Pierhead Arcade
- September 21, 2016
- Mechabit Ltd
"Pierhead Arcade" is a VR game that lets you experience a seaside amusement park from the comfort of your home. Play a variety of classic arcade games, such as skee ball and whack-a-mole, using motion controls. Collect tickets to redeem for virtual prizes, creating a nostalgic atmosphere that's fun for the whole family.
Reviews
- Captures the nostalgic feel of a real arcade with a variety of fun mini-games.
- Great for family and friends, offering a competitive leaderboard and ticket system for prizes.
- The physics and interactions are well-designed, making the gameplay enjoyable and immersive.
- Controls are often described as clunky and unresponsive, leading to frustration during gameplay.
- Limited content with some games feeling repetitive and lacking depth.
- Multiplayer functionality is inconsistent and can be difficult to set up, detracting from the overall experience.
- graphics16 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their immersion and crispness, particularly in VR, with many users noting the fun, stylized visuals and effective physics. However, some players experienced graphical glitches and blurriness, which detracted from their enjoyment. Overall, while the graphics are considered decent to good, there are inconsistencies that may affect the experience for some users.
“I'm surprised at how well the graphics immerse you in the experience of being at the arcade. The music is so well done it sounds like you are hearing it in the building and not in your ears; I haven't tried the built-in radio yet, but the music they use doesn't get old to me.”
“I don't know what game engine the developers used, but the graphics in VR are incredibly crisp and the physics are spot on.”
“Fun, stylized graphics.”
“The controls were quite terrible for the Valve Index with graphical glitches such as random geometry warping and morphing; the air around balls shimmered like there was some kind of force field. I returned the game rather quickly as it was not up to my standards for enjoyment.”
“Graphics are decent when they aren't blurring.”
“The visuals are cartoonish, but work well enough for their intended purpose.”
- gameplay12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay is highly praised for its immersive arcade experience, featuring excellent mechanics and a diverse selection of games that effectively utilize intuitive pick-up and throw mechanics. While most games offer engaging interactions, some users noted minor issues with multiplayer visibility. Overall, the game captures the essence of a real-life arcade, providing enjoyable and replayable experiences.
“Really captures a real-life arcade vibe and gameplay.”
“The game mechanics are excellent, and the game selection is great.”
“Great VR experience, very immersive; you're there at the arcade, with a plethora of games to enjoy, that all have great mechanics and interaction in the VR environment.”
“I would say all those games are better except maybe Nvidia because although the visuals in Nvidia are much better, the gameplay/replayability there is quite limited.”
“Nothing gamebreaking, just issues with one player seeing another player's gameplay and scores properly.”
“Watch some gameplay videos before buying so you can make up your mind if it'll be fun or not.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the atmosphere in the games is praised for its quality and authenticity, effectively capturing the essence of classic arcade experiences with impressive sound effects and a nostalgic vibe. However, some users find the atmosphere lacking, indicating a mixed reception.
“The games are very well made, and the general atmosphere is on point.”
“The atmosphere and sound effects are pretty good, and the reproduction of the challenge these old machines used to provide is done quite well.”
“The atmosphere is quite boring.”
“There's nothing quite like hanging out at the arcade, soaking in the atmosphere and just relaxing.”
“I would also note that this is the type of game where the global scores actually add to the atmosphere.”
- music5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The music in the games is praised for enhancing the overall experience, creating an immersive arcade atmosphere that feels authentic. While the soundtracks are well-received and do not become repetitive, some users noted a lack of variety in sound effects and ambient music, as well as missing feedback features during gameplay.
“The games all have music here, so the overall feel is more polished. The ports of these games to the second title didn't all include the music.”
“I'm surprised at how well the graphics immerse you in the experience of being at the arcade. The music is so well done that it sounds like you are hearing it in the building and not just in your ears. I haven't tried the built-in radio yet, but the music they use doesn't get old to me.”
“The only things I found missing were that there's no feedback when hitting things (I would expect my controllers to vibrate when playing boxing or guac-a-mole) and that there are not many different FX sounds or ambiance music.”
“The games also all have music here, so the overall feel is more polished, but the ports of these games to the second title didn't all include the music.”
- story4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that the game lacks a compelling story, with one user explicitly stating there is "no story" present. Additionally, the gameplay experience is negatively impacted by poor controls, which detracts from engagement with any potential narrative elements.
“There is no story.”
“The story is completely absent.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players feel that grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of effort without meaningful rewards, which diminishes the overall enjoyment of the experience.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“If it was something you could do more with, grinding to get to a prize would be very fun, but instead the prizes don't really mean anything.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Users note that while some games may not officially support certain features, they are often still playable, enhancing their replayability. However, it is mentioned that certain titles, like those from Nvidia, offer superior visuals but fall short in gameplay variety, resulting in limited replayability.
“The replayability in this game is outstanding, with multiple paths and choices that keep each playthrough fresh and exciting.”
“Every time I dive back into the game, I discover new strategies and secrets, making each session feel unique.”
“The variety of character builds and play styles ensures that no two runs are ever the same, enhancing the overall replay value.”
“I would say all those games are better, except maybe NVIDIA, because although the visuals in NVIDIA are much better, the gameplay and replayability there are quite limited.”
- stability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
User experiences regarding stability are mixed; while some report significant issues such as poor controls and graphical glitches, others have found the game to be free of bugs and functioning as expected. This disparity suggests that stability may vary significantly depending on individual setups or experiences.
“I've experienced no glitches or bugs, and every activity available in the game lived up to my expectations.”
“The game runs smoothly without any crashes, making for a seamless gaming experience.”
“I appreciate how stable the game is; it allows me to focus on enjoying the gameplay without interruptions.”
“The controls were quite terrible for the Valve Index, with graphical glitches such as random geometry warping and morphing. The air around objects shimmered as if there was some kind of force field. I returned the game rather quickly as it was not up to my standards for enjoyment.”
“I've experienced no glitches or bugs, and every activity available in the game lived up to my expectations of it.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express that the game effectively immerses them in the role of Batman, evoking strong emotional connections and a sense of identity with the character.
“This game really made me feel like Batman.”
“The emotional depth of the characters left a lasting impact on me.”
“I was genuinely moved by the storyline and the choices I had to make.”