Pavlov

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"Pavlov VR" is a multiplayer shooter game in VR, set in both modern and WWII eras. It features various game modes including Search and Destroy, Deathmatch, and Gun Game. The game boasts community-hosted dedicated servers, custom map support, and proximity voice chat, with options for offline play, practice range, and bots. Realistically operated multi-crew tanks and custom game mode support add to its appeal.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 30,329 reviews

gameplay549 positive mentions

stability191 negative mentions

gameplay
1,197 mentions
46 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Pavlov VR is often compared to Counter-Strike, featuring a mix of fast-paced action and tactical elements, enhanced by realistic gun mechanics and immersive reloading systems. Players appreciate the extensive modding community, which offers a variety of custom maps and game modes, keeping the experience fresh and engaging. However, some users express concerns about clunky controls, inconsistent mechanics, and a sometimes toxic player base, which can detract from the overall enjoyment.
- “It's a perfect blend of fun, strategy, and immersive gameplay that keeps me coming back for more.”
- “The gunplay is simply outstanding - the weapons feel authentic, and the meticulous attention to detail in their handling and mechanics is commendable.”
- “With its realistic gunplay mechanics, diverse game modes, and dedicated community, Pavlov VR stands as a captivating title in the VR gaming landscape.”
- “Having seen gameplay of Pavlov in the past, playing it now is unfathomably disappointing.”
- “Shooting is hardly enjoyable and the virtual stock is implemented so horribly that it's an active hindrance to gameplay.”
- “The overall gameplay experience is frustrating and not enjoyable in the slightest.”
humor
586 mentions
99 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The humor in this game is a standout feature, with players frequently highlighting the hilarious interactions and chaotic moments that arise during gameplay, particularly in modes like Trouble in Terrorist Town (TTT). The community is described as a mix of funny and toxic, often leading to uproarious situations that keep players laughing, whether through voice chat antics or unexpected in-game events. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to create memorable and comedic experiences, especially when played with friends or in lively lobbies.
- “Crazy fun! I love the TTT mode, especially since there's so much funny stuff that goes down, lmao.”
- “The community is filled with hilarious people and funny moments.”
- “Every time I play this game, I always end up on the floor laughing.”
- “And the game is forever tainted by unfunny people who watched YouTubers play and constantly ask people, 'Wanna play Russian roulette?!'”
- “You're not funny!”
- “This game is fun, but most people in servers consist of unfunny, racist manbabies, so be wary of that.”
story
580 mentions
12 % positive mentions
77 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The game "Pavlov" is noted for lacking a traditional story, with most reviews indicating it focuses primarily on multiplayer gameplay and various game modes rather than a narrative experience. Players express a desire for a story mode or single-player missions, but the game is primarily a sandbox environment for cooperative and competitive play. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking engaging multiplayer action rather than a story-driven experience.
- “To start off this review I want to tell a story, we all played Halo growing up but personally I really loved Halo 3 ODST. The soundtrack and going around New Mumbasa back when I was a kid I was in that game. Now I found a map where it's New Mumbasa with Halo guns, ODST armor, and the Flood. Me and about seven friends were all playing as ODST trying to fight through the streets of New Mumbasa with hundreds of Flood coming at us from all angles. I only had a sniper and the magnum. Me and my friend unashamed were fighting so hard with everyone else just to push through but we didn't notice everyone else was getting picked off. We just couldn't save them... So after about thirty minutes of pushing through the Flood saving each other time and time again we finally got to our destination, a safe zone where the Flood can't get us. And then we look around and notice, everyone else died... And that's when it happened, the Halo 3 ODST theme started playing and I truly felt like I was back in the game. I hadn't really been in a game since Halo 3 ODST and Pavlov really put me back in... The sadness of the loss of my friends... The joy of me and unashamed surviving... The anger towards the Flood, I felt it all. I felt it all now buy this game and feel emotions again.”
- “I played this game using the Oculus Quest 2 through SteamVR and it works great. The game is fun and all the community content (most of it) is amazing, although sometimes the players can get salty or kick before hearing the full story (the second one is what pisses me off the most) but if you have VR and you don't have this already, then honestly I'm a little surprised.”
- “I have played this game for nearly a year (most of the time being spent on Pavlov Shack, the Quest 2 version) and I can say for a fact that since then, the game and its community has fallen into a decline.”
- “☐ no story”
- “There doesn't appear to be a story or anything, just sandbox with co-op or PvP.”
- “The game is good, but 90% of the community is absolutely terrible, they are either 9-year-old kids who have laser aim and take everything extra seriously, or the ones who don't even play the game, thus failing every objective of the mission.”
graphics
558 mentions
44 % positive mentions
49 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The graphics in Pavlov VR receive mixed reviews, with many players praising their quality and realism, particularly in weapon design and environmental details. However, some users report significant performance issues, especially on certain graphics cards, leading to lag and graphical glitches. Overall, while the visuals are generally considered good for a VR title, optimization remains a concern for many players, impacting their experience.
- “The graphics are incredible, even for non-VR standards.”
- “The graphics are amazing, far better than most of the other VR games and leaps and bounds better than Contractors, for example.”
- “Graphics are great, sound, VFX, everything in the game is really realistic.”
- “The graphics are abysmal.”
- “Overall, the graphics are subpar and do nothing to enhance the gameplay experience.”
- “From the clunky controls and terrible graphics to the frustrating gameplay and toxic community, there are little to no redeeming qualities to be found.”
optimization
224 mentions
30 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing frustration over significant performance issues, particularly following the switch to Unreal Engine 5. While some users report smooth gameplay on lower-end systems, others experience severe stuttering, lag, and crashes, especially with modded content. Overall, the consensus indicates that recent updates have negatively impacted performance, leading to a decline in the game's playability for many users.
- “The game is very well optimized for what it is.”
- “This game is most likely the best optimized shooter (in VR) & has a ton of mod support.”
- “The optimization is amazing and much more!”
- “The Unreal Engine 5 update did literally nothing except ruin performance (UE5 is an unoptimized, barely functional resource hog at best) and force the use of Oculus Dash when applicable, further reducing performance and making the game completely unplayable.”
- “Update 29 absolutely destroyed the game's performance to a point where it is borderline unplayable.”
- “The game is horribly optimized and doesn't cooperate well with the Valve Index controllers; I was constantly dropping my weapon anytime I turned or tried to do anything in the world.”
stability
216 mentions
11 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
88 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with many users reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and performance issues, particularly after recent updates. Players have experienced everything from freezing screens and controller malfunctions to significant lag and unplayable conditions, leading to frustration and numerous troubleshooting attempts. While some users note occasional fun and improvements, the overall consensus is that the game remains a buggy mess, making it difficult to recommend, especially for new players.
- “But my goodness, this game feels great and runs great.”
- “The physics of the game are not buggy, connection is always good, the live voice chat is amazing when it comes to communicating with teammates, and I always get a chuckle from the TTT servers.”
- “Runs great, mostly bug free, looks good... developer seems dedicated (he plays the game a lot himself).”
- “Forget all the lost content, this game is insanely buggy since the UE5 update.”
- “From the moment you launch the game, you are bombarded with bugs, glitches, and poor design choices that make it nearly impossible to enjoy.”
- “The game is buggy, the experience is lacking, and the community is toxic.”
replayability
93 mentions
41 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
Pavlov VR is widely praised for its exceptional replayability, largely due to its vibrant modding community and extensive custom content, including maps and game modes. Players appreciate the variety of gameplay experiences available, from multiplayer modes to user-generated content, which significantly enhances the game's longevity. However, some users have noted that recent updates have negatively impacted accessibility to community content, potentially diminishing replay value for certain players.
- “The variety of maps and game modes adds to the game's replayability, offering diverse scenarios for players to explore.”
- “Whether you're downloading custom maps, creating your own game modes, or participating in community events, Pavlov VR offers a level of replayability and longevity that's unmatched in the VR shooter genre.”
- “The gunplay is super satisfying and the moddability makes this easily the most replayable VR game out now.”
- “Good game, I'm not that much into it because it lost its replayability for me, but you'd probably like it more.”
- “But that's not it, they made it so that PlayStation users cannot access community content... so now we are left with the boring vanilla maps that serve no replay value.”
- “All in all, this is one of the better games to play with friends and is cheap when looking at the price of other VR games, but unfortunately there isn't much replayability.”
grinding
68 mentions
4 % positive mentions
81 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
The reviews overwhelmingly indicate that grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, with many users humorously suggesting that players would need "a second life" to manage it. While some acknowledge that the game can be enjoyable despite the grind, others find it tedious and monotonous, particularly in relation to modding and community support. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a significant drawback, detracting from the overall experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A bit grindy... sometimes.”
- “A lot of grinding.”
- “Community patches, tedious workarounds, all to save a game that killed the modding community. Had I not spent so many hours in this game, I would be refunding it.”
- “So the game introduces the concept of fun in some quite extravagant ways, which inclines the user into consuming hours of their existence in a loop of monotonous grinding, although in relatively similar games, this would be seen as extremely boring.”
- “Unfortunately, it can get a little tedious in the deathmatch modes as the spawning is completely random.”
music
34 mentions
12 % positive mentions
79 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The music in Pavlov VR is a mixed bag, with players often frustrated by the prevalence of annoying and repetitive tracks, particularly from other players' microphones. While some custom maps feature enjoyable and nostalgic soundtracks that enhance gameplay experiences, the overall atmosphere can be marred by toxic behavior and disruptive audio. Despite these issues, there are moments where the right music can evoke strong emotions and create memorable gaming experiences.
- “Me and my mate cried with laughter as we sat in a McDonald's with SpongeBob and Squidward as we pledged our faith to capitalism and the downfall of communism in the eastern world, all this to inspirational music.”
- “To start off this review, I want to tell a story. We all played Halo growing up, but personally, I really loved Halo 3: ODST. The soundtrack and going around New Mumbasa back when I was a kid made me feel like I was in that game. I found a map where it's New Mumbasa with Halo guns, ODST armor, and the Flood. After about thirty minutes of pushing through the Flood, the Halo 3: ODST theme started playing, and I truly felt like I was back in the game. I felt the sadness of the loss of my friends, the joy of surviving, and the anger towards the Flood. I felt it all. Now buy this game and feel emotions again.”
- “Custom maps are awesome; the community was able to make some cool stuff from maps straight out of Counter-Strike to happy maps with cheery music.”
- “The music is repetitive and annoying, adding to the overall frustration of playing Pavlov VR.”
- “It's always some moron blasting his horrible rap music in the mic or some over-competitive loser who screams 'gotcha b***h' on every kill or 'bull sh*t' on every death.”
- “The lack of sounds other than footsteps makes it feel quite empty; it would be nice to have some action music or ambience at least.”
emotional
28 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express a wide range of emotions while engaging with the game, from laughter and joy to feelings of loneliness and frustration. The community is often described as wholesome and supportive, providing a stark contrast to the toxicity found in other gaming environments. However, some players also report negative experiences, such as motion sickness and issues with game mechanics, which can detract from the overall emotional experience.
- “The community in this game is so wholesome, and playing this game made me realize how toxic my other favorite games can be.”
- “I never told them about my issues because it's impossible to explain a bad depression with words, and it seems a little silly that a girl I met online gave me depression, but just being with people who I enjoy talking to made me feel a lot better and a lot less lonely.”
- “I almost shed a tear playing Nacht der Untoten with my friends.”
monetization
20 mentions
10 % positive mentions
10 % neutral mentions
80 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising the absence of microtransactions and appreciating that all content is accessible through a single download. However, others criticize the developers for perceived cash grab tactics, suggesting that recent updates and changes have detracted from the game's original quality and stability. Overall, while some players feel the game is not exploitative, others express disappointment over its direction and monetization strategies.
- “There are no in-app purchases, and all of the maps and game modes are easily accessible with one short download.”
- “VR Call of Duty without the microtransactions.”
- “Shame on the developers for ruining a great game with a cheap cash grab from some PS5 children.”
- “One singular update followed by a cash grab buyout and this once amazing game is now a waste of space for anybody looking for a fun, stable and dynamic VR shooter... they should have kept it how it was which was stable and fun.”
- “A total cash grab including TTT game modes.”
atmosphere
11 mentions
27 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is generally praised for its engaging and immersive qualities, likened to a VR version of Counter-Strike, with a strong community that enhances the experience. While some users appreciate the nostalgic and artistic elements brought by workshop content, others criticize the lack of depth in the overall atmosphere, describing it as colorful and cartoonish. Overall, the atmosphere is a mixed bag, with standout moments in community interaction and tactical gameplay.
- “The game has a strong player base that fosters a positive and friendly atmosphere.”
- “An actual shooter that you can play tactically, working guns, aiming, intense atmosphere.”
- “Workshop content will always be hit or miss when it comes to aesthetic appeal but when done correctly they bring a very interesting breath of life to the game in terms of atmosphere and art style or, in the case of well done modern warfare 2 rust/terminal map ports, just plain nostalgia.”
- “The game lacks any kind of atmosphere (colorful and cartoony).”
- “Doesn't have the best gunplay: Onward is definitely a more realistic shooter, among many more, but this is solid for the community atmosphere.”
- “Workshop content will always be hit or miss when it comes to aesthetic appeal, but when done correctly they bring a very interesting breath of life to the game in terms of atmosphere and art style.”