DRONE The Game
- August 1, 2020
- Five Studios Interactive
"DRONE The Game" is a free demo version on Steam, modeling itself after classic shooter games with drone combat. The full version is planned to be free in the near future, offering updates and modifications from Earth 2. Currently, players may experience issues with purchasing the game, but support is available on the official Discord server.
Reviews
- The game offers a fun and fast-paced gameplay experience with great graphics.
- The drone customization feature is engaging and allows for creative designs.
- The core mechanics of flying and combat are enjoyable, reminiscent of classic arena shooters.
- The game has been abandoned by the developers, with no updates for years.
- It was sold to a company associated with a crypto scam, leading to a loss of community trust.
- The player base is nearly non-existent, often resulting in matches filled with bots instead of real players.
- gameplay85 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally praised for its fast-paced, addictive nature and smooth mechanics, with many players enjoying the customization options for building and flying drones. However, some users note that the controls can be difficult to master, and the gameplay may become repetitive over time, especially with limited game modes. While the game shows significant promise and has appealing graphics, it is still considered a work in progress, requiring further development and content to enhance the overall experience.
“The gameplay is fluid, and honestly going into it I thought it might be something I play for a little while and then never touch again.”
“The base gameplay is already very addictive, fast-paced skill-based fun, and there is lots of potential for more depth with custom built drones and maps.”
“The customisation is awesome and the gameplay is smooth and fun.”
“The drone and arena builders are unintuitive and difficult to utilize, the gameplay variety is somewhat lacking, and if you're prone to motion sickness then this game is definitely not for you.”
“Way too early access; I don't understand why it's getting such great reviews. The game is buggy as hell. I tried to create my very own drone; it looks cool, but fails to deliver and hardly explains how the basic mechanics work. I tried pressing the button required to delete a block and nothing happens. This game has a lot of potential but still needs a lot of work before even hitting early access. For now, I do not recommend this game; maybe in a couple of years when they fix the simple stuff, I will change my review, but for now, leave this drone in the closet.”
“Game modes are limited to deathmatch and team deathmatch, which, in combination with fast and extremely intense combat, turns gameplay into complete chaos.”
- graphics62 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning visuals, smooth performance, and impressive optimization, especially considering it is an indie title. Many users highlight the game's aesthetic appeal, detailed maps, and well-designed drones, although some express disappointment over the game's abandonment and lack of polish. Overall, the graphics are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's potential and enjoyment.
“The graphics and art style really shine.”
“It's aesthetically pleasing and allows for a lot of creativity.”
“The graphics are amazing, the arenas are very different from each other, and the drones look great.”
“The sci-fi theme, the maps and graphics, but I hate that it's been abandoned, left alone, left with so much potential put to waste.”
“Most of the graphics settings cannot be changed which leaves a lot of horrible and nauseating effects like awful Unity motion blur stuck on.”
“It's not even about the price, the graphics, the UI was just so much below my expectation.”
- optimization12 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 8 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its excellent optimization, delivering great graphics and smooth performance even on weaker hardware. Players report minimal performance issues, solid net code, and satisfying gameplay, although some desire further improvements in control during editing modes. Despite being in early access, the game's optimization contributes to a highly enjoyable experience.
“Great visuals, pleasantly smooth controls even with mouse and keyboard, and excellent optimization have temporarily led to a solid early access phase and a quite satisfying gaming experience, even though some key features are still missing.”
“Gameplay feels great, graphics are better than average AAA titles, very well optimized, and on top of that you can build your own drones and arenas.”
“Other than that, it's very well optimized, no crashing, perfect performance even for weaker hardware.”
“The only time I've had any performance issues is in the custom drone online test session.”
“I would like to have better controls in edit mode and some optimizations.”
- story11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is polarizing; some players appreciate the lack of a complex narrative, enjoying the straightforward drone battles, while others have developed personal backstories and connections to the game. Although the current story content is minimal, players express enthusiasm for potential future developments and community engagement with the developers.
“That has a much more detailed backstory, and it's very personal to me as well.”
“We got a good few of the people in the lobby to join the Discord server, so we actually got to play and talk story with some of the devs. They are so kind and have a lot of ambition and passion for this game.”
“Ah, the game has an entire backstory for me, from loving it, to hating it, to liking it again.”
“Ah drone the game, I have an entire backstory with this game, from loving it, to hating it, to liking it again.”
“One of those games that don't give you all this story nonsense, just straight to the point; drones battle other drones and it's amazing fun!”
“Story - no story.”
- music9 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the menu music and find the overall soundtrack decent, others feel that the absence of music during battles creates an empty atmosphere. Overall, the soundtrack is described as varied and fitting, but not universally praised, with some users noting that it enhances the experience while others find it lacking.
“Fucking nice menu music it has.”
“Music is great, and the online community seems to be strong and friendly.”
“It has everything you need and beyond: it's nervous, it's fast, it's not buggy, there is a lot to play with, graphics are good, music is decent, gameplay is sweet.”
“No music during battle; this feels very empty with just hearing the drones.”
“Most of the soundtrack is underwhelming.”
“The soundtrack is just alright.”
- monetization8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been widely criticized, with many users labeling it a cash grab by the developers, particularly following a heavily marketed launch in 2020. While there is a progression system that unlocks new drones and cosmetics without current microtransactions, the overall sentiment suggests that the game is unlikely to evolve beyond its early access state, contributing to a negative perception of its monetization strategy.
“There is a progression system that unlocks new drones and cosmetics, with no microtransactions at the moment.”
“The game offers a fair monetization model, allowing players to earn rewards through gameplay without feeling pressured to spend money.”
“I appreciate that the game focuses on player progression rather than pushing for in-game purchases.”
“Game was a cash grab by the developers; this early access is never going to move forward, and devs like this are why early access games get such bad reputations.”
“No clearer indication of a cash grab than this.”
“This game appears to have been a cash grab.”
- stability8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is heavily criticized, with numerous glitches rendering multiplayer nearly unplayable and overall gameplay marred by bugs. While some players appreciate the potential and graphics, many agree that the game is too early in development, requiring significant fixes before it can be recommended. Overall, the consensus is that the game is currently a "bug-ridden mess" that needs substantial work.
“Runs great, looks great, and the drones feel unique and fun to fly.”
“It has everything you need and beyond: it's responsive, it's fast, it's not buggy, there is a lot to play with, graphics are good, music is decent, gameplay is sweet.”
“However, the glitches are many, to the point that multiplayer is basically unplayable since one person on the server will always have a glitched bot that can shoot forever.”
“Bug-ridden mess, and there was no way to actually play against each other.”
“Way too early access. I don't understand why it's getting such great reviews; the game is buggy as hell. I tried to create my very own drone; it looks cool, but fails to deliver and hardly explains how the basic mechanics work. I tried pressing the button required to delete a block and... nothing happens. This game has a lot of potential but still needs a lot of work before even hitting early access. For now, I do not recommend this game; maybe in a couple of years when they fix the simple stuff, I will change my review.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game frustrating due to unclear progress tracking and vague goals, making it hard to stay motivated. While some enjoy the rewarding experience of higher-tier drones, the initial setup and low player count hinder the overall enjoyment, leading to a tedious and isolating grind.
“Progress is very hard to track, and likewise it is difficult to understand even what I'm grinding towards or when I'll get there.”
“You log in, you have to go through a tedious process to create an account on their website and then link your Steam account to it before you can even get into the game, and once you do there are less than 20 players in the game, only 2 rooms created which cannot be joined late and thus it's difficult to really even get a match going with other people.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is noted for its absurdity, with players finding amusement in the chaotic interactions between bots and the overall ridiculousness of the gameplay. Many users appreciate the comedic elements both in playing and building within the game, contributing to an entertaining experience.
“It's kind of funny to watch 30 bots endlessly killing each other in a fur ball.”
“Funny to play, funny to build.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong sense of resilience and hope in the face of challenges, using gaming as a means to cope with life's difficulties while maintaining a positive outlook. The emotional connection to the game is highlighted as a source of motivation and a way to engage with the world outside of gaming.
“I never lost hope; I just kept playing ranked in Rocket League and got on with life, touching grass.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players highlight the game's high replayability due to its dynamic gameplay, diverse range of drones, and multiple maps, which encourage repeated playthroughs and keep the experience fresh.
“The sheer range of motion alone makes this game incredibly dynamic and fun, and the variety of drones and maps makes it extremely replayable.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is noted for its strong potential, blending fast-paced 3D movement with a competitive edge that could have elevated it to a unique and memorable experience. However, it ultimately falls short of realizing this promise.
“The game had a fantastic foundation to build on and could have been something unique and wonderful, combining fast-paced full 3D movement with a competitive atmosphere that could have cemented this game as something special.”
“The atmosphere felt flat and uninspired, lacking the depth and immersion that I was hoping for.”
“Despite the interesting premise, the overall atmosphere was dull and failed to engage me in any meaningful way.”