HINGE VR
- November 28, 2020
- Arcadia
- 38h median play time
Get on Steam"Hinge VR" is a physics-based puzzle game in virtual reality. Manipulate and connect various pieces in imaginative ways to solve increasingly complex challenges. With a focus on creativity and experimentation, each level offers a unique experience that puts your problem-solving skills to the test.
PC
Virtual Reality
Windows
Oculus VR
Reviews
- The game features impressive graphics and a unique atmosphere that enhances the horror experience.
- It offers a challenging and engaging gameplay experience with intricate puzzles and a compelling narrative.
- The developers are actively working on updates and improvements, showing commitment to enhancing the game.
- The game suffers from significant performance issues, including low frame rates and bugs that hinder gameplay.
- Many players find the gameplay confusing and frustrating, with unclear objectives and a lack of guidance.
- Interactions with objects can be clunky and unresponsive, leading to a frustrating experience.
- graphics45 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the stunning visuals and artistic design, particularly the impressive lighting and atmosphere reminiscent of titles like Bioshock. However, several users report performance issues, including lag, low frame rates, and optimization problems, especially on lower-end systems, which detracts from the overall experience. While the graphics are often described as beautiful and refreshing compared to other VR titles, technical glitches and performance inconsistencies hinder some players' enjoyment.
“Graphics are spectacular.”
“The game is gorgeous and the visuals are impressive.”
“The graphics in this game are truly refreshing if you're used to the slew of Quest 2 games that have been coming out of late.”
“I loaded up the game and alarm bells were ringing when the game menu looked like it was running in 640 x 480. I jumped into the graphical settings and it turns out that at default it is set to 60% of the resolution of my Steam render settings, it describes 80% as 'high' and 100% as 'ultra'.”
“But even with that patch and graphics settings all set to low, on a GTX 1080 the FPS graph of this game is fully in the red with reprojection on 100% of the time and potentially nauseating artifacts from the reprojection as you move around.”
- story43 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as intriguing and atmospheric, with elements of horror and mystery that engage players, particularly through unique storytelling methods and non-linear gameplay. However, many reviewers express frustration with the execution, citing issues like repetitive gameplay, technical glitches, and a lack of clarity in progression that detracts from the overall experience. While some appreciate the depth and chilling aspects of the narrative, others find it overwhelming or unplayable due to performance issues.
“The developers have worked hard to make a really intimidating storyline with puzzles.”
“The story seems pretty interesting so far & some of the writing in the diaries, newspapers, etc. is great, especially the diary about the cannibals; very chilling.”
“For me, the game is (though there are of course things to improve like hands, colliders, and stuff) an outstanding experience, a great story, a super oppressing atmosphere, and just refreshing with a lot of cool ideas - especially one will stay in mind as I have never seen this in any other game...”
“The story is okay, but there's just way too much to it.”
“There is a story, told through 3D static and stylized characters talking in empty rooms.”
“End of the story, after 2 hours I'm bored and frustrated by the repetitive and abstruse experience; I'm not willing to play it again!”
- optimization42 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been a significant point of contention among players, with many reporting persistent performance issues such as stuttering, frame drops, and janky controls, even on high-end hardware like the RTX 3080. While some users note improvements following updates, others still experience severe lag and bugs, leading to a consensus that the game requires further optimization to be fully enjoyable. Overall, the game's performance remains inconsistent, impacting gameplay and user experience.
“I haven't had any performance issues with this game running on an RTX 3080 and a Ryzen 5600X, using an HP Reverb G1 headset.”
“In my opinion, the game is very well detailed; I also noticed that the game has optimization, which is a rarity for VR games that I have encountered.”
“The graphics in the game are at the highest level, and the developers also improved the performance of their game, for which they are very grateful.”
“This game was a stuttering mess on both the Quest 2 and Pico 4 wired connection.”
“The game has serious optimization issues but also poor direction for the user.”
“Even with all graphics settings switched off or set to low, the game still struggles to run at an acceptable level of performance.”
- atmosphere28 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its oppressive and immersive qualities, with many reviewers highlighting its eerie aesthetics, effective use of light, and deep sense of horror. Players appreciate the game's ability to create a captivating and intimidating environment that enhances the overall experience, making it a standout feature despite some criticisms of gameplay mechanics. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a major strength, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
“The atmosphere is very intimidating and oppressive!”
“An incredibly deep immersion in the atmosphere of horror, fear, and darkness is breathtaking; you can feel it with every cell of your body.”
“The game does not live from jumpscares but more from creating a very oppressive atmosphere.”
- gameplay25 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players highlighting significant issues such as bugs, performance problems, and unintuitive mechanics that detract from the overall experience. While some appreciate certain core mechanics and the game's aesthetic, the general consensus is that the gameplay feels disjointed and unpolished, leading to a frustrating experience. Despite ongoing improvements, many players feel that the gameplay remains tedious rather than enjoyable.
“There are moments where it is very scary and this makes the gameplay even more interesting.”
“The core mechanics of the game are great.”
“The game got constantly improved, technically and gameplay-wise during my playthrough.”
“A great reward for suffering through a playthrough filled with bugs, performance issues, janky controls, and unintuitive gameplay mechanics.”
“The art direction is nice, though a bit blunt for my taste, but the design—the level design, the interaction, the flow of the game, and the mechanics—are a mess.”
“Honestly seems like a great game but just isn't optimized for older graphics cards; even on low settings, the game was super stuttery while I can play all other VR titles I've purchased. This one just isn't at 100% yet, the hand mechanics seem janky and blocky.”
- stability5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with users reporting frequent glitches, freezes, and lag, even on high-end systems. Many find the experience frustrating and counter-intuitive, detracting from the otherwise impressive graphics and visual effects. Overall, the game's performance issues significantly hinder enjoyment.
“I have a top of the line computer with 32GB RAM, i7-8700K, NVIDIA 3080 Ti graphics card, and I have had a number of glitches.”
“The graphics in the game are at the next level, but this is a little problem because sometimes the game freezes and lags.”
“It's hard to enjoy the nice intentional visual distortions and effects when you can't tell the difference between them and the reprojection glitches you're seeing constantly.”
- music4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's music, inspired by H.P. Lovecraft's "The Music of Erich Zahn," effectively enhances the horror atmosphere, creating a chilling backdrop that complements the engaging plot and stunning graphics. Players appreciate the excellent soundtrack, which adds to the overall immersive experience of exploring the game's eerie environment.
“With 'The Music of Erich Zahn' being one of the Lovecraft stories etched in my mind, this game resonated well with me via the usage of music.”
“The comfortable music in the background is very scary, enhancing the plot which is very exciting.”
“Excellent soundtrack, supported by stunning graphics.”
“The music in Hinge VR is unsettling and adds to the horror atmosphere, but it can become repetitive and detracts from the overall experience.”
“While the background music is intended to be scary, it often feels out of place and fails to enhance the tension of the game.”
“The soundtrack lacks variety, making the music feel monotonous and diminishing the immersive experience of the game.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and at times frustrating, detracting from the overall enjoyment despite the game's impressive visuals. While some segments may feel laborious, many still appreciate the overall experience.
“It looks amazing, but the gameplay is more tedious than it is fun.”
“Bottom line - it has some tedious segments which are frustrating, but I really enjoyed the overall experience.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with unexpected deaths and jump scares, which contribute to a sense of confusion and emotional tension as they navigate the game's environment. This unpredictability enhances the overall emotional experience, leaving players feeling unsettled and engaged.
