Contagion VR: Outbreak
- December 11, 2020
- Monochrome, Inc
- 7h median play time
Contagion VR: Outbreak is a survival-horror game set in a labyrinthine city infested with zombies. Players must navigate the environment, scavenge for resources, and fight off hordes of the undead in intense, wave-based combat challenges. With a variety of weapons, upgrades, and difficulty settings, Contagion VR: Outbreak offers a thrilling and immersive VR experience for fans of the horror genre.
Reviews
- The game has a great atmosphere and immersive experience, making players feel like they are in a zombie apocalypse.
- The gun mechanics are well-designed, allowing for realistic reloading and handling, which adds to the overall enjoyment.
- The developers are responsive and actively working on updates and fixes, showing dedication to improving the game.
- The game is plagued with bugs and glitches, including issues with weapon handling, inventory management, and game crashes.
- The storyline is currently short and lacks depth, with only one mission available, leading to a feeling of limited content.
- The controls can be clunky and unintuitive, making it difficult for players to interact with objects and navigate the game effectively.
- story204 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its interesting premise and immersive atmosphere, while others criticize it for being poorly executed and lacking depth. Many reviewers noted that the missions feel disjointed and that the narrative could benefit from a more cohesive structure, as well as better character development and voice acting. Overall, while there is potential for a compelling story, the current execution leaves much to be desired, with players expressing hope for future updates to enhance the narrative experience.
“The story is interesting and I've had some pretty funny moments.”
“A good bit of effort was put into the story itself and the scenarios the player is sent through.”
“The immersion, atmosphere, and story are all really interesting and amazing.”
“The story is poorly thought-out and that's even by the very low expectations of an indie action game.”
“The story doesn't continue; each mission features a different character in a different place.”
“The 'story' was quite a letdown since it can be compressed down to a few lines.”
- gameplay64 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the realistic gun mechanics and immersive atmosphere, while others criticize the tedious level-based structure and clunky controls that detract from the horror experience. Many users noted bugs and unpolished mechanics, particularly in VR interactions, which hinder the overall enjoyment. Despite these issues, there is potential for improvement, and some players express optimism for future updates and additional content.
“Great gameplay in general.”
“The manual gun mechanics and melee combat make for a great gameplay loop.”
“The atmosphere and the gameplay and gunplay is better than Arizona, but there are occasional bugs here and there, but nothing game-breaking.”
“Gameplay doesn't feel punishing like a horror title; it just feels tedious and annoying.”
“Instead, the game is a level-based game where what you do now doesn't matter at all later, ruining the immersion by pulling you out of the gameplay when you complete a section/level and putting you at a menu to select the next level instead of it being a continuous story.”
“Right now, do not buy it; too many bugs, the melee weapons feel too strange, the graphics are good, but the HUD was removed and now you have no idea what can be looted or not. My game goes black after the first act and I can't proceed. Even for early access, there are some basic gameplay elements missing.”
- stability53 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
The game is currently plagued by numerous bugs and glitches, significantly impacting gameplay and immersion, with issues ranging from control malfunctions to level-breaking errors. While some players acknowledge the game's potential and express hope for future updates, many recommend waiting for a more polished version before purchasing, as the current state is frustratingly unplayable for some. Overall, the consensus is that while the game shows promise, it is not yet ready for a full release due to its instability.
“Mechanics are getting ironed out and bug-free.”
“Not buggy at all for me and my rig.”
“If you're looking for a bug-free game, I'd wait a little for the developers to work out some of the kinks, but even then I would still recommend getting this game.”
“This game is just so chock-full of control glitches and inputs that it ruins what I think would be an absolutely amazing game.”
“Be warned, there are way too many bugs and glitches that almost make the game unplayable, which is why I'm waiting a week or maybe two.”
“That being said, it is currently buggy as all hell and essentially unplayable past the first few scenes.”
- graphics50 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players praising the overall quality and immersive environments, particularly in VR settings. However, some users report inconsistent performance, with graphics ranging from impressive to subpar depending on the settings and areas within the game. While the visuals are generally considered good for a VR title, optimization issues and varying experiences on different hardware configurations have led to some frustration among players.
“The graphics are great, the game is really immersive.”
“The graphics are more than acceptable for a VR title, the level design is very good, sound is nicely eerie/panic inducing, and the weapons are excellent.”
“Firstly, the graphics are extremely good, yet not so extreme you need a beastly machine to play, and considering this game has multiplayer mode, this is great, it means I know that this game will be accessible to more players, and a more active community when it grows.”
“It's okay and the graphics looked like an indie game made by one person.”
“The outdoor graphics are subpar and underwhelming.”
“I'd say it was borderline unplayable right now as there are bugs aplenty and I still get some reprojection with the graphics set to 'poop' quality (i7 6700k + gtx 1070).”
- atmosphere42 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and creepy qualities, effectively setting a tense and suspenseful tone that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the detailed environmental design, atmospheric lighting, and sound, which contribute to a sense of realism and urgency, particularly in zombie encounters. Despite some technical issues, the atmosphere remains a standout feature, drawing players into its dark, post-apocalyptic world.
“The immersion, atmosphere, and story are all really interesting and amazing.”
“The atmosphere is great, it brings you into the game directly.”
“The atmosphere is dark and brooding, the zombies are terrifying, the guns are punchy and responsive.”
“It's washed out and dull...more contrast to add to the atmosphere?”
“Don't think I bash Arizona Sunshine, I loved this stuff but this one seems to just be more fitting for a zombie with the whole low ammo system, dark atmosphere, flashlight batteries, small backpack and the reload system that may give you some troubles when you're nervous.”
- optimization19 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 42 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing issues such as crashing, stuttering, and performance drops, particularly on the Oculus Quest 2. While some updates have improved performance and reduced jitter, significant optimization is still needed to ensure a smooth gameplay experience, especially in high-action scenarios. Overall, the game is considered unoptimized in its current state, but there is potential for improvement with future updates.
“The game's performance and hand positioning were my first, 'yes!'”
“We've all been working extra hard trying to finalize mission 3, as well as making massive performance boosting optimizations to the entire game.”
“Edit: last update seemed to fix the jittery performance.”
“Overall, I do not recommend the game currently, but if they fix the constant crashing and stuttering, then this might change.”
“Some areas are just not fun, and the game needs to be more optimized to run very smoothly with no reprojection or shakiness.”
“Current state: buggy and unoptimized.”
- humor10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as wacky and often unexpected, with players enjoying funny moments stemming from quirky AI interactions, amusing bugs, and humorous dialogue. While some mechanics can feel clunky or annoying, the overall comedic tone adds to the fun, making it a memorable experience. Players appreciate the developers' sense of humor, which enhances the game's charm amidst its challenges.
“I 100% recommend this game, it's fun, kinda funny, and a bit tricky. This is one of the better few games, and the ringtone sound in-game is lowkey amazing 👌”
“Very wacky human AI with dialogue and sudden noclipping. Other than that, the gunplay was very fun; some moments actually spooked me, and I had some hilarious moments messing with the morgue.”
“Either way, the player character starts reciting lines from earlier in the game, which is quite hilarious when you're trying to fend off a zombie and your partner calls you to talk about ordering Chinese food.”
- music9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed feedback, with many players appreciating the horror and atmospheric elements that enhance gameplay, particularly during tense moments. However, some critiques highlight issues with the volume and timing of the music, which can overshadow important audio cues and disrupt immersion. Overall, while the soundtrack contributes positively to the game's ambiance, there are suggestions for improvement in its integration with gameplay events.
“I love the music and sound design (for a budget game) and the controls make a lot of sense.”
“The atmosphere, lighting, music, surrounding sounds, working body UI for weapons, fluid gun controls and operation all have been thoroughly re-worked from a year ago.”
“The moment action music played, I got the biggest grin and I know that you will nail the atmosphere in the finished product.”
“Player presence triggers are way too far from the actual instigating object; oftentimes your character starts talking with the extremely loud intense music blaring through your headset a solid 30 seconds before you even realize what is going on and what you're supposed to do.”
“Snap turning only makes the Oculus 180 setup very hard to play; guns look and feel like toys, and the sound design is covered up by blaring music when things should be 'scary'.”
“--audio 3/5 generally good ambient/environment sounds, some sounds reused from the original game although that is not a deal-breaker. Voice acting is average, and the music when a riot appears is a little weird/circus-like and doesn't really create the right tension/urgency feeling for that moment.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and frustrating, with slow, bullet-sponge enemies contributing to a lack of engaging action. While the story and voice acting receive some praise, the lengthy, uneventful sequences detract from the overall experience, making gameplay feel more like a chore than an enjoyable challenge.
“Gameplay doesn't feel punishing like a horror title; it just feels tedious and annoying.”
“The enemies are bullet spongy but slow, and your second interaction with a zombie is literally a helmet-wearing zombie, making the gameplay even more tedious from the word go.”
“The stories are okay and the voice acting is pretty good, but these huge sequences with no action are boring and tedious.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some users feel that multiplayer options could enhance it, the current short playtime of 3-4 hours limits its value. In contrast, H3VR's zombie mode offers over 10 hours of content and ongoing updates, significantly boosting its replayability.
“I'd also think multiplayer would bring a lot to the replayability of the game, but until something is done to lengthen the game, I just can't recommend it at the current price, as it's still only about 3-4 hours long going slow.”
“Replay value is not something I've personally considered yet.”
“H3VR released a zombie mode that has more than 10 hours worth of content, replayability, and is still growing on top of the fact that it's from a gun simulator.”
- monetization3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews on monetization for the game are mixed; some players perceive it as a cash grab, particularly criticizing the demo's impact on the overall experience. However, others appreciate the developers' engagement and believe the game is receiving the necessary attention and content updates, suggesting a more positive outlook on its monetization strategy.
“This game stinks of a cash grab; they worked on the demo and ruined the game itself.”
“I'm not saying I know the developers are in it for a cash grab.”
“This does not feel like a cash grab, but a game that is being given the attention and content it deserves.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a sense of disappointment and emotional detachment from the game, noting a decline in quality that has affected their enjoyment. Initially immersive voice acting has been criticized for its decline, contributing to a feeling of abandonment by the developers and a lack of emotional engagement with the game.