Gunjack
- April 5, 2016
- CCP
- 3h median play time
Gunjack’s slim ties to the EVE universe don't stop it from being a thoroughly entertaining arcade shooter that recreates the cockpit-shooter/light-gun genre within a VR space wonderfully without the need for peripherals or huge enclosures.
Get on Steam"Gunjack" is a single-player Science Fiction Shooter game built specifically for virtual reality, offering sensational visuals and intuitive controls. As a turret operator, protect your mining vessel from enemy ships in intense, full-immersion arcade gameplay with multiple missions and leaderboards for replayability. Acclaimed for its polish and gorgeous VR experience in the Eve universe.
PC
Virtual Reality
Windows
Oculus Rift
PlayStation
PlayStation VR
Reviews
- The game features nice graphics and immersive environments, providing a visually appealing experience.
- It's a fun and simple arcade shooter that is easy to pick up and play, making it a good introduction to VR for newcomers.
- The head-tracking aiming mechanic is intuitive and allows for quick reactions, enhancing the gameplay experience.
- The gameplay can become repetitive and lacks depth, leading to boredom after a short period.
- Aiming with the head can be uncomfortable and may lead to neck strain during extended play sessions.
- The game has technical issues, including poor controller support and bugs that hinder the overall experience.
- graphics40 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 18 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics in the game are generally praised for their beauty and clarity, with many reviewers noting a pleasing arcade aesthetic reminiscent of classic titles. While some mention that the space backgrounds lack depth and may appear static, the visuals are described as smooth and well-crafted, contributing to an immersive experience. However, a few users point out that the graphics, while good, may not be cutting-edge and can feel somewhat dated compared to newer titles.
“The graphics are really nice to me, a very beautiful arcade look to them, some reminding me of some of the old Galaga ship designs while throwing some new age looking spacecraft in there.”
“The graphics are very good, especially for VR.”
“The graphics are crystal clear which makes the whole experience that much more enjoyable.”
“The only flaw I see graphically is that the space backgrounds are obviously static and there's no depth to them - even when you're looking at parts of the mining rig or asteroids which 'should' be closer to the stars that are much further away.”
“A $800 Vive with a $1500 PC, and I get Gear VR graphics and gameplay.”
“Graphics are not triple A, but are still very good.”
- gameplay31 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized as simple and straightforward, primarily involving seated play and head aiming, making it accessible for newcomers to VR. While the graphics and sound are praised, many reviewers note that the gameplay becomes repetitive and lacks depth, with only a few hours of engaging content before it feels monotonous. Overall, it serves well as a casual experience to introduce others to VR, but may not satisfy those seeking a more complex gaming experience.
“Great game to put friends/family/pets in to show them what VR is like, since the gameplay is very simple, the controls take seconds to learn, and you can do it sitting down for those who get motion sick, but beyond that, it's more an experience than a proper 'game'.”
“The controls are smooth, the graphics look good without being too strenuous on your system, and the overall gameplay feels responsive.”
“Aiming is surprisingly intuitive, and the gameplay is quick and fun.”
“Gameplay-wise, as others have already said, it gets boring really fast.”
“It seems to be the same gameplay over and over with the occasional change of environment.”
“The coolest part of the game for me is actually the interactive cinematic bit where you get into the ship/gun turret, but unfortunately the gameplay mechanic was very repetitive.”
- story15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal, primarily consisting of standalone missions rather than a cohesive narrative, which some players find disappointing. While there are elements of humor and voiceover that add a slight narrative touch, the overall experience is more focused on gameplay challenges and progression rather than a compelling storyline. Players seeking a rich narrative may be left wanting, as the game is structured more like a series of levels with little to no overarching plot.
“The game is pretty much what I signed up for; the voiceover adds a bit of story and humor to the progression of levels, and the game successfully keeps things interesting with the power-ups and variety of enemies.”
“The storyline, narration, and gameplay have me hooked.”
“Especially considering this is made by CCP, I would expect way more, like switching to other turrets on the ship or some sort of really great storyline or some other interactions beyond look and shoot.”
“There's not much of a story, more like challenge levels.”
“Another thing about this title is that the levels you play are one-off missions and not a continuing story.”
“Level based, no story (once again the price tag effectively negates this).”
- replayability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is viewed as variable; while some players find it highly enjoyable and worth revisiting, others feel it offers limited long-term engagement. Many appreciate the value for the price, especially during sales, but some express a desire for additional content to enhance replay potential.
“Replay value is extremely high and it is very fun to play!”
“Good game, replayable for some time after.”
“For $10 (even better when on sale for $5), it's worth every penny.”
“Might not have much replayability, but for $10 (even better when on sale for $5), it's worth every penny.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is well-optimized, featuring good graphics and responsive controls, with no reported performance issues. Players appreciate the smooth gameplay experience, particularly during rating sequences after completing waves.
“The graphics look pretty good, controls work well, and I have had no performance issues.”
“After completing a wave, you're rated on how many enemies you killed, and some other metrics that went by pretty fast, and overall you're rated 1-3 stars for your performance.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game is reported to be fairly buggy, indicating that players have encountered numerous stability issues during gameplay.
“The game is fairly buggy.”
“I encountered numerous crashes that disrupted my gameplay.”
“There are frequent glitches that make it hard to enjoy the experience.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is generally well-received, creating an enjoyable experience, though some users feel that the enemy ships could be improved to enhance the overall ambiance.
“The atmosphere is nice but not perfect since the enemy ships could have been designed better.”
“The game lacks a cohesive atmosphere, making it hard to immerse myself in the world.”
“While the visuals are appealing, the overall atmosphere feels flat and uninspired.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features some humorous dialogue that adds a lighthearted touch to the overall experience.
“The game is filled with hilarious dialogue that keeps you laughing throughout.”
“I love the witty banter between characters; it adds so much charm to the experience.”
“The humor is spot-on, with clever jokes that never feel forced.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report that the emotional impact of the game is profound, with immersive experiences that physically engage them, such as feeling a sense of being pulled backward during the opening scene, prompting instinctive reactions like leaning forward. This suggests a strong connection between gameplay mechanics and emotional engagement.
“Standing during the opening scene made me feel as if I was being dragged backwards; I subconsciously started leaning forward to counter it.”
“The emotional depth of the characters really resonated with me, making their struggles feel incredibly real.”
“I found myself tearing up during key moments, as the story beautifully captured the complexities of love and loss.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy has been criticized as a blatant cash grab, with users finding the $10 price tag for a game lacking genuine VR features to be unreasonable.
“This is a shameless cash grab, and charging $10 for a Galaxy Gear game with no actual VR features is ridiculous.”
Critic Reviews
Gunjack Review
Gunjack’s slim ties to the EVE universe don't stop it from being a thoroughly entertaining arcade shooter that recreates the cockpit-shooter/light-gun genre within a VR space wonderfully without the need for peripherals or huge enclosures.
85%EVE: Gunjack Review
EVE: Gunjack is a nice little title to help round out the PlayStation VR launch. Really fun to play for short stretches and then come back to repeatedly, it's a worthwhile venture. A very low price point – $9.99 – paired with some immersive environments makes this a game that, while probably unknown to many, should be sought out. For anyone that likes good, simple fun, this is for you.
70%EVE Gunjack Review - Gunner From Another Mother
EVE: Gunjack can be fun in short bursts, but I didn't find much to keep me coming back to the game as it's far too easy to get everything after a couple of hours. Still, it's a fun couple of hours.
60%
