HoloBall
- April 25, 2016
- TreeFortress Games
- 6h median play time
HoloBall is a physically intense, single-player or local multi-player sport game that challenges you to outsmart an evolving AI in a retro-future arena. Master skillshots and physics-based gameplay to curve the HoloBall past your opponent and earn your freedom in this action-sports arcade game, set to a beat of Synthwave music by Dance With The Dead. With a spectator mode for content creators, HoloBall offers a complete package for both competitive and casual players.
Reviews
- Great workout that keeps you moving and engaged.
- Fun and addictive gameplay with a nostalgic 80s Tron aesthetic.
- Simple mechanics that are easy to pick up, making it accessible for all skill levels.
- Physics and collision detection can be inconsistent, leading to frustrating moments.
- Limited content and modes, which may lead to repetitive gameplay.
- High risk of damaging controllers or furniture due to the active nature of the game.
- music56 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its energetic and fitting soundtrack, often compared to the synthwave style of the 80s and reminiscent of "Tron: Legacy." While many players find the music enhances the overall experience, some note that it can become repetitive, leading to a desire for more variety and options to customize the audio settings. Overall, the soundtrack significantly contributes to the game's immersive atmosphere and enjoyment.
“The music is fantastic and fits very well into the theme of the game, and the visuals make you feel as though you stepped into Tron: Legacy.”
“The amazing soundtrack, the snarky AI, the perfect art design, and the challenge that ramps up in just the right way.”
“Awesome soundtrack (by Dance With The Dead), fun and challenging gameplay, and an all-around amazing game.”
“The music has got a bit tedious, so I mute the sound and listen to morning news on Radio 4 or trance rave music.”
“The music comes across like static most of the time and overpowers all other audio cues and dialogue.”
“Music is annoying, and I could not find an option to turn off or adjust the volume for music only.”
- gameplay35 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally described as fun, fast-paced, and intuitive, offering a solid workout while being accessible to newcomers. However, some players express a desire for more variety and depth, noting that the mechanics can feel basic and occasionally chaotic. Overall, while the game provides an exciting experience with good physics and visuals, it may become repetitive over time.
“The gameplay is some of the most exciting high-speed movement you'll experience right now in VR (without the risk of motion sickness).”
“Awesome soundtrack, fun and challenging gameplay, and an all-around amazing game.”
“Tons of replayability, very smooth gameplay, smart AI, good achievements, awesome graphics, and it doubles as a workout!”
“The game mechanics are really dangerous, as you end up diving to get balls right at the edge of your playspace.”
“The fun wears off quite quickly with this game; my initial impression was positive, but the gameplay versus the AI isn't very well done, and you really notice this after a few sessions when the game just feels bland.”
“This game needs some major work; the developer(s) have little to no understanding of physics or game mechanics.”
- graphics34 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 21 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant synthwave and Tron-inspired aesthetic, creating an immersive and visually appealing experience. While some players note that the visuals are simple, they effectively complement the gameplay and atmosphere, enhancing the overall enjoyment. However, a few reviews mention performance issues on lower-end systems, which can detract from the experience despite the appealing graphics.
“The aesthetics are perfectly in tune with the visuals, the glowing pinks and blues mesmerizing as you duel the hateful A.I.”
“The music is fantastic and fits very well into the theme of the game, and the visuals make you feel as though you stepped into Tron: Legacy.”
“The 2D screenshots don't do the graphics justice, because being inside a Tron-style world just completes the game.”
“With graphics like these, it's odd that it is lagging quite a bit on a min-spec 'VR capable' computer (equivalent to 970).”
“Basic graphics but keep the action easy to read and provide a good sense of scale (arena i.e.).”
“-acid trip visuals.”
- replayability7 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers high replayability due to its various difficulty levels, leaderboards, and engaging gameplay that encourages daily play. However, the lack of online players diminishes some of its replay value, particularly after overcoming the CPU challenges. Players appreciate the combination of fun, physical activity, and the motivation to improve their skills and rankings.
“Tons of replayability, very smooth gameplay, smart AI, good achievements, awesome graphics, and it doubles as a workout!”
“It's very replayable (I play a couple of matches every day now) and it's a game where you actually have to be physically active; you feel good after playing it and it really makes you want to beat the AI.”
“But once you overcome the CPU challenge, there's no one playing online, which takes a lot of replay value away.”
“Different difficulty levels and leaderboards provide decent replay value.”
“I don't know how replayable the game is, but I really want to get on that leaderboard.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised, characterized by a polished style and immersive sound design that enhances its retro-futuristic aesthetic. Players find it engaging and fun, with visuals reminiscent of a Tron-like environment, contributing to an overall captivating experience.
“The atmosphere is great, polished style and amazing gameplay.”
“The playfield looks like a scene out of Tron, and the sound adds to the great retro-future atmosphere.”
“Now, on to the graphics and the atmosphere: simply amazing.”
- story4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game is primarily focused on providing an entertaining workout experience rather than a deep, narrative-driven story. Users appreciate its engaging gameplay but note that it lacks a significant storyline, comparing it more to a gym session than a cinematic experience.
“It's not a deep, story-driven game-- so view it as more like going to the gym kind of satisfying vs. watching a movie kind of satisfying.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability has significantly declined, with users reporting frequent bugs such as the ball passing through the racket and issues in Zen mode. Additionally, players have experienced heavy lags and glitches in the menu, detracting from the overall experience.
“Although this game used to be great, the ball for some reason now constantly goes through the racket, and it's a little buggy.”
“Zen mode is now a little buggy.”
“Heavy lags and glitches in the menu.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and reminiscent of simulation games rather than enjoyable like arcade experiences. The repetitive nature of the gameplay has led some to mute the in-game music in favor of external audio, indicating a lack of engagement with the game's sound design.
“It's not fun to play like an arcade, but tedious like a simulation.”
“The music has gotten a bit tedious, so I mute the sound and listen to morning news on Radio 4 or trance rave music.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by witty banter that, while amusing, can be difficult to hear at times. Players find the comedic elements particularly enjoyable when viewed in 2D, as it adds a layer of visual humor to the gameplay.
“The banter is hilarious, even if it's a bit hard to hear at times.”
“It's so funny that when you see it in 2D, you think, 'Okay, they are hitting the ball against the wall.'”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users feel that the emotional connection in the game is lacking, particularly noting that the feedback from interacting with the ball is minimal, which detracts from the overall experience.
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users express a desire for improved optimization, indicating that the current performance could benefit from enhancements.
“I really appreciate the optimization efforts; they have made a noticeable difference in performance.”
“The game's optimization is impressive, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
“I hope they continue to focus on optimization, as it greatly enhances the overall experience.”
“Hopefully they can work out some optimization issues.”
“The game desperately needs better optimization to run smoothly.”
“Optimization is lacking, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering.”