Crunch Element
- December 19, 2020
- Dreamlab XR
- 80h median play time
Get on Steam"Crunch Element" is a fast-paced, action-packed platformer game that challenges players to navigate through dangerous levels filled with obstacles and enemies. Use a variety of weapons and abilities to defeat enemies, and collect power-ups to increase your speed and strength. With procedurally generated levels, each playthrough is unique and offers a new challenge.
Reviews
- The game has a solid foundation with fun mechanics for tactical gameplay and destructible environments.
- Procedural generation of maps adds replayability and variety to the gameplay experience.
- The developer shows promise and commitment to improving the game, with potential for future updates.
- The game has been abandoned by the developer, leading to concerns about its future and lack of updates.
- Currently, the game feels incomplete with limited content, repetitive gameplay, and AI issues.
- Performance problems and bugs hinder the overall experience, making it frustrating to play at times.
- gameplay56 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its repetitiveness and lack of updates, leading to a feeling of stagnation. While some appreciate the core mechanics, such as satisfying gunplay and procedural generation, others criticize the AI, bland environments, and bugs that detract from the experience. Overall, the game shows potential but requires significant improvements in variety, polish, and content to enhance its playability.
“The shooting is tight and the gameplay is addictive.”
“This game is probably some of the most fun I've had in VR; it combines multiple core mechanics like procedural compounds, well-done destruction, and good gun handling.”
“Great potential, love the gun mechanics - however, I do wish you could add attachments that come with leveling up, adding some grind to the game.”
“It doesn't get updated, the gameplay is very repetitive and the AI is very gritty and rough; there isn't enough variation for it to be consistently playable.”
“The gameplay is horrendous, the AI more so, the mechanics are dreadful, and the maps are boring.”
“In its current state, you'll probably dick around in the range and try a couple of generated maps, giving you maybe 30 minutes of gameplay at most.”
- story38 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 84 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is virtually non-existent, as it relies on procedural generation for missions without a cohesive narrative. Players engage in repetitive objectives like bomb defusal in randomly created environments, which some find enjoyable despite the lack of depth. Overall, the absence of a structured story detracts from the experience, leaving it feeling incomplete and unpolished.
“Every time you start a mission, a new compound is generated which prevents the game from becoming stale.”
“Setup for a mission, get in the van, then breach & clear a randomly generated compound, disable a bomb and head back...what makes it less basic is the tools you take, ranging from basic frag grenades to breaching charges that allow you to create your own doors.”
“The procedural generation of levels gives a lot of repeatability and the limited ammo per mission adds a lot of depth to tactics and gives it a real touch of reality.”
“It could've been good, but the dev abandoned it, so it's bad. I will never be playing this game again unless the dev comes back, but it's a sad story.”
“☑ no story (every map is procedurally created at the time of joining)”
“In my first session, I had a few bugs crop up here and there, ranging from my hand being inside out to enemies spawning in front of me to not being able to wrap up a mission...if you don't like bugs, I can't really recommend this game to you in this state.”
- optimization31 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, bugs, and choppy gameplay, particularly during intense moments like explosions. While some users with lower-end hardware have experienced stable performance, others with high-end systems have encountered frustrating frame rate drops and glitches. Many reviewers express hope for future updates to improve optimization and overall content.
“Game runs very well, I use a 1650 Ti and it seems to run fine, no performance issues yet, although seeing the fact it has that low-poly look, it makes sense.”
“Audio is great and the low-poly graphics look fine and help with it having really good performance.”
“It just needs some additional content and a little bit of further optimization (both in performance and bug fixing) and the game will be a must-have in my eyes.”
“With all the bugs, performance issues, and lack of players, it's not worth the $23 Canadian dollars they're asking for it.”
“Performance at the start was really bad, but now I can for the most part hit 90fps with a Valve Index on an RX Vega 64 (at lowest settings), with dips to 50 for the duration of explosions (which is understandable given the destruction).”
“Right now there are way too many bugs, recoil is way too hard to control, AI is a little jank, optimization is a huge issue; this game runs pretty choppy, a big issue is when you blow up windows or walls your friend can't see them and you go through the wall.”
- graphics23 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed feedback, with many players appreciating the simplistic, low-poly art style that enhances performance, particularly in VR. However, some users noted that the graphics quality is not on par with other titles, leading to a few bugs and a desire for a more comprehensive graphical overhaul. Overall, while the aesthetic is generally well-received, there are calls for improvements in visual fidelity and additional content.
“Side note, I know some people want super realistic looking games, but I love the art style.”
“Graphics honestly, I like it a lot. Simplistic in design, I know, but the art direction is really nice in my opinion.”
“Absolutely brilliant concept, low-poly art style is great and perfect for VR.”
“It was super fun, but my biggest issue is the performance; it's kind of low considering the graphics quality.”
“I know you may be trying to ensure the game is still playable in VR, but the graphics are a bit lacking in the scenery.”
“Graphics are cartoony in nature (not great fidelity, but works for this game) and fall somewhere between a voxel feel mixed with Minecraft.”
- stability18 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs and glitches that significantly hinder gameplay. Many feel it has been abandoned in a poorly developed state, leading to a frustrating experience despite some promising mechanics. While some acknowledge its potential, the overwhelming sentiment is that the game is currently too unstable and incomplete for enjoyable play.
“The game has been abandoned in a buggy, under-developed state.”
“Abandoned game left in a buggy difficult to play state.”
“Currently the game is much too buggy and the community loves to friendly fire and kill you for no reason, when you die, you can't leave the session until you respawn, if you can even find one.”
- replayability8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the procedural generation of maps that enhances replay value, others find the experience too barebones for multiple playthroughs. Many agree that with ongoing updates, the potential for replayability could improve significantly, especially for fans of tactical VR games.
“Procedurally generated operations mode adds a lot of replay value; enemies can spawn anywhere, which forces you to really take a slow-paced approach.”
“This game has only just launched in early access, and yes, it is 'bare bones' from the outside looking in, but with procedurally generated maps every round, the replayability is there 100%.”
“With some constant patches and updates for replay value, this game is a must-buy for all tactical VR lovers.”
“I thought this game was gonna be VR Siege, but it was way too barebones to play a second run; there is no replay value.”
“It's a really fun infiltration game, similar to Rainbow Six Siege's training mode, but right now the only replayability you get from it is a procedural level.”
“This game has only just launched in early access, and yes it is 'bare bones' from the outside looking in, but with procedurally generated maps every round, the replayability is there 100%.”
- monetization3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game is widely criticized as a cash grab, with users expressing disappointment over perceived abandonment by the developers after initial purchases. There is a call for the developers to invest more effort into the game to realize its potential and generate further revenue.
“Just a quick little cash grab that we wasted our money on.”
“Dev abandoned game - kind of a cash grab.”
“I hope you have not abandoned this game after your first cash grab; you can turn this into something monumental and earn even more money!”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, featuring amusing jokes and playful references to other titles like Team Fortress 2. While the presence of bugs can lead to frustrating moments, many players find the absurdity of these glitches adds to the comedic experience, making for a lighthearted and entertaining gameplay atmosphere.
“It has good reviews, more weapons, it's not all realism, it has some funny jokes, and Valve references to TF2 and other games.”
“Now there are an abundance of bugs and yes some are game ruining such as falling through the map or the grenade launcher exploding in your face, but then again it's also extremely funny if you're not taking it too seriously.”
“I boom boom through wall then shoot shoot funny guy with red glowing mask, very funny, have funny fun fun gaming.”
- music3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The music in the game is notably sparse, with some missions featuring only gunfire and minimal enemy vocalizations. While the sound effects are generally considered acceptable, the music can start off at an overwhelming volume.
“The music and sound effects seemed fine.”
“There's also no music, so all you hear in missions is gunfire, and enemies make no vocalizations.”
“The music starts very loud.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly when tasks like axing doors without handles become repetitive. Additionally, some feel that the grinding can be so demanding that it requires a second life to manage effectively.
“Grinding in this game is rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
“The grind is challenging but ultimately satisfying.”
“Mining in Minecraft can get a little tedious sometimes, especially when axing doors with no handles.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
