HORIZON VANGUARD
- June 26, 2020
- David "Tain" Williams
Get on SteamIn "Horizon Vanguard," players experience an intense FPS set in a futuristic world. As a member of the elite Vanguard squad, it's up to you to protect humanity from the threat of the deadly Nanite Wars. Featuring fast-paced action, a variety of weapons, and stunning visuals, this game will keep you on the edge of your seat. Engage in both single-player and multiplayer modes to test your mettle against the Nanite onslaught.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Horizon Vanguard captures the nostalgic feel of 90's arcade shooters with its challenging gameplay and retro aesthetics.
- The game features a unique blend of shmup and light gun mechanics, providing a fresh and engaging experience in VR.
- The soundtrack and visual presentation are highly praised, enhancing the overall enjoyment and immersion of the game.
- The game is extremely difficult, which may deter casual players and lead to frustration, especially with limited continues and no shield regeneration.
- Some players find the controls cumbersome, particularly on older VR systems, which can hinder the gameplay experience.
- The level design can be overwhelming, with busy environments that make it hard to track enemies and avoid obstacles effectively.
- gameplay12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a thrilling blend of retro and modern mechanics, featuring a unique top-down view that enhances dodging and shooting dynamics. Players enjoy the smooth performance and high-octane action, although the steep difficulty may be challenging for some; however, optional difficulty settings provide a way to adjust the experience. While the game excels in delivering an engaging shooting experience, clearer tutorials on mechanics and a more intuitive control for speed adjustments would enhance the overall enjoyment.
“The mechanic of looking down on your bike to see a top-down view of the playfield to more easily dodge bullets is genius, and simultaneously blasting ground enemies with the bike and lining up pistol shots feels amazing.”
“High-octane shooter gameplay, flawless performance, great style, super smooth blend of genres, and probably the best shooting experience I've had outside of an arcade.”
“The gameplay is tight as I'd expect from a game like this, even looking past the crushing difficulty, and the music is a real head-banger.”
“Runs smooth, but my one complaint is that I wish there was a mechanic to hold down a button or trackpad on the movement controller to slow my speed to more easily dodge dense patterns.”
“The tutorial could probably use more clarity on some of the less obvious mechanics, like certain enemies being immune to pistol shots, or what the colored circles around incoming shots indicate. Additionally, having shots from behind hit can be a bit annoying in a couple of spots.”
“For the most part, shmup-style gameplay translates really well to VR, but having to rely on the radar in bullet-hell boss fights is kind of a bummer.”
- music9 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its excellence and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many reviewers highlighting its catchy and engaging nature. The soundtrack is described as a significant factor in attracting players, contributing to the game's polished presentation and nostalgic arcade feel. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that complements the gameplay and art style effectively.
“This game has an excellent presentation and an absolutely amazing soundtrack from the few tracks I heard.”
“The game absolutely nails the art style, music, and pacing of those arcade games, with a good amount of polish.”
“The gameplay is tight as I'd expect from a game like this, even looking past the crushing difficulty, and the music is a real head-banger.”
“The graphics really deliver the colors, visual feedback, art, sound, visual effects, and even (perhaps most rare) the music of a late 90’s Sega arcade venture.”
“The soundtrack is a large part of why I decided to try this game, and I'm looking for more interesting and innovative VR titles.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their retro arcade aesthetic, effectively capturing the vibrant colors, visual feedback, and sound reminiscent of late 90s Sega arcade games. However, some users note that the graphics can be basic and lack stylistic depth, resembling programmer art. Overall, the game successfully balances nostalgia with a polished presentation.
“The game absolutely nails the art style, music, and pacing of those arcade games, with a good amount of polish.”
“Pretty great arcade aesthetic, even down to the difficulty.”
“The graphics are very basic, lack style, and look like programmer art.”
“The graphics are retro.”
“The graphics really deliver the colors, visual feedback, art, sound, visual effects, and even (perhaps most rare) the music of a late 90’s Sega arcade venture.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with most players reporting smooth performance, even on mid-range hardware like the GTX 1060. The blend of genres and high-octane gameplay contribute to a seamless experience, making it one of the best shooting experiences outside of an arcade.
“However, the good news is that the game did run smoothly for the most part on my GTX 1060.”
“High-octane shooter gameplay, flawless performance, great style, super smooth blend of genres, and probably the best shooting experience I've had outside of an arcade.”
“That's a bit of a difference in performance!”
“The game runs poorly on mid-range hardware, making it frustrating to play.”
“I experienced frequent frame drops and stuttering, even on high-end settings.”
- story2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game appears to be challenging, as one user struggled for 30 minutes to complete the first mission, indicating potential difficulty in narrative progression. However, the technical performance, particularly with Oculus Link, is noted to be functioning well.
“The story feels disjointed and lacks a coherent flow, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“Character development is shallow, leaving me with little emotional investment in their journeys.”
“The plot twists are predictable and fail to deliver any real surprises or excitement.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the game's challenging levels, which contribute to a high degree of replayability, encouraging them to revisit the content for a fresh experience.
“The game features a good amount of challenging levels and offers a high degree of replayability.”
“Each playthrough feels fresh due to the variety of choices and outcomes available.”
“The dynamic gameplay mechanics ensure that no two runs are ever the same, keeping players coming back for more.”
