Panoptic

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Discord | Twitter | Steam Community (official forum) Panoptic is a 1-vs-1, asymmetrical local multiplayer VR-vs-PC game. Panoptic is a local multiplayer VR game that pits you against a friend, where you play as either the giant Overseer or tiny Challenger in a stealthy game of cat and mouse. Will the Challenger slip away undetected through the crowds, or will the Overseer track them down with …

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online

Reviews

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 273 reviews

gameplay14 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

Unique and engaging asymmetric gameplay that offers a fun experience for both VR and PC players.
Beautifully designed levels with a captivating art style that enhances the overall atmosphere of the game.
Great for local multiplayer, allowing one player to use VR while the other plays on a PC, making it accessible for friends without VR headsets.

Limited replayability due to a small number of levels and lack of online multiplayer options.
Some balancing issues where the PC player may have an easier time winning, especially if they are experienced.
Performance issues and technical glitches, particularly in certain levels, can detract from the overall experience.

gameplay
33 mentions
42 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by an engaging asymmetric two-player setup that offers variety and excitement, making it accessible for both casual and experienced gamers. With simple mechanics and a quick tutorial, players can easily dive into the action, while the well-designed maps and visuals enhance the overall experience. However, some players feel that certain mechanics, like gun attachments, could benefit from refinement, and there is a desire for additional features to keep gameplay fresh and balanced.
- “Asymmetric two-player setup brings nice variety to the gameplay.”
- “Simple, easy to understand rules combined with a very solid art style and polished gameplay ensure you have a blast with your friends, no matter if they have a lot of experience with VR or not.”
- “Adding more watchers and upping the recharge time for the overseer gave both sides an interesting challenge, and the gameplay in general was immersive and intense.”
- “The tutorial is a 2-minute introduction of core mechanics and controls, and off you go.”
- “Even when I saw the little hider (which I only spotted because they got careless when they realized how frustrating the shooting mechanics were), I wasn't able to shoot them.”
- “I hope the devs add more mechanics, especially for the tiny beings, as it feels a little boring at times for them as they could use some escape gadgets/mechanics.”
graphics
15 mentions
53 % positive mentions
27 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are praised for their stylish and cohesive art style, featuring lo-fi vector graphics that create an enticing atmosphere without demanding high system requirements. While the visuals are generally well-executed and enjoyable, some users noted minor issues like screen tearing and performance inconsistencies across different levels. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's appeal, enhancing the gameplay experience with their unique design and polished execution.
- “Lo-fi vector graphics give a really cool, enticing, atmospheric world, without taxing older computers too much having to run the VR and the screen.”
- “So for starters, beautiful game, great graphics and post-processing, feels really good to shoot enemies, which is hard to get in games.”
- “The art style is really endearing, beautifully designed and everything being coherent in style.”
- “The execution has some room for improvement: as far as I see, there's no VSync option for graphics, so the challenger's view suffered from screen tearing on my machine (not the best one though).”
- “As well, some of the levels seem to run poorly compared to other maps, which, although I understand it is rendering two views at the same time, is disappointing for a game as non-graphically intensive as this.”
- “I am really impressed by the visuals, but the layout could use some work.”
replayability
8 mentions
38 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed, with some players noting a lack of content and low replay value, while others appreciate the fun concept and potential for replay through switching mechanics. Many feel that the game currently does not offer enough to encourage repeated play, though there is hope for improvement in future updates.
- “Switching back and forth adds to the replay value.”
- “Amazing game with high replay value!”
- “Very fun concept, not a very high replayability but fun to experience!”
- “The game has a lack of content, maps, and overall replayability.”
- “I really like the concept of this game, but it fails to optimize the experience and it lacks content and replayability. Maybe this game will be good after another year or so of development.”
- “Not much replayability.”
music
6 mentions
33 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for enhancing the atmosphere, with an ominous soundtrack that heightens tension during gameplay. While the ambient sounds and music across the maps are well-received, some players express a desire for a more prominent soundtrack, particularly in the main menu. Overall, the combination of art and music contributes significantly to the immersive experience, despite minor technical issues on certain maps.
- “The atmosphere and soundtrack is the icing on the cake.”
- “Playing it as the desktop player is one of the most intense experiences I've ever had playing a game against friends, with the atmospheric music getting louder and the yellow light shining all around me when the VR player looks at me.”
- “I miss a soundtrack or some kind of theme, at least in the main menu.”
- “The soundtrack is ominous and puts the hider on edge.”
- “My only complaint is that one of the maps has a bug that affects the headset with glitchy movement (disorienting), which is a shame - I love the art and music in that level.”
atmosphere
5 mentions
60 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
40 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by its lo-fi vector graphics, creating an enticing world that runs smoothly on older computers. Players report an immersive experience, particularly in VR, where the combination of atmospheric music and dynamic lighting intensifies gameplay, making it a memorable and engaging environment.
- “Lo-fi vector graphics create a really cool, enticing, atmospheric world without taxing older computers too much while running VR and the screen.”
- “Playing as the desktop player is one of the most intense experiences I've ever had in a game against friends, with the atmospheric music getting louder and the yellow light shining all around me when the VR player looks at me.”
- “The atmosphere feels disorienting; you know that feeling when you remove your VR headset and don't recognize the place anymore?”
- “The atmosphere and soundtrack are the icing on the cake.”
optimization
5 mentions
60 % positive mentions
-20 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant optimization issues, particularly in busier levels and VR mode, leading to performance problems that can render it unplayable for some users. Non-VR players also report issues, such as the player view not aligning properly, resulting in distracting black bars. Many hope that future updates will address these shortcomings.
- “Hopefully in future updates these performance issues will go away.”
- “There are performance issues, especially on the busier levels, but these are only noticeable in VR.”
- “I have noticed some performance issues for non-VR players, such as the player view not following where you look when you turn, resulting in black bars appearing at the edges of the screen, which can be annoying.”
- “Completely unplayable, very poorly optimized and unable to run.”
- “There are performance issues, especially on any of the busier levels (which is basically all but the first one), but these are only noticeable in VR.”
- “I have noticed some performance issues, especially for the non-VR player, such as the player view not following where you look when you turn, resulting in black bars appearing at the edges of the screen, which can be annoying.”
character development
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-150 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
Character development is praised for its satisfying mechanics and charming art, with a well-balanced scale that enhances the feeling of being a "giant" while allowing for precise navigation. The original character design and beautifully crafted levels contribute to an engaging experience, although some levels may be overly dark.
- “Very satisfying mechanics and such endearing art, level, and character design.”
- “The scale is nicely balanced, so you really feel like a 'giant' while also being able to precisely navigate around without risking hitting your walls. Gorgeous levels, although sometimes a bit too dark by default, and original character design.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
- “I was disappointed by the lack of depth in the character arcs; they felt one-dimensional and predictable.”
- “Despite the interesting premise, the characters don't evolve throughout the game, leaving their stories feeling incomplete.”
humor
2 mentions
150 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is subjective, with at least one user finding it amusing, indicating that while it may resonate with some players, it might not appeal to everyone.
- “One person found this review funny.”
- “This game is hilarious!”
- “The humor in this game is top-notch!”
story
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
100 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The user did not provide specific feedback on the story aspect of the game, focusing instead on their experience with the Oculus Quest 2 and virtual desktop. Therefore, no summary regarding the story can be derived from this text.
emotional
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game evokes strong emotions by depicting an increasingly oppressive society, leading players to feel conflicted about their role as the overseer, especially when causing harm to innocent characters. This emotional depth enhances the overall experience, making players reflect on their actions within the game's narrative.
- “This game hit me harder emotionally than I expected, with each level revealing the increasingly oppressive society in which the watchers live. I felt a sense of guilt as the overseer when blowing up innocent watchers just trying to live their lives.”
- “The emotional depth of this game is astounding; it made me reflect on the consequences of my actions and the impact they have on the characters within the story.”
- “I was genuinely moved by the narrative and the struggles of the characters, which made my choices feel weighty and significant throughout the gameplay.”
stability
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The game is reported to be quite buggy and somewhat chaotic, yet many players still find it enjoyable for engaging one-on-one gameplay.
- “The game is incredibly buggy and feels like a mess, which detracts from the overall experience.”
- “Frequent crashes and glitches make it hard to enjoy the gameplay.”
- “The stability issues are frustrating and often ruin the immersion.”