Pierhead Arcade
- September 21, 2016
- Mechabit Ltd
Get on Steam"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.
PC
Virtual Reality
Windows
PlayStation
PlayStation VR
Reviews
- The game offers a nostalgic arcade experience with a good variety of mini-games that are fun to play, especially with friends.
- The physics and graphics are well-executed, making the gameplay feel immersive and enjoyable.
- The ticket and prize system adds an engaging layer of motivation, allowing players to earn rewards for their performance.
- The controls can be frustrating and inconsistent, leading to a less enjoyable experience, especially for certain games.
- The game feels somewhat empty and lacks a lively atmosphere, which can detract from the overall arcade experience.
- Multiplayer functionality is often unreliable, making it difficult to play with friends as intended.
- graphics32 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the immersive and crisp visuals that enhance the arcade experience, while others report issues such as blurring and graphical glitches. The stylized, cartoonish design is generally well-received, contributing to the game's charm, though some players experienced technical difficulties that detracted from their enjoyment. Overall, the graphics are considered decent to good, with potential for improvement in performance and stability.
“I'm surprised at how well the graphics they chose 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 don't know what game engine the developers used, but the graphics in VR are incredibly crisp and the physics are spot on.”
“Runs excellent and the graphics are really nice.”
“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 its intended purpose.”
- gameplay22 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay effectively captures the essence of a real-life arcade, featuring intuitive mechanics and a diverse selection of games that enhance the immersive VR experience. Players appreciate the creative applications of the core pick-up-and-throw mechanic across various arcade-style games, although some minor issues with multiplayer visibility were noted. Overall, the mechanics are well-executed, making for an engaging and enjoyable experience.
“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 (using HTC Vive).”
“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.”
- atmosphere12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its authenticity and immersive quality, effectively capturing the nostalgic feel of an arcade with well-executed sound effects and a sense of challenge. However, some users find the atmosphere lacking, suggesting a mixed reception overall.
“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.”
“There's nothing quite like hanging out at the arcade, soaking in the atmosphere and just relaxing.”
“- boring atmosphere.”
“- boring atmosphere.”
- music10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for enhancing the overall experience, creating an immersive arcade atmosphere that feels authentic. Reviewers note that the tracks are well-composed and enjoyable, contributing to a polished feel, although some express a desire for more variety in sound effects and ambiance. Overall, the music is seen as a strong point, with many finding it engaging and not repetitive.
“The games all have music here, so the overall feel is more polished, and 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 in your ears. I haven't tried the built-in radio yet, but the music they use doesn't get old to me.”
“The games all have music here, so the overall feel is more polished, and the ports of these games to the second title didn't all include the music.”
“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, and the ports of these games to the second title didn't all include the music.”
“I'm surprised at how well the graphics they chose 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.”
- story5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that there is no story present in the game, with players primarily focusing on gameplay mechanics and controls rather than narrative elements.
“The game has no story.”
“Controls are super bad, as others have mentioned. Throwing stuff doesn't feel natural at all, and for the most part, the minigames were really boring to play.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Users indicate that while many games are playable even if not officially supported, the replayability of certain titles, particularly those with superior visuals like Nvidia, tends to be limited despite their graphical advantages. Overall, the replayability varies significantly across different games, with some offering more engaging experiences than others.
“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 is quite limited.”
- stability4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The stability of the game received mixed reviews, with some users reporting significant issues such as terrible controls and graphical glitches, including geometry warping and shimmering effects. Conversely, other players experienced no glitches or bugs, finding the game to meet their expectations. Overall, the stability appears inconsistent, leading to varied user experiences.
“I've experienced no glitches or bugs, and every activity available in the game lived up to my expectations.”
“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.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Players feel that grinding can be enjoyable if it leads to meaningful rewards, but currently, the prizes lack significance, making the effort feel less worthwhile. Additionally, the amount of grinding required is seen as excessive, suggesting that it may demand more time than many players are willing to invest.
“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.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, highlighting that it immerses them in the experience of being Batman, evoking feelings of empowerment and engagement with the character.
“This game really made me feel like Batman.”
