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Null Vector

Null Vector takes two great things and combines them to make something even better. Its short length and lack of variables somewhat take away from this title, but those who don’t mind repeatedly playing through similar scenarios for the perfect run will enjoy the roguelike elements in play here.
Null Vector Game Cover
93%Game Brain Score
gameplay, music
story
97% User Score Based on 208 reviews
Critic Score 70%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

PCWindows
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Null Vector Game Cover

About

Null Vector is a single player and multiplayer shooter game. It was developed by Optical Override and was released on May 3, 2018. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

A difficult, 1980's inspired permadeath rogue-lite where every play through is different. Trade, gamble, and fight your way through progressively challenging levels. Increase the power of your weapon by collecting parts that merge to give new and unique properties.

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Null Vector screenshot
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97%
Audience ScoreBased on 208 reviews
gameplay16 positive mentions
story3 negative mentions
  • Engaging and well-balanced twin-stick shooter gameplay with diverse upgrade and weapon combinations that enhance replayability.
  • Strong 80's retro aesthetic supported by a catchy synthwave soundtrack and clean, minimalist graphics that evoke nostalgia.
  • Fast-paced, smooth controls and procedurally generated rooms provide a fresh experience each run, appealing to arcade and roguelike fans.
  • Game has a relatively short length with limited content and enemy variety, leading to some repetition over time.
  • Lack of clear in-game instructions or descriptions for upgrades and mechanics, causing some confusion especially for new players.
  • Issues with two-player mode including unclear HUD and gameplay roles, plus occasional bugs and graphical effects causing eyestrain or control problems.
  • gameplay
    46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is fast-paced, tightly controlled, and blends rogue-like elements with retro arcade shooter mechanics reminiscent of games like Binding of Isaac and Asteroids. It offers a solid, rewarding loop with well-balanced difficulty and a satisfying mix of power-ups, though some players note a lack of clarity in item descriptions and multiplayer interaction. Overall, the gameplay is engaging, smooth, and enhanced by a fitting retro soundtrack and aesthetic.

    • “Tight controls, escalating gameplay, and just enough variety of gear to make you think a little about what you take and when - but only a little.”
    • “The gameplay is smooth and very well balanced, the retro soundtrack and visuals make for an exciting experience, and the unforgiving enemy AI is just difficult enough to give you a challenge without making the game impossible.”
    • “The mechanics of Null Vector are finely tuned to allow tight control over the player-character, leaving each consecutive defeat at the fault of the player alone.”
    • “Despite its beautiful 80's retro art and music, the game fails to deliver clear instructions and gameplay information.”
    • “There's no details about the items themselves (all I know is that the weapon is a 'rocket' or this item is 'piercing.' What does piercing do? How effective is the rocket?) nor is there information about what gameplay concepts mean like {c} or {t}.”
    • “A lot of my gameplay with my friend was just guessing.”
  • music
    42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music consistently receives high praise for its killer, catchy, and synthwave-inspired 80s retro soundtrack that perfectly complements the gameplay and visuals. Reviewers highlight its quality, punchiness, and ability to enhance the arcade-style, fast-paced action, making it a standout feature of the game.

    • “The soundtrack is phenomenal.”
    • “The gameplay is smooth and very well balanced, the retro soundtrack and visuals make for an exciting experience, and the unforgiving enemy AI is just difficult enough to give you a challenge without making the game impossible.”
    • “From the bright neon colours and polygonal look to its soundtrack gives off the 80's feel perfectly.”
    • “The only downside is that it doesn't remember your modifiers between sessions and the hard (hell) mode starts with an annoying riff of clown music.”
    • “My game loads up "an override production" then plays the music and goes black.”
    • “But the music though.”
  • graphics
    38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics are praised for their charming, simplistic retro 80's arcade and synthwave aesthetic, effectively evoking nostalgia with clear, bright visuals that complement the fast-paced gameplay. While some note occasional visual clutter during intense moments and minor disparity between trailer and game graphics, overall the minimalist style ensures good visibility and fits the game's theme perfectly.

    • “The overall graphics are appropriately matched with simplistic retro style, and the enemies match as well.”
    • “The graphics are charming: simple but elegant, and reminiscent of the old vector-based games.”
    • “The graphics are retro but are well done and fit the theme of the game perfectly.”
    • “Additionally, there's a huge disparity in how the graphics look vs. the trailer/images.”
    • “The only drawback is that it can get a little messy when you combine the many projectiles, effects and visuals that can potentially be happening at once depending on a lot of circumstances.”
    • “Visuals hurt my eyes after 5 minutes.”
  • replayability
    17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers strong replayability through its rogue-like structure, unlockable modifiers, and challenging modes like "hell mode," making each run feel fresh despite relatively short play sessions. While currently limited in content due to early access, frequent updates and randomized elements enhance its long-term appeal and motivate repeated playthroughs.

    • “It's one of the best rogue-likes I have played. Not many are this enjoyable; taking on an arcade theme makes it very replayable.”
    • “There is quite a lot of replay value here as there are various modifiers to unlock as well as the 'hell mode'.”
    • “Game is updated with new content that always adds to the replayability.”
    • “I really liked this game, although right now it doesn't have much replayability or content to offer.”
    • “Not much replayability (early access).”
    • “While runs feel a bit on the shorter side, there is a lot of replayability even after you beat the boss.”
  • story
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story aspect is minimal, focusing more on gameplay than narrative, reminiscent of classic arcade games with little to no plot. Users appreciate the simplicity but suggest that adding a bit more story could enhance the game's appeal and viral potential.

    • “But it's much more different and with a little story and much more levels and enemies it can go viral with this game.”
    • “It feels great coming back to arcade games where you don't have any story.”
    • “Guide a pyramid-shaped ship through a series of miniature mazes hosting geometrically-shaped foes that scale with difficulty while collecting upgrades to ameliorate the mission.”
    • “But it's much more different and with a little story and many more levels and enemies it can go viral with this game.”
  • optimization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is generally well-optimized and runs smoothly, contributing to an enjoyable experience, though there is room for improvement in performance clarity to help users identify areas for enhancement.

    • “Game is so addicting, love it, nicely optimized, fun.”
    • “It can benefit from some optimization, but the gameplay is amazing!”
  • atmosphere
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere expertly captures the nostalgic late 80s arcade vibe through its visuals and rock synth soundtrack, evoking a sense of sweaty determination and retro style. Players appreciate its authentic and immersive portrayal of that era.

    • “Late 80’s-inspired visuals and rock synth create the atmospheric vibe of a day at the arcade clad with tucked-in shirts, rimmed glasses, and sweaty determination.”
    • “Overall, I'd give it a go for the sake of lost nostalgia for the stellar 80’s atmosphere.”
  • monetization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game has no microtransactions, offering a monetization model free from in-app purchases.

    • “No microtransactions”
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70%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Null Vector is a shooter game.

Null Vector is available on PC and Windows.

Null Vector was released on May 3, 2018.

Null Vector was developed by Optical Override.

Null Vector has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked Null Vector for its gameplay but disliked it for its story.

Null Vector is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Steredenn: Binary Stars, Nova Drift, Monolithic Christmas Night, Steredenn, Starward Rogue and others.