EX-XDRiVER
- April 22, 2024
- Team XDRV
In the distant future, the CYBERACE cybernetic research enterprise is holding their very first "EX-XDRiVER Championship," a racing championship with a priceless reward—any cybernetic enhancement that the winner desires. With such an enticing reward, contestants have traveled from around the world to compete in a high stakes, winner-take-all tournament in hopes to make their deepest desir…
Reviews
- The game features a unique and engaging gameplay experience with a solid soundtrack and well-designed charts.
- The visuals and racing theme are appealing, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
- The game has shown significant improvements since its early access launch, with updates addressing many player concerns and enhancing gameplay mechanics.
- The gyroscope controls can be janky and uncomfortable, leading to inconsistent gameplay experiences, especially for players without compatible controllers.
- The lack of a pause feature during songs and confusing note mechanics can frustrate players, particularly those new to rhythm games.
- The user interface and menu design are considered basic and could benefit from more aesthetic enhancements to improve navigation and overall appeal.
- music66 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its impressive soundtrack, featuring a mix of original tracks and selections from indie artists that players find themselves adding to their personal playlists. The song selection is noted for its variety and quality, with many players enjoying the unique mechanics and racing aesthetic that enhance the overall experience. However, some users have pointed out issues with the game's interface and mechanics, such as the inability to pause during songs and unclear energy costs for tracks, which detracts from the otherwise strong musical offering.
“The soundtrack is incredible, and some of the songs have even found their way into my actual playlists.”
“I absolutely love the concept of this game, and the soundtrack and visuals are awesome!”
“The music is great; they have a good lineup, and I like how many indie and smaller artists showed up here.”
“Also, hitting escape immediately exits the song without a pause menu or anything, and if you play the mode to actually unlock more songs and items you can't escape the song at all.”
“The only thing that bugs me though is how you don't clearly see how much energy a song costs during arcade mode.”
“Also not being able to fail out during songs is annoying.”
- gameplay51 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally praised for its fun and engaging mechanics, with a unique blend of rhythm and racing elements that appeal to both controller and keyboard players. While the drifting mechanic is a central feature, it has received mixed feedback due to inconsistencies and input delays, particularly for those using gyroscopes. Overall, players appreciate the game's responsive controls, polished charts, and the challenge it presents, though some aspects still require refinement as it remains in early access.
“The gameplay is fun, which is why I decided it was actually important to make a review.”
“The overall gameplay feels very 'easy to learn, hard to master', but once you do start to master it, it feels so damn good.”
“Very fun and fresh mechanics make this game refreshing.”
“However, the gameplay that I was met with left much to be desired.”
“I'm sorry, but the drifting mechanic feels absolutely awful.”
“I like some of the songs, but when it comes to core gameplay mechanics, it kind of sucks how one whole feature gets lost when trying to play on keyboard.”
- graphics19 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their vibrant effects and sleek design, enhancing the racing aesthetic and overall gameplay experience. While some users find the visuals occasionally overwhelming or obstructive, recent updates have improved menu aesthetics, contributing to a more polished look. Overall, the combination of impressive visuals and a strong soundtrack creates an engaging atmosphere, though some minor visual elements could still use refinement.
“I absolutely love the concept of this game and the soundtrack/visuals are awesome!”
“The racing aesthetic really drives this game home and I love it, especially during the sections where the background dim syncs to the song playing during gameplay.”
“Songs are sick and the visuals are gorgeous so far.”
“The menus could use a little more aesthetic work though.”
“I understand that this game is still very early in early access, so I will refrain from criticizing minor things that are more for aesthetic, but until the major issues are resolved, I cannot recommend this game to others.”
“The visuals for the two side/flick notes are really counterintuitive; they must be hit twice individually at the start and at the end, but they look almost the same as hold notes on a regular lane, so I'd almost always end up mistaking them for hold notes.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users highlight the high replayability of the game, noting that it offers opportunities for continuous improvement and mastery, making it particularly appealing for those who enjoy small-sized games with engaging content.
“As an enby with a very slow laptop, I love small-sized games with replayable content such as Ultrakill and Minecraft, so this should be right up my alley.”
“High replayability, as you can always improve your scores up to the point of perfection.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players note that grinding in games like Arcaea's world mode demands significant effort to achieve similar unlocks, suggesting a more labor-intensive experience compared to other titles.
“Grinding in this game feels like a never-ending chore, similar to the effort required in Arcaea's world mode for the same unlocks.”
“The amount of grinding needed to progress is exhausting and detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
“I find the grinding mechanics tedious and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
- story1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game hints at a potential narrative development tied to its racing theme, suggesting that future updates or expansions may explore this storyline further.
“The racing theme baked into the game seems to be setting the tone for a story in the future.”
“The plot feels disjointed and lacks coherence, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“Character development is minimal, leaving players feeling disconnected from the story.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The gyroscope feature is praised for its coolness but is frequently criticized for being buggy and at times unusable, indicating significant stability issues.
“The gyroscope feature is really cool, but it's incredibly buggy and often unusable.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it frustrating to play.”
“I experienced constant lag and stability issues that ruined the overall experience.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users express dissatisfaction with the monetization strategy, feeling that the in-game offerings do not adequately compensate for the prevalence of advertisements.
“I just felt like compared to the advertisements, this didn't quite make up for it.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the humor in the game may not resonate with all players, as some feel that it requires a certain level of understanding or appreciation that not everyone possesses. This has led to mixed reactions, with some praising the wit while others criticize the lack of accessibility in its comedic elements.
“The humor in this game is absolutely top-notch, with clever writing that keeps you laughing throughout.”
“I love how the game blends absurdity with wit, making every interaction a delightful surprise.”
“The comedic timing of the characters is perfect, and the jokes never feel forced or out of place.”