Construct VR - The Volumetric Movie
- December 23, 2021
- PresenZ
Get on Steam"Construct VR - The Volumetric Movie" is a virtual reality experience that takes you on a journey through a series of visually striking, volumetrically captured scenes. With a focus on exploration and discovery, players are invited to interact with the environment and uncover the story behind each setting. Using advanced technology, the game provides a unique sense of presence and immersion, making it a must-try for VR enthusiasts.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The technology showcases impressive visuals and a unique immersive experience that feels like being part of a movie.
- The action choreography and animations are well-executed, providing an engaging spectacle.
- This short film serves as a promising demonstration of the potential future of VR cinema, with many reviewers expressing excitement for more content in this format.
- The film is very short (around 8 minutes) and lacks a substantial story, leading some to feel it doesn't justify the cost.
- Many users experienced constant buffering issues, even on high-end systems, making it difficult to enjoy the experience.
- The abrupt camera transitions and changes in viewer scale were disorienting for some, detracting from the overall immersion.
- story21 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The story is generally viewed as lacking depth and originality, with many reviewers describing it as cliched and amateurish. While some appreciated the short film format and its animation quality, they noted that the narrative was simplistic and not particularly engaging. Overall, it serves more as a showcase for new technology rather than a compelling story, leaving many hoping for a more developed sequel.
“First of all, the story was good as a short movie; the surprising ending makes you think about the future human life forms and possibilities.”
“I have been following the progress of this company for many years, and what they have now achieved in the final story is breathtaking.”
“Thoroughly enjoyed every second of the video and can't wait for more of this story or other projects that showcase this technology!”
“There is no story.”
“It's not long, it's basically in one location, it's not a deep story at all, it doesn't have any real twists, but it's a neat 8-minute movie.”
“Uninspired storytelling, and a wasted opportunity to showcase something that couldn't be accomplished in real time on potent gaming hardware in 2022.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally impressive, showcasing sharp visuals and excellent fight choreography, though some users noted that the overall quality can feel low-resolution and somewhat outdated. While high-end graphics cards enhance the experience, even mid-range setups can deliver satisfactory performance. Minor bugs and artifacts are present, but they do not significantly detract from the visual appeal.
“The visuals are impressive.”
“The (motion captured) movement is great, the visuals are surprisingly sharp for a 3D movie, and the choreography in the fight scenes is cool.”
“Short film itself is a mixed bag: visuals look a bit low res and not up to date, but fight choreography and animations are amazing.”
“I can imagine that some people would just think this is a demo of a high-quality game with photorealistic graphics, and to be honest, the difference is not 100% clear to me either.”
“A few minor bugs/artifacts in the visuals are also existing.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game appears to be inconsistent, with some users experiencing buffering issues even on high-end VR setups, while others report smooth performance, particularly when installed on a fast NVMe SSD to prevent micro-stuttering.
“Important: To avoid micro-stuttering, you need to install the game on a fast NVMe SSD.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews highlight that the experience can be significantly hindered by running the game on a mechanical drive, leading to constant buffering. Additionally, while the game is compared to the extensive gameplay of titles like Half-Life: Alyx, its large file size for a short experience raises questions about its value.
“The gameplay is incredibly immersive, making you feel like you're truly part of the action.”
“The mechanics are intuitive and responsive, allowing for a seamless gaming experience.”
“The variety of challenges keeps the gameplay fresh and engaging throughout.”
“Pro tip: Don't try to run this off of a mechanical drive; it'll buffer constantly!”
“It's strange that this few minutes 'movie' is 30 GB, especially when you consider the gameplay of a AAA title like Half-Life: Alyx, which offers many hours of content.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by nearly flawless animations during fight scenes and dialogues, effectively drawing players into the story of a robot family. However, some users feel that the attempt to evoke sadness within a short timeframe may come off as forced or superficial.
“The animations during fight scenes or emotional dialogues are almost flawless.”
“It attempts to get us emotionally involved with a robot family (including a robot child) in about 5 minutes, and as is often the case with these kinds of VR short stories, we're supposed to feel sad by the end of it.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Many users have reported stability issues with the game, particularly when running it from traditional hard drives. It has been noted that using an SSD significantly improves performance, but players expressed frustration over the lack of clear communication from the developers regarding this requirement.
“After troubleshooting for a long while, I scanned the discussion forums and found out you have to run the game from an SSD drive. I wish the developers had been much more upfront about this requirement, as there are lots of people who have gone through the same thing as I.”
