DownStream: VR Whitewater Kayaking
- August 28, 2019
- JumpStick
Get on SteamDownStream: VR Whitewater Kayaking offers a challenging and immersive kayaking experience in virtual reality. Navigate through treacherous rapids, perform stunts, and enjoy the stunningly realistic water and environment. Customizable settings allow for a range of difficulty levels, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced paddlers.
Reviews
- The game offers a highly immersive VR experience with realistic water physics and a strong sense of flow while kayaking.
- It provides a good workout and is enjoyable, especially once players get accustomed to the controls and mechanics.
- The variety of game modes, including freestyle and time trial, adds replayability and caters to different play styles.
- The split paddle control scheme can feel unrealistic and may break immersion for players used to traditional kayaking.
- Long loading times and occasional performance issues detract from the overall experience.
- The game lacks multiplayer options and additional content, leaving players wanting more maps and features.
- graphics12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally described as simple yet effective, providing a satisfactory visual experience that complements the immersive gameplay, particularly in VR. While some users note that the graphics may not reach AAA standards, they are deemed adequate for the game's purpose, with good water physics enhancing the overall experience. A few players mention performance issues and basic landscape graphics in certain maps, but the engaging gameplay and sound design help maintain immersion.
“The graphics are good too and I can run everything on high with a GTX 980.”
“Really enjoy this unique game... the music, sound effects, and graphics make for a really immersive experience.”
“I’ve done kayaking in the past and this certainly brought back some good memories; it’s very realistic and a great workout. The graphics wouldn’t be AAA standard, but they’re more than adequate for the job.”
“A few maps have basic landscape graphics, but you can forgive them as you try to get through a rapid and end up backwards.”
“Bad performance and bad graphics, which is a strange combo.”
“Some might find the graphics kill the immersion, but to me the physics and feeling of it are so good that it gets me fully immersed.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay is highly praised, with users noting its engaging mechanics and overall quality, though some find certain controls challenging, particularly with the 'push off the wall' mechanic. Despite these difficulties, the gameplay experience is considered significantly rewarding, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the game.
“10/10 package with the music, gameplay, graphics, and leaderboards.”
“Gameplay and content are engaging and well-designed.”
“The gameplay was about a hundred times better, so the struggle with the controls was worth it.”
“I suggest the devs play 'Journey of Elysium' to understand the mechanics of a kayak paddle.”
“Why does the 'push off the wall' mechanic propel the kayak extremely far?”
“It was difficult for me to tape the controllers while not pressing buttons and also having control of the menus, but the gameplay was about a hundred times better, so it was worth the struggle.”
- optimization5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with some users experiencing stuttering issues that improved by adjusting the window size. While there are graphics settings available to enhance performance, the overall performance and graphics quality have been criticized as subpar, indicating a need for better optimization.
“This could be great, but I would like to see better optimization and more levels.”
“I sometimes experienced stuttering, but I think it improved after I shrunk the window on the monitor.”
“There are graphics settings to help improve performance if needed.”
“Bad performance and bad graphics, which is a strange combination.”
- music2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised, contributing significantly to an immersive experience alongside the gameplay and graphics. Reviewers highlight it as a standout feature, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the game.
“10/10 package with the music, gameplay, graphics, and leaderboards.”
“Really enjoy this unique game; the music, sound effects, and graphics make for a really immersive experience.”
- story2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story in "Journey of Elysium" immerses players in a realistic quest experience as they navigate a boat using a kayak paddle, enhancing the sense of adventure and engagement. The game is noted for its compatibility with the Quest 2 via a link cable, further enriching the gameplay experience.
“In 'Journey of Elysium', you stand or sit in a boat with a long kayak paddle, embarking on your quest, and it feels incredibly immersive.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the game's length and the ability to restart and improve times contribute positively to its replayability, making it a worthwhile recommendation for those who enjoy this genre.
“While it might not sound like much, restarting and trying to beat your time adds a nice length to the game. For the price, it provides enough content and replayability to recommend, especially if you have an itch for this type of game like I did.”
“The variety of challenges and different strategies to explore make this game incredibly replayable. Each playthrough feels fresh and engaging.”
“With multiple endings and unlockable content, I find myself coming back to this game time and time again. The replayability is off the charts!”
“The game lacks significant changes in gameplay, making it feel repetitive after just a few runs.”
“Once you've completed the main objectives, there's little incentive to return, as the experience doesn't evolve.”
“While the initial playthrough is enjoyable, the lack of varied content means replaying feels more like a chore than a choice.”
