HEARTSHOT
- March 3, 2024
- Meadow Studios
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam"HEARTSHOT is a single-player Action game with an interesting plot, set in a high-octane VR espionage world. Utilize magnet gloves for unique weapon retrieval and environmental manipulation, with a variety of customizable weapons and intuitive interaction systems. The game is full of humor and features stellar graphics, a good soundtrack, but is also reported to have plenty of bugs."
Reviews
- The game has a charming retro aesthetic that evokes nostalgia, reminiscent of classic shooters and Metal Gear Solid.
- The voice acting and humor are well-received, adding character and entertainment to the gameplay experience.
- The developers are actively addressing bugs and implementing updates, showing commitment to improving the game over time.
- The controls are clunky and can lead to frustrating gameplay, with issues like misaligned hand positioning and a lack of proper holstering mechanics.
- The game is very short, with only about 2 hours of content currently available, leaving players wanting more.
- There are numerous bugs and performance issues, including crashes and inconsistent enemy behavior, which detract from the overall experience.
- story77 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's story has received positive feedback for its engaging narrative, humor, and strong voice acting, often likened to a parody of spy movies. While the storytelling is praised for its cinematic feel and character depth, many players note that the game is still in early access, leading to various gameplay and technical issues that detract from the overall experience. Despite these challenges, players express excitement for future content and improvements, indicating a solid foundation for the story.
“The game has a pretty good story, visual polish, and awesome voice acting; seriously, it's pretty good.”
“Great storytelling, and some very funny moments.”
“The story presentation up to what I played was also fantastic; it felt really cinematic and actually has me excited for the rest of the story content.”
“The worst part is I wanted to believe in this game; the story and writing seemed charming, and I've got a soft spot for satires of old spy movies, but I just can't get past how awful the gameplay is.”
“The story premise is somewhat generic, although its familiarity is appealing.”
“Wow, this game is super buggy. You would think it would run smoother being as low graphic as it is. Speaking of graphics, there are no options for it at all and no options for smooth turning. I know this is early access, but this is just horrible. What a shame; the trailers make it look so much better than it really is. Very disappointed.”
- graphics54 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the unique retro-inspired art style and atmospheric details, while others criticize the overall quality as subpar and buggy. Many noted the nostalgic pixelated visuals reminiscent of older games, but also pointed out significant graphical issues, such as lack of detail and technical glitches that detract from the experience. Overall, while the art style has charm, the execution appears to be lacking, especially in its current early access state.
“I love this game; it's very charming and looks great with the art style.”
“The graphics are well-suited for this type of game as there is enough detail to make it believable, but not so realistic to make the PC rig gasp for breath.”
“The game has a great atmosphere, especially considering the graphics are PS1/2 style.”
“I had hoped to give this game a positive review, but the amount of bugs, absolutely atrocious graphics, and finally the inability to turn on night vision (leading me to finally be unable to finish the game as for some reason they force this) caused this to be a negative review.”
“The graphics are absolutely horrendous; even with the highest settings, it still looks worse than Half-Life (literally).”
“I know the game is in early access, but putting out a VR title in 2024 that doesn't even have basic graphics or gameplay settings is a little ridiculous.”
- gameplay46 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The gameplay experience is a mixed bag, with many players enjoying the gun mechanics and overall fun factor, but expressing frustration over clunky controls, bugs, and janky mechanics that detract from immersion. While the game features a charming story and solid visuals, the current state of gameplay is marred by quality of life issues and inconsistent mechanics, leading some to recommend waiting for further polish before diving in. Overall, the potential for enjoyable gameplay is evident, but it requires significant refinement to reach its full potential.
“The combat mechanics are incredible and it’s so fun to play.”
“Add in some great comedic moments, good variety and spacing of gameplay moments, satisfying gunplay, and just straight-up good game design, and it all comes together perfectly!”
“The mechanics I've experienced make for some really fun gameplay; when it's polished up, this should be a special little package.”
“The weapon stowing mechanic is horrible to say the least; I constantly lost my guns because it wouldn't stow them and they would just drop to the ground without me knowing.”
“But the absolutely monotonous gameplay and environment quickly get boring.”
“Unfortunately, the actual gameplay and VR mechanics seem to take a backseat.”
- stability18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- -11 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
The game is currently plagued by numerous bugs and stability issues, with players reporting frequent glitches, unresponsive mechanics, and soft locks that hinder gameplay. While some users find enjoyment in the story and design, the overall consensus is that the game is too unstable for a smooth experience, especially for those not accustomed to early access titles. Despite some patches addressing specific issues, many recommend waiting for further updates before diving in.
“No bugs, no glitches, nothing.”
“The game runs smoothly without any interruptions.”
“I haven't encountered any crashes or performance issues.”
“Would not play it currently because of how buggy it is.”
“Gameplay is fun and the art style looks pretty cool, but the game is very buggy and janky right now.”
“I really wanted to like this game, but ultimately the game is missing incredibly important settings like turning options, graphics settings, hold settings, and is distracting just how buggy it is. I frequently encountered issues like enemies getting stuck outside of the map, doors not opening when they should, and items falling through the map.”
- music16 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for enhancing the immersive experience, with many reviewers highlighting its ability to create epic scenarios and complement the action-packed gameplay. However, some players noted that the abrupt transitions in music during combat can disrupt the overall vibe, and there were mentions of distracting sound effects that detracted from the musical experience. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong aspect of the game, contributing significantly to its stylish presentation and engaging atmosphere.
“The music creates these epic scenarios that are genuinely very, very fun.”
“Heartshot presents an intriguing concept with stylish presentation, enjoyable voice acting, and an engaging soundtrack, promising an exceptional VR experience.”
“The music further heightened the feeling of being in an action-packed film.”
“The music starting and stopping so fast every time you go in and out of combat kind of ruins the vibe a little; I would like to hear the music more rather than it just going away.”
“Incessant beeping/alarm sound effect during music before opening the big gate (at least I hope this is a bug and not actually part of the soundtrack).”
“Incessant beeping/alarm sound effect during music before opening the big gate (at least I hope this is a bug and not actually part of the soundtrack).”
- humor12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a blend of serious undertones and silly jokes, with standout moments from the mission assistant and intercom voice. Players appreciate the wacky animations, humorous writing, and engaging voice acting, which contribute to a fun and intense experience. Overall, the game successfully combines thrilling gameplay with genuinely funny moments, making it an enjoyable arcade shooter.
“The only saving grace was the humor in the game, which was decently funny from your mission assistant and the man on the facilities intercom.”
“Great storytelling, and some very funny moments.”
“The voice acting is great and the humor is spot on.”
- optimization12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 42 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant performance issues such as lag, stuttering, and motion sickness, particularly on various VR headsets like the Quest 2 and Quest 3. While some users noted improvements in smoothness and texture quality, others criticized the lack of graphical options and persistent bugs that detracted from the experience. The consensus suggests that the game requires further optimization to meet player expectations.
“The game runs smoothly and looks pretty good even with the PS2-era textures.”
“Performance enhancements: the game now runs more smoothly, with fewer hiccups and stutters.”
“Performance seems decent, though textures are better than Quest quality but below what you'd really want for a PC VR game.”
“On an i7-12700k and a 2070, I find the game constantly lagging and stuttering when moving between areas, causing disorienting motion sickness.”
“It also felt like the game wasn't optimized for Quest 2 headsets, which is understandable, but compensations should still be made.”
“Wow, this game is super buggy. You would think it would run smoother given its low graphics. There are no options for graphics settings at all, and no options for smooth turning. I know this is early access, but this is just horrible. The trailers make it look so much better than it really is. Very disappointed; I tried playing it with my Quest 3 using Virtual Desktop and Steam Link, and the performance was horrible on both.”
- atmosphere11 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 18 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its nostalgic early 2000s aesthetic, effective sound design, and well-crafted environments that enhance the overall experience. While some users feel there is room for improvement, many appreciate the retro graphics and vibrant color palette, contributing to a fun and immersive atmosphere. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a strong point of the game, with a blend of charm and mood that resonates with players.
“I love the magnet glove puzzles, I love the writing and the voice acting, and I especially love the look and atmosphere the game gives with the early 2000s video game feel with the pixelation aesthetic.”
“Btw, sick sound design, atmospheric environments, and visual storytelling.”
“The game has a great atmosphere, especially considering the graphics are PS1/2 style.”
“Atmosphere is fine but can be improved; it can also be left where it's at.”
“The weapons feel and sound great, navigation is pretty easy (major thanks for the updates) but boy let me tell you about the atmosphere...”
“- atmosphere - 4.5/10”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional response to the game is largely negative, with users expressing feelings of discomfort and frustration due to its buggy performance.
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game somewhat tedious, particularly due to the repetitive process of collecting magazines by dropping and walking over them. While the mechanic is functional, it can become monotonous over time.
“The game allows you to pick up magazines just by walking over them, which is fine, but it became a bit tedious to keep dropping magazines and walking over them.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviewers note that the game features well-thought-out character designs and distinct personalities, indicating a strong emphasis on character development.
“Actual thought was put into character designs and personality.”
“The character arcs are incredibly well-crafted, making each journey feel personal and impactful.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, with their backstories and motivations deeply explored.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with anyone.”
“I was disappointed by how predictable the character arcs were; they didn't evolve in any meaningful way.”
“The characters seem to be stuck in one-dimensional roles, which makes the story feel flat.”
