Null Vector

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 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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97%

Audience ScoreBased on 211 reviews

gameplay18 positive mentions

story2 negative mentions

The game features a killer soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
Gameplay is fast-paced and addictive, with a variety of upgrade paths and weapon combinations that keep each run fresh.
The retro aesthetic and arcade feel are well-executed, making it a nostalgic experience for fans of classic games.

The game can feel too short and repetitive, lacking in content and variety after multiple playthroughs.
Some mechanics and item descriptions are vague, making it difficult for players to understand their effects.
There are occasional bugs and control issues, particularly with movement and aiming, which can detract from the gameplay experience.

gameplay
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
57%
6%
The gameplay is characterized by tight controls, fast-paced action, and a blend of rogue-like mechanics reminiscent of "The Binding of Isaac" and retro space shooters. Players appreciate the smooth mechanics and engaging soundtrack, although some express frustration over a lack of clear instructions and item descriptions. Overall, the game offers a satisfying and challenging experience, enhanced by its vibrant 80s aesthetic and rewarding gameplay loop.
- “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 gameplay is extremely satisfying.”
- “Despite its beautiful, 80's retro art and music, it 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.' Okay...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
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
29%
7%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its catchy, retro-inspired soundtrack that enhances the overall gameplay experience. The 80s synthwave vibe resonates well with players, contributing to the game's nostalgic feel and energetic atmosphere. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, elevating the enjoyment of this indie title.
- “The soundtrack is phenomenal.”
- “The music is amazing and vibes well with the gameplay.”
- “A deceptively simple yet insanely fun game, it is a very well made, smooth experience with a lovely soundtrack to boot.”
- “The only downsides are 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
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
57%
8%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming, simplistic retro aesthetic reminiscent of 80s arcade games, effectively matching the gameplay's fast-paced and chaotic nature. While the visuals are generally well-received for their clarity and nostalgic appeal, some players noted a disparity between the trailer graphics and the actual in-game visuals, with occasional clutter during intense moments. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's atmosphere, complemented by a fitting retro soundtrack.
- “The graphics are charming: simple but elegant, and reminiscent of the old vector-based games.”
- “I absolutely love the 80's synthwave aesthetic.”
- “The graphics are retro but are well done and fit the theme of the game perfectly.”
- “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.”
- “Additionally, there's a huge disparity in how the graphics look vs. the trailer/images.”
- “Visuals hurt my eyes after 5 minutes.”
replayability
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
53%
18%
Overall, the game offers significant replayability, particularly due to its rogue-like elements, various unlockable modifiers, and the addition of a challenging "hell mode." While some players note that the content may feel limited in early access, the fast-paced gameplay and random map generation keep the experience fresh and engaging. Many reviewers appreciate the motivation to replay, even after completing the main objectives, suggesting a solid foundation for future updates to enhance replay value further.
- “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'.”
- “At face value, the game’s fast-paced, reactive environment makes for a replayable title; dying just short of completing a floor when you’ve completely upgraded your ship fuels motivation to beat the game in one fell swoop.”
- “It may not have hundreds of hours of replayability, but it has dozens, considering the additional difficulty modifiers and 'hell mode' you unlock as you play.”
- “While runs feel a bit on the shorter side, there is a lot of replayability even after you beat the boss.”
- “I really liked this game, although right now it doesn't have much of replayability or content to offer.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game features minimal storytelling, focusing instead on gameplay mechanics as players navigate a pyramid-shaped ship through challenging mazes filled with geometric enemies. While some players appreciate the return to arcade-style simplicity, others suggest that a more developed narrative could enhance the experience and increase its appeal.
- “It feels great coming back to arcade games where you don't have any story.”
- “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
67%
100%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with players finding it enjoyable and addictive. However, there are suggestions for improvement, particularly in providing clearer feedback on user performance to enhance the experience further.
- “Game is so addicting, love it, nicely optimized, fun.”
- “It can benefit from some optimization, but the gameplay is amazing!”
- “The game should be more clear about user performance, giving the user a clearer idea of what they can improve.”
- “Optimization feels lacking; the game often runs poorly even on high-end hardware.”
- “There are too many bugs that hinder performance, making it frustrating to play.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is heavily influenced by late 80s aesthetics, featuring visuals and rock synth music that evoke the nostalgic feel of an arcade experience from that era. Reviewers appreciate this immersive vibe, highlighting its ability to transport players back to a time of retro gaming and cultural nostalgia.
- “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
300%
The game features no microtransactions, which has been positively received by users, indicating a commitment to a fair and complete gaming experience without additional costs.
- “There are no microtransactions, which makes the experience much more enjoyable.”
- “I appreciate that the game doesn't rely on microtransactions to progress.”
- “The absence of microtransactions allows for a fair and balanced gameplay experience.”