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."
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game has a unique art style and engaging sound design that enhances the overall experience.
- The gameplay is fun and fast-paced, with satisfying gun mechanics and a humorous narrative.
- The developers are actively listening to feedback and have already implemented several updates to improve the game.
- The game is currently plagued by numerous bugs, including issues with hand positioning and weapon handling.
- There are no graphics settings or smooth turning options, which limits player comfort and customization.
- The game lacks a proper save system, forcing players to restart from the beginning if they exit.
- story86 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its engaging narrative, humor, and cinematic presentation reminiscent of spy movie parodies. However, criticisms arise regarding character development and dialogue, which some find excessive or mismatched with the game's tone. While the storytelling shows promise, players note that the game is still in early access and requires significant polish to enhance the overall experience.
“The story presentation up to what I played was fantastic; it felt really cinematic and actually has me excited for the rest of the story content.”
“Great storytelling, and some very funny moments.”
“The game has a pretty good story, visual polish, and awesome voice acting; seriously, it's pretty good.”
“The plot tells enough story to give the player some meaning for engaging in fights, but the characters don't fit the game's cinematic feeling whatsoever.”
“I think matching the voice actors' talent with the level of professionalism the rest of the game delivers on would be a strong enough bandage to make the story tolerable, but the game would need to be rewritten before I would consider it anything but mediocre.”
“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.”
- graphics58 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some praising its unique retro-inspired art style and atmospheric visuals reminiscent of classic titles, while others criticize the overall quality as subpar and buggy, detracting from immersion. Many players appreciate the charming aesthetic and lighting effects, but express frustration over the lack of graphical options and technical issues that hinder the experience. Overall, while the game shows potential with its artistic direction, significant improvements are needed to address the graphical shortcomings and bugs.
“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 visuals and presentation are nice, but it doesn't make up for the awkward and disorienting gameplay experience.”
“The game immediately impresses with its distinctive art style and immersive sound design, both notable strengths.”
“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).”
“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.”
- gameplay49 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many praising the gun mechanics and overall fun factor, but criticizing the clunky controls, bugs, and lack of polish. While the game features engaging combat and a charming narrative, players have noted that the VR mechanics often feel janky and can detract from the experience. Overall, it seems that while the foundation for enjoyable gameplay is present, significant improvements are needed for a smoother experience.
“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.”
- stability20 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- -10 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
The game is currently plagued by numerous bugs and stability issues, leading to a frustrating experience for many players. While some users appreciate the potential and enjoy the gameplay, they caution that the game's unpolished state makes it difficult to recommend, especially for those not accustomed to dealing with such problems. Despite some patches addressing certain bugs, significant stability concerns remain, particularly in early access.
“No bugs, no glitches, nothing.”
“The game runs smoothly without any interruptions.”
“I haven't encountered any crashes or performance issues.”
“But unfortunately the game is very buggy and in its current state is a mess.”
“I really want to like this game, but it's so buggy, and it's been months since any news.”
“I really wanted to like this game, but ultimately the game is missing incredibly important settings like turning options, graphics settings, hold settings (the game only allows you to click grip buttons to grab and drop things giving no hold option) has horrible early VR feeling gunplay with forced virtual stock for rifles, and is distracting just how buggy it is, if you die with a suppressor on 3 will respawn on your gun and will not actually shoot any bullets until you take it off, shotguns have no ammo limit meaning you can load them endlessly, pistol ammo will float in the air if you try to grab it with full ammo, enemies frequently Y-pose run through terrain and get jump off of the map if given the chance, I was frequently soft locked because enemies would be stuck outside of the map or doors would simply not open when they were supposed to forcing me to reload the level, the magnetic gloves will constantly make items fall through the map if you try to grab things on the floor not to mention the fact that if you are using a Quest controller the guns are horribly placed in your hand.”
- music18 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received high praise for its ability to enhance immersion and create epic scenarios, with a soundtrack composed by notable artist Benjamin Squires. While many players appreciate the engaging and cinematic quality of the music, some have noted that the abrupt transitions during combat can disrupt the overall experience. Overall, the soundtrack contributes significantly to the game's stylish presentation and enjoyable atmosphere.
“Not to mention Benjamin Squires, who wrote the soundtrack and has worked on projects like Spider-Man: Far From Home and Avatar: The Last Airbender.”
“The music creates these epic scenarios that are genuinely very, very fun.”
“With the mix of the voice acting, musical score, plus the environments and scenery, this game really does an amazing job with the immersion of being a secret agent.”
“The music starting and stopping so fast every time you go in and out of combat kinda 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).”
- humor16 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating the funny voice lines, engaging dialogue, and wacky animations that contribute to an entertaining experience. While the humor can be hit-or-miss, it often strikes a balance between serious moments and silly jokes, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the gameplay. The voice acting and character interactions are highlighted as particularly strong elements, adding to the game's charm and comedic appeal.
“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 story might not be anything crazy, but the voice acting and dialogue are really fun and genuinely funny!”
- optimization13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % 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, even on mid to high-end hardware. While some improvements have been noted, particularly in smoother performance and fewer stutters, the lack of proper controller profiles and graphical options, along with persistent bugs, detracts from the overall experience. Many users express disappointment, feeling that the game does not meet expectations given its graphical fidelity and early access status.
“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.”
“There's small imperfections, like the way the magnet gloves work, Valve Index controllers (you can fiddle around in the settings for hours and dial it in yourself, but I'd like for the game to have a profile for them. It always feels a little off, and the menus can get uncomfortable if I remember right), performance is a little low, even for mid-high tier hardware.”
“On an i7-12700k and a 2070, I find the game constantly lagging and stuttering when moving between areas, with this causing disorienting motion sickness.”
“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 can't holster guns. 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. Tried playing it with my Quest 3 using Virtual Desktop and Steam Link, horrible performance 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 that contribute to a compelling mood. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a strong point, with engaging visual storytelling and enjoyable level design.
“I love the magnet glove puzzles, the writing and the voice acting, and I especially love the look and atmosphere the game gives with the early 2000s video game feel and 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”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users express disappointment with the emotional engagement of the game, citing a lack of immersive VR interactions and technical issues that detracted from their experience, leading to feelings of frustration and discomfort.
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game somewhat tedious, particularly due to the repetitive action of dropping and picking up magazines, which can disrupt the flow of gameplay.
“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.”
“Grinding in this game feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“The amount of time required to level up is excessive, turning what could be an enjoyable experience into a monotonous chore.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers note that significant effort has been invested in the character designs and personalities, resulting in well-developed and engaging characters that enhance the overall gaming experience.
“Actual thought was put into character designs and personality.”
“The character development is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with each character.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, making their journeys feel authentic and engaging.”
