PowerBeatsVR
- November 18, 2020
- Five Mind Creations
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam"PowerBeatsVR is a single-player VR sport game that offers a fun and intense workout, taking about 2 hours to complete. It requires a minimum playspace of 6'6''x4'11'' and is designed to train your entire body, improving stamina, strength, and reflexes. Winner of the DIVR Award for Sports and a 5-time finalist in the VR Fitness Insider Awards, including Best VR Fitness Game of the Year and Best Cardio VR Fitness Game of the Year."
Reviews
- PowerBeatsVR offers an intense full-body workout that effectively combines cardio with fun gameplay mechanics, making it a great alternative to traditional fitness routines.
- The ability to use custom music through an easy-to-use auto-mapper enhances the experience, allowing players to enjoy their favorite tracks while exercising.
- The game features a variety of movements, including squats, dodges, and punches, which keeps the gameplay engaging and helps players break a sweat quickly.
- The graphics and overall presentation feel dated, with some users describing them as basic and lacking polish compared to other VR titles.
- Hit detection can be inconsistent, leading to frustration when players feel they have successfully hit a target but the game does not register it.
- The song selection is limited, and while custom music is a great feature, the built-in tracks may not appeal to everyone, leading to a repetitive experience over time.
- music280 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music aspect of Powerbeats VR has received mixed reviews, with many players praising the ability to easily import their own music, which enhances the workout experience and keeps it fresh. While the built-in soundtrack is considered decent but limited, the custom song generator allows for a more personalized and engaging workout, although some users noted that the auto-generated beatmaps can be hit or miss in terms of synchronization. Overall, the flexibility to use personal music libraries is a standout feature, making it a preferred choice for those looking to combine fitness with their favorite tracks.
“The ability to use local music is an absolute blessing as it allowed me to jam out to the Mario Kart soundtrack while having the time of my life!”
“You get a great workout while listening to music you actually enjoy!”
“The custom song mapper is much better than I expected it to be; it just loads any songs off your hard drive and quickly generates a map.”
“Music selection is complete shit.”
“The song generator is pretty hit and miss, but the developers know it's a big feature for the community and are working on it.”
“The auto generation seems to be rather limited, seemingly only sampling a small part of the music (meaning it doesn't often fit anything that starts off slow or changes bpm throughout the music).”
- graphics30 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising them as excellent and visually appealing, while others criticize them for being basic and reminiscent of outdated styles, such as those from the 90s. Users note that while the visuals may not be cutting-edge, they are functional and contribute to the overall gameplay experience. However, there are calls for improvements, particularly in aesthetic variety and texture quality, as many feel that even older games surpass its graphical fidelity.
“The steam version is pretty much the same as the Quest Store one, with a little sharper graphics, of course.”
“Amazing visuals!”
“Graphics are top notch, hit detection is good.”
“Also, the graphics look like Windows 95.”
“Visuals are poor for VR.”
“The environments are 90's-graphics-zero-texture ugly.”
- gameplay25 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is a blend of familiar mechanics from other rhythm games, featuring elements like punching and dodging, but it lacks originality and depth, leading to a somewhat repetitive experience. While the core mechanics are solid and provide a good workout, many players find them less engaging compared to other titles in the genre, with some expressing a desire for more varied levels and challenges. Overall, it appeals primarily to those focused on fitness rather than seeking a highly challenging gameplay experience.
“With several different weapons, gameplay never gets old.”
“In all seriousness, this is without a doubt worth checking out, if not for the workout at least for the Beat Saber-like gameplay.”
“Only 3 environments but they're pleasant; it works well, the mechanics are very solid, and the beatmaps are fun and challenging.”
“Core mechanic with beating balls just boring, ropes are boring too.”
“All of them are mechanically identical, it just changes graphics.”
“The game mechanic is essentially identical to FitXR (punch things that come at you and dodge big slabs of stuff that will hurt your score if they make contact) though it doesn't have FitXR's directional punching (jab, hook, uppercut).”
- story12 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 92 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that the game lacks a narrative or story element, with users noting that it is primarily focused on gameplay mechanics rather than storytelling. Players seem to enjoy the experience but do not expect any significant plot or character development.
“☑ no story”
- grinding4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Users find the grinding aspect of the game to be both beneficial and challenging; it serves as an engaging workout tool that makes cardio enjoyable, while also requiring significant time investment. Some players note that it can feel repetitive at times, but many appreciate the positive impact it has on their fitness goals.
“Great workout tool, makes cardio fun and not tedious.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“A bit grindy sometimes.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, users report a mixed experience regarding stability; while some experience multiple freezes in menus, others enjoy a smooth and glitch-free gameplay experience.
“I also get multiple freezes while in menus.”
“Tracking works fine, no bugs or glitches found in the game so far, just a perfectly smooth and very enjoyable experience.”
“Haven't encountered any glitches yet, either.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is notably strong, with users reporting a smooth performance without any stuttering or frame rate drops, even when loading custom content. In comparison to similar VR titles like Beat Saber, this game maintains a consistently high level of performance.
“Never once had any performance issues, even when loading custom songs from my own network storage.”
“Very smooth, no stuttering or frame rate drops.”
“In comparison, similar VR games like Beat Saber run smoothly.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game offers high replayability due to its dynamic workout feature and the option to load any song, providing limitless possibilities. However, some users feel that the selection of songs could be improved, and there is a concern that development is prioritizing a player editor over expanding song options.
“Dynamic workout combined with the ability to load any song you want; the replay value is limitless.”
“Thankfully, there's an option to make the notes come in on a straight path, which makes the game much more playable for me!”
“But... few songs are not well chosen for replayability, and the focus seems to be on getting a player editor up and running rather than adding more.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express that higher difficulty levels in the game feel chaotic and overwhelming, reducing the experience to frantic movements rather than emotional engagement. The focus on fitness and interaction with targets detracts from a deeper emotional connection, as the gameplay becomes more about physical activity than meaningful experiences.
“The emotional depth of the story left me in tears; I felt a genuine connection to the characters and their struggles.”
“Every moment in the game resonated with me, making me reflect on my own life experiences and emotions.”
“The soundtrack perfectly complemented the narrative, enhancing the emotional impact of each scene.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by the amusing experience of encountering long songs while using a personal music library, with users finding some tracks, particularly a poorly executed rap song, to be unintentionally funny. Overall, the lighthearted moments contribute to the enjoyment of the fitness-based gameplay.
“This is one of my favorite fitness-based games; just watch out for long songs when browsing your own music library! *laughing*”
“There are quite a few boring songs on the list that don't fit well with the genre, and the one rap song is hilariously bad.”
