Operation Apex
- December 10, 2017
- Curiscope
There's no looking for Nemo or Dory here... you're jumping to the top of the food chain.
Get on Steam"Operation Apex" is a VR game that allows you to explore the underwater world with complete freedom of movement. As a research assistant, you'll dive into the ocean with leading marine scientists to search for the largest Great White Shark ever seen and collect data from the marine life around you. The game is designed for room-scale and seated modes, making it accessible for all players.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a unique and immersive underwater experience with beautiful graphics and intuitive locomotion mechanics.
- It provides educational content about marine life and the impact of humans on the ocean, making it both entertaining and informative.
- Players appreciate the relaxing atmosphere and the ability to explore large maritime areas while interacting with various sea creatures.
- The game is criticized for being too short, with many players feeling it lacks sufficient content for the price point.
- There are reports of technical issues, including glitchy controls and bugs that hinder gameplay, such as scanning problems and animals getting stuck.
- Some players feel the game leans too heavily on educational themes, detracting from the gaming experience and making it feel more like a lecture than an adventure.
- graphics8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics are highly praised for their polish and beauty, effectively representing the underwater world with realistic fish and engaging environments. Users express hope for future enhancements and additional levels, indicating a desire for continued improvement in visual quality.
“Did have nice graphics and was cool learning about the stuff I was able to interact with.”
“The graphics are very great and polished, as well as the gameplay itself.”
“Hopefully the developers will expand on this and add more levels and enhance the graphics in the future.”
“Solid graphics and environment representing the underwater world, many non-divers don't get to otherwise explore.”
“Much better graphics, more realistic fish and critters with brilliant AI, and the game encourages you to explore the sea.”
- story8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The story is generally considered weak, with some reviewers feeling it serves more as an excuse for the game's limitations rather than a compelling narrative. However, others appreciate the integration of interesting trivia within the investigation storyline, noting that it enhances the underwater exploration experience. Overall, while the story has potential, it lacks depth and variety, leaving players wanting more.
“Looks very nice and weaves interesting trivia into an investigation story.”
“My initial thoughts: a stunning underwater exploration and educational game that reminds me of theblu and ocean rift, but this one has a storyline for you to follow.”
“Overall a great experience and I look forward to diving in (pun intended) again to find out how the story ends.”
“Very weak story.”
“The environment is fairly well done, the water feels and looks good, but the low density and lack of variety in the wildlife in the story feels included as more of an excuse than anything.”
“This is a great base for a real game, but it could benefit from more mission variety and a lot more gameplay to enhance the story experience.”
- gameplay7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by unique and immersive locomotion mechanics, complemented by polished graphics, making for an entertaining experience. However, some users feel that the reliance on a radar navigation system should be optional, and there is a notable concern regarding the limited content available in the game. Overall, the controls and environment contribute positively to the gameplay experience.
“Unique and immersive locomotion mechanics.”
“The graphics are very great and polished, as well as the gameplay itself.”
“Returning myself for the entertaining gameplay and enjoyable environment.”
“The 'look at your radar and swim here' mechanic should be optional based on difficulty, as the biggest issue with the game is the very little content.”
“Gameplay and controls are lacking, making the experience frustrating.”
“Oculus Rift and Touch gameplay feels underwhelming on a GTX 1060 (6GB).”
- music2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is noted for its immersive soundtrack and ambient sounds, enhancing the overall experience. However, some users feel that incorporating more dynamic elements, such as the songs of whales or the sounds of marine life, could have elevated the game's impact even further.
“The soundtrack and ambience were immersive.”
“Seeing a bait ball in action, or swimming with a pod of dolphins, or experiencing swimming with whales and listening to their songs would have really pushed this game to greatness.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its smooth performance, providing a delightful experience for players.
“The game runs smoothly and is simply a delight.”
“The optimization is top-notch, allowing for seamless gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
“I appreciate how well the game is optimized; it maintains a steady frame rate without any noticeable lag.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users generally find the replayability of the game to be high, citing multiple branching storylines, diverse character choices, and various difficulty levels that encourage multiple playthroughs. Many appreciate the inclusion of unlockable content and achievements that add to the incentive to revisit the game. However, some players note that certain gameplay elements may feel repetitive after several runs.
