Lazerbait

About

Lazerbait is a single player strategy game. It was developed by Taylor Stapleton and was released on October 13, 2016. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"Lazerbait is a free VR arcade strategy game where players aim to capture all planets to produce ships and defeat enemies. With a god-like perspective, players can direct their fleet to take over planets, with the number of planets owned determining the size of the fleet. Up to 7 AI characters offer a challenge in free-for-all style, with customizable game settings and procedurally generated maps for varied gameplay."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 435 reviews

graphics13 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

Fast-paced and engaging gameplay that keeps players on their toes.
Offers a variety of arenas with unique features and character customization options.
The game is free, making it an excellent choice for VR strategy enthusiasts.

Limited game modes and lack of a campaign may deter some players.
The graphics are simplistic and could benefit from more polish.
The AI can be frustratingly difficult, leading to a steep learning curve.

graphics
47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
66%
6%
The graphics of the game are generally described as simple and functional, with a retro aesthetic that some players find charming. While many reviewers note that the visuals lack complexity and detail, they also agree that the graphics effectively complement the gameplay and overall experience. Despite the desire for a graphical upgrade, the game's free nature and engaging mechanics make it enjoyable regardless of its visual limitations.
- “The game's spartan and 'cold' stark graphics style matches the gameplay, mood, and pace perfectly.”
- “The graphics are pretty stellar and the music is atmospheric.”
- “The graphics may seem dull at first glance, but it actually fits perfectly in this game world.”
- “The graphics could be better, the ships more detailed, and so forth.”
- “The visuals don't have much to offer.”
- “All visuals are not just simple, they're shoddy.”
gameplay
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
41%
8%
The gameplay is characterized by its simple yet engaging mechanics, offering a blend of strategy and addictive fun that keeps players immersed. While the graphics are minimalistic, the controls are intuitive and well-designed, enhancing the overall experience, especially in VR. Players appreciate the depth and challenge that emerge as they progress, making it a standout free title with significant replayability.
- “The gameplay is fantastic.”
- “The gameplay is intuitive and fluid, and the visuals are very attractive.”
- “Do not let its simple looking gameplay fool you, this is a lot of fun and rather strategic when playing on the larger maps.”
- “The gameplay is deceptively easy at first but gets hard quickly once you increase the number of opponents and their speed/intelligence.”
- “Gameplay and controls are pure gold, but the game screams for a campaign mode increasing complexity as you go, and the visuals leave some things to be desired.”
- “While the gameplay is very simplistic, it's a challenge and workout to win.”
replayability
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
46%
23%
The game is praised for its high replayability, with many users noting its simple yet engaging strategy mechanics that encourage multiple playthroughs. Suggestions for enhancements, such as online multiplayer and a custom map builder, indicate that players see potential for even greater replay value. Overall, it is considered one of the most replayable games available, especially for a free-to-play title.
- “This game contains more replay value than most games I have played in VR.”
- “It has tons of replayability and it is easy to understand, definitely worth a try!”
- “This would help not only in managing the map but also add another level of replayability to the game.”
- “For more replayability, I'd love to see a custom map builder so players can create their own battlefields.”
- “This game (free to play) contains more replay value than most games I have played in VR.”
story
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
50%
30%
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth and polish, with many players noting the absence of a campaign or narrative development. While some appreciate the backstory of the game's creation, they express a strong desire for a more engaging story mode and additional content in future updates. Overall, the current storytelling elements are seen as minimal and in need of significant enhancement.
- “I have many more 'graphic' or 'story' intensive games and yet I am constantly coming back to this game.”
- “But then to hear the story behind the game, how it was this, like, a DIY experiment... I am blown away and inspired.”
- “It’s not particularly polished or have much depth… you only have one attack unit, and the only game mode is a configurable skirmish – no campaign or story or development to be found here.”
- “If the devs gave the game a story mode and/or multiplayer, and a bit of a graphical update, it could be incredibly fun and I'd certainly be happy to pay money for it.”
- “I beg of you to include your fans' suggestions (multiplayer, bug fixes and maybe a story?) in the sequel... as this game for free is a steal.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The music in the game is generally described as relaxing and atmospheric, enhancing the overall experience, but some players feel it lacks memorable tracks, particularly during battles, and would appreciate more options for customization.
- “The soundtrack is also pretty relaxing, too.”
- “The graphics are pretty stellar and the music is atmospheric.”
- “My qualms are: it doesn't seem to have any left-handed mode, nor any options at all other than toggling the music off.”
- “Some cool battle music would be nice, but I did not remember any really good music.”
- “Some cool battle music would be nice, but I did not remember any really good music.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
Overall, the optimization of the game is well-received, with users noting smooth performance even under heavy loads, such as large battles with numerous units. While some limitations are in place to prevent crashes, the game maintains a good balance between performance and engaging gameplay.
- “Really great dynamics, good performance, and great strategy.”
- “Runs smoothly on my hardware.”
- “Free, fun, feasible gameplay and a very difficult AI system means lots of replayability. Retro graphics are cute and charming, and I only experienced a little performance hit on max settings with 1000+ ships fighting.”
- “The optimization is terrible; I experience constant frame drops even on lower settings.”
- “Despite the charming retro graphics, the game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate during large battles.”
- “The performance issues are frustrating, especially when the AI is so challenging and the gameplay is otherwise enjoyable.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a seamless transition from a relaxed vibe to intense moments, enhanced by impressive graphics and atmospheric music that enrich the overall experience.
- “The graphics are pretty stellar and the music is atmospheric.”
- “It's a relaxed atmosphere that quickly turns intense.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and feel it requires excessive time investment, particularly for those who are not interested in conquest or farming activities.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “I'm not into conquest or farming.”
- “It will get tedious.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
33%
The game demonstrates excellent stability, running smoothly even at maximum settings and high ship counts, with minimal glitches reported. Players appreciate the seamless performance, contributing to an enjoyable gaming experience.
- “As for the game, wow it runs great, even when maxing out the ship count and visuals.”
- “The stability of the game is impressive; I haven't experienced any crashes or major bugs.”
- “Even during intense gameplay sessions, the performance remains smooth and reliable.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report that the game evokes strong emotional responses, likening the experience to feeling vulnerable yet engaged, similar to the protagonist in "Ender's Game." This emotional depth contributes to a sense of connection and introspection, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
- “This game made me feel stupid, and I liked it.”
- “It made me feel like I was Ender.”
- “Made me feel like the last third of Ender's Game.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization model is highly praised, as the game is completely free to play without any ads or in-app purchases, enhancing the overall user experience.