mechanics provide a fast-paced and thrilling experience, with a variety of tracks that keep gameplay engaging.
- The graphics and soundtrack are impressive, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.
- The AI can be frustratingly difficult, often leading to unbalanced races where players feel overwhelmed.
- Controls can be unresponsive or difficult to manage, especially when using a keyboard and mouse, making it challenging to navigate tracks effectively.
- There is a lack of clear descriptions for parts, making it hard for players to understand how to optimize their mechs for racing.
- music46 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives high praise for its spectacular and diverse soundtrack, featuring beautiful piano melodies and upbeat electronic rhythms that enhance the racing experience. While some players find certain tracks overwhelming or prefer to mute the in-game music, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack is a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere and enjoyment. Many reviewers express a desire for the soundtrack to be released separately, highlighting its quality and appeal.
“The music in the building studio is some of the most mild and beautiful piano music; I get lost in it and feel tranquil.”
“The soundtrack is amazing and really captures the old school Gundam vibe mixed with high octane race music on some courses.”
“Upbeat electronic rhythms and dramatic, emotional strings of a violin make for an adrenaline-pumping arcade soundtrack.”
“The music is also disgusting, just high-speed techno played at ear-splitting volume by default.”
“So you are basically relegated to single-player mode only, which would not be a problem except for the horrible quality of the graphics, the terrible music, the ridiculous targeting and AI, and the complete failure of any performance optimization.”
“Tip: mute your in-game music and listen to some Initial D music, it helps a lot.”
- graphics45 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the vibrant and imaginative art style, particularly the customization options for mechs, which are described as stunning and detailed. However, some players criticize the overall performance and optimization, noting issues like frame drops and a lack of polish in certain environments, which detracts from the racing experience. While the visuals can be impressive, they may require high-end hardware to fully appreciate, leading to a recommendation for players to adjust settings for better performance.
“The visuals and soundtrack are amazing, and it sparks creativity with its immensely detailed customization.”
“The graphics are beautiful and the voices and gameplay filled me with awe.”
“First of all, I just want to say this game is amazing, the visual effects are 10/10, the customizations and different varieties of machines that you can build are limitless.”
“At the end of my fourth race (spread out over two sessions of play for the day), I could literally taste the vomit in the back of my throat from those awful graphics that essentially have the same effect as strobe lighting but with none of the fun associated with strobe lights.”
“Turning the graphics settings down does not fix the problem; it only makes the robots look as ugly as the track. On 'beautiful' settings, the robots themselves actually look pretty nice, but everything else is ugly.”
“Unfortunately, the racing graphics are ugly, the AI is horrible, the multiplayer is dead, and your weapons auto-target the enemy farthest away, which is almost always not the one you want to shoot at.”
- gameplay42 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Break Arts II is characterized by fast-paced, adrenaline-fueled racing combined with mech customization, offering a unique experience reminiscent of F-Zero. While the combat racing mechanics are engaging and the customization options are extensive, many players find the gameplay somewhat shallow and repetitive, lacking depth outside of mech building. Overall, the game shows potential but requires further development to enhance its mechanics and provide a more fulfilling solo experience.
“Just starting up the race, feeling that awesome music pumping through my headphones, seeing the interface boot up, 'you're an artist: imagine'... from start to finish, the gameplay of Break Arts II is an absolute adrenaline rush that I haven't really seen often in racing games.”
“The gameplay is fun, and while it's also difficult, that just keeps me going back to my frame and making constant adjustments.”
“It delivered for the most part, with fun gameplay and a really in-depth customization system that I've been having a lot of fun with.”
“Shaky optimization aside, the gameplay itself is fairly simple: it's a combat racing game with auto-acceleration and auto-targeting, so all you'll have to care about are your racing line and when to open fire - and the latter can also be taken off your mind by a specific weapon part, but more on that later.”
“If I have to be critical about it, the gameplay is repetitive.”
“The concept is great and I love the visuals; however, the gameplay is completely mediocre.”
- optimization12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is widely criticized, with players reporting significant performance issues such as unstable frame rates, poor graphics quality, and ineffective AI. Despite the potential for creative mech designs, the technical shortcomings detract from the experience, particularly in multiplayer settings where performance consistency is crucial. Many users suggest that the optimization needs substantial improvement to enhance gameplay and stability.
“I do think there is a node or power module separate from the frame that can be installed to enhance performance in certain aspects depending on which frame you use.”
“If you compare the cost/benefit ratio of a piece you start with unlocked and one unlocked at rank 3 or 4, they are the same performance-wise.”
“Shaky optimization aside, the gameplay itself is fairly simple: it's a combat racing game with auto-acceleration and auto-targeting, so all you'll have to care about are your racing line and when to open fire.”
“If you compare the cost/benefit ratio of a piece you start unlocked and one unlocked at rank 3 or 4, they are the same performance-wise.”
“It is just ugly and poorly optimized.”
“- Some optimization problems (random frame drops from 60 down to 30 then back up to 60).”
- grinding7 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as excessive, with many players noting that rank progression and unlocking new equipment require significant time investment. While some appreciate the depth it adds for customization, others criticize it for being tedious and exacerbated by issues like unfair AI and poor controls. Overall, the grindiness is a polarizing feature, appealing to dedicated players but potentially deterring those seeking a more streamlined experience.
“Rank progression, which you improve by beating missions, is very grindy.”
“But what I got was unfair AI, absurd grinding, bad controls, and clueless developers.”
“The game is super grindy to unlock new equipment to build mechs with.”
- story6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is generally viewed as lackluster, with players finding the AI either unchallenging or frustratingly difficult due to sudden spikes in difficulty. The grindy rank progression detracts from the overall experience, leading some to feel that the game lacks engaging content, making it less appealing for those seeking a compelling narrative. Overall, the focus seems to be more on gameplay mechanics than on a captivating story.
“I can't really suggest this as a pickup - it's not the next AC or Front Mission; unless you're desperate for content, you'll be bored fast.”
“I just want a 100% save so I can continue creating stuff... I didn't buy this for the story or the racing.”
“Rank progression, which you improve by beating missions, is very grindy.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is currently experiencing significant stability issues, with users reporting numerous bugs that hinder gameplay. However, players have noted that the developers are responsive and typically release patches within a week of reported problems, suggesting a commitment to improving stability over time. Despite these challenges, many still find the core gameplay enjoyable.
“A word of warning though, the game is currently really buggy, but if you report your findings to the devs with what's going on, they will patch it in a week at least from my experience so far.”
“Currently, after half an hour of troubleshooting, I cannot get the game to even function to the point where I would call it a 'game'.”
“This is a fun mech racing/constructing game, and though at this point it's a bit buggy and weird, at its core it's a really good game.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its lack of microtransactions, allowing players to progress solely through gameplay without the interference of loot boxes or cash grab items, setting it apart from many typical mobile games.
“Have no fear, this game features no microtransactions and all the progress you make in the game is purely from you playing it. This game does not have the typical nonsense that most phone games force you to put up with.”
“The game doesn't have loot boxes or any additional cash grab items.”
“Have no fear, this game features no microtransactions and all the progress you make in the game is purely from you playing it. This game does not have the typical BS that most phone games force you to put up with.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight the strong replayability of the game, attributing it to its deep customization options and addictive design, which combine the thrilling action of futuristic racing with competitive elements reminiscent of titles like Wipeout and F-Zero.
“The deep and addictive design and customization aspects of modern mecha titles meet the high-octane action of adrenaline-pumping futuristic racers like Wipeout and F-Zero, creating a competitive and highly replayable combat racing experience.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its combination of upbeat electronic rhythms and dramatic violin strings, creating an adrenaline-pumping soundtrack that enhances the overall gaming experience.
“The combination of upbeat electronic rhythms and dramatic, emotional strings of a violin creates an adrenaline-pumping arcade soundtrack that truly enhances the gaming experience.”
“The emotional depth of the storyline left me in tears, making me feel deeply connected to the characters and their struggles.”
“Every moment in the game is filled with raw emotion, from the heart-wrenching dialogues to the beautifully crafted cutscenes that tug at your heartstrings.”
