CDF Starfighter VR
- May 26, 2017
- MadAboutGamesStudios
Get on Steam"CDF Starfighter VR is a space combat simulator set 350 years in the future, where humans face galactic consumption by darkness. As a CDF starfighter pilot, engage in exciting space battles using gamepad or VR controller, inspired by classics like Freespace, Wing Commander, and Star Wars. Experience immersive gameplay with detailed visuals and varied missions."
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The graphics are excellent and create an immersive experience, reminiscent of classic space combat games.
- The game has a lot of potential with fun missions and a nostalgic feel for fans of the genre.
- The developer is responsive to feedback and has made significant improvements over time, showing commitment to enhancing the game.
- The control mapping is frustrating and often unresponsive, making it difficult to play, especially for HOTAS users.
- The game suffers from frequent crashes and technical issues, which can severely disrupt gameplay.
- Menu navigation is cumbersome and poorly designed, requiring constant use of a gamepad even when using other controllers.
- story54 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's story is noted for its well-thought-out lore and backstory, providing a solid foundation for the missions. While players appreciate the variety of mission types and immersive single-player experiences, many express a desire for a more cohesive and engaging overarching narrative. Overall, the missions are enjoyable and filled with voice acting, but the absence of a dedicated single-player campaign leaves some players wanting more depth in the storyline.
“However, the game is fun and beautiful; the story is well thought out, and now that I've made it past mission 4, it hasn't crashed yet, so maybe the dev did some tweaks. Frame rate drops still, but not too bad.”
“Singleplayer missions have voice acting and objectives one would expect from this type of game.”
“Clearly, a lot of thought and love has gone into the lore and backstory for this game.”
“It crashed after almost every mission and eventually ate my save.”
“I've not been able to do two missions in a row without an exception popup, which of course doesn't display in the Vive headset.”
“There seems to be a few missions along with a randomly generated dogfight mode, which won't keep you busy for long.”
- graphics34 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their excellence and breathtaking scenery, particularly in VR, where the balance between realism and playability is commendable. While some users note that the graphics could use further polish and that the art style may not appeal to everyone, the overall impression is positive, especially considering the game's development by a single individual. However, there are mentions of mixed reviews likely stemming from early release issues, with some players experiencing basic graphics in 2D mode.
“Keeping the graphical limitations of VR in mind, the dev has done an amazing job in finding balance between realism and playability even on a 970.”
“Breathtaking scenery in this game; I believe the reviews are so mixed because of an early release... right now it is amazing, just remember to adjust your graphics accordingly and set your keybinds.”
“Instant and quick action space fighter with stunning graphics and immersion... you will feel the thrill of dogfighting.”
“The graphics style is not as high quality and the style isn't quite to my taste, but it is close enough and the feelings you get when blowing up enemy ships is great.”
“Sound and graphics are very basic.”
“Graphics would need some more polish, but keep in mind that this is a one-man game; give him credit for that.”
- gameplay20 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews highlight a mix of enjoyment and frustration; while the flight mechanics are praised for their arcade-style complexity and immersive feel, many players report issues with controls, crashes, and VR functionality. The game offers varied missions and ship options, but some find the overall gameplay limited and marred by annoying sound effects. Despite these drawbacks, the core gameplay experience captivates many, encouraging them to return despite technical problems.
“The flight mechanics are arcade-style, but with enough complexity to make you think beyond point-and-shoot.”
“Really good variants in gameplay with mixed missions mode, different ships, and enemies.”
“This may be indie, but the immersion and the gameplay are top notch!”
“The programmers of this game have really botched the controls and mechanics of this game.”
“Don't know what the issue is, but since the last update, I see the two logo screens in the Vive headset, but the gameplay stays on the monitor and won't transfer to the headset, so it is unplayable in VR now.”
“So far, it's only about the core mechanics and general feel of space combat.”
- stability12 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is currently experiencing significant stability issues, with numerous bugs affecting both controls and menus. Many users report that while the game shows promise, it is still a work in progress plagued by glitches that hinder gameplay.
“Extremely buggy - got into the cockpit once and it looks super promising, but the controls stopped working.”
“Menu and controls are still very buggy.”
“It's definitely a work in progress, with some glitches.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight that CDF Starfighter offers a more immersive and atmospheric experience compared to Elite: Dangerous, with its unique, spacey music significantly enhancing the overall ambiance of the game.
“I have Elite: Dangerous, and while I love much about that game, I don't feel the same immersion and atmosphere that I feel in CDF Starfighter.”
“The music is weird, spacey, and definitely helps define the atmosphere.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding elements in the game, such as trading and repetitive missions, to be tedious and detracting from the overall experience. Many express a desire for a more straightforward arcade-style gameplay without these additional complexities. Additionally, the lack of clear instructions for setting up controller options adds to the frustration.
“Setting up controller options is tedious and not clearly explained.”
“I was really hoping for some arcade space shooters that don't also feel the need to add trading, tedious A to B 'missions', etc.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, players express optimism about the game's optimization, with a willingness to return as long as performance remains stable. There is anticipation for improvements in the upcoming remaster, suggesting confidence in future enhancements.
“Unless the game performance starts tanking worse than the stock market in December, I plan to come back to play and look forward to what the remaster may bring.”
- music2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music is characterized as weird and spacey, effectively contributing to the game's atmospheric experience.
“The music is weird, spacey, and definitely helps define the atmosphere.”
