PunjiVR
- July 15, 2022
- Camden Cleveland
IMPORTANT!PunjiVR is being completely remade from the ground up as 'Version 2' which will be released as a free update. Check out the recent update notes for more info About the Game Inspired by tactical shooters of the early 2000's, PunjiVR aims to mix their challenge and charm with new technologies and ideas to create a unique and unforgettable experience Fight for or against the U…
Reviews
- The game has a great atmosphere and effectively captures the tension and fear of Vietnam warfare, making it a thrilling experience.
- The gunplay is highly praised, with many players noting that the weapons feel realistic and satisfying to use.
- The developer is very active in updating the game and engaging with the community, showing a commitment to improving the game over time.
- The AI is often criticized for being overly accurate and spotting players from unrealistic distances, making gameplay frustrating.
- The game suffers from various bugs and optimization issues, leading to crashes and performance problems even on lower graphics settings.
- Many players find the control scheme clunky and unintuitive, particularly with Index controllers, which detracts from the overall experience.
- story64 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 84 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's story is considered basic and largely consists of text presented before missions, which many players feel is not a significant focus. While there are numerous missions, they are often criticized for being poorly designed, static, and lacking dynamic elements, leading to a gameplay experience that feels more like a "walking simulator" than an engaging narrative. Overall, the campaign's quality and mission structure leave much to be desired, with players expressing frustration over the lack of meaningful storytelling and mission guidance.
“The missions are fun, and there's plenty of them. The campaign is great; it's bloody hard, and I'm still trying to get past the first part as I write this now.”
“As of now, there are 6 main missions and 4 side missions. For each level, you will need to adjust your approach and tactics.”
“The wave defense mode was a good fun mission, but I just found it annoying that the game shows you all these weapons in the menu and you can't make your loadout for that mission.”
“The story is pretty basic and is mostly just text you read before a mission, but that's not too much of a focal point.”
“I'm sorry, actually, it's a walking simulator with your dream guns and other fixations because you lack the ability to set a proper roadmap, you lack the ability to innovate, so you instead stall by adding fluff to the game, such as updating the stupid helicopter missions or the equally lackluster 'campaign' which is just walking and shooting from point to point.”
“The only enjoyment I felt out of this game was the embassy mission, and that didn't even feel like a fight when the AI would be able to clearly hear and see I just blew their buddy's brains out and they would just stand there clueless.”
- graphics30 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are characterized by a low-poly art style that some players find detracts from immersion, while others appreciate the performance benefits it offers. The visuals are described as colorful and bright, fitting well within the VR experience, but many users express a desire for more detailed graphics and better optimization. Overall, while the graphics have their shortcomings, they are deemed acceptable for an early alpha title, especially for fans of the Vietnam aesthetic.
“Graphics: amazingly colorful and bright”
“Punji VR feels like the technology of Jurassic Trespasser mixing together with the Yandere Sim developer to create a fantastically bright, loud, and jarring experience that most Vietnam vets wouldn't be able to take just because of the sheer graphics this game brings alone.”
“Low-poly art style keeps performance up and lets you identify targets slightly easier.”
“The graphics, although still very easy to forget you're in low poly, do at times pull me out of the game. I'd love it if they were more realistic; even just a bit higher poly would be nice.”
“Not optimized at all; the game maxes out my GPU at very low graphics and has nothing to show for it.”
“Punji VR feels like the technology of Jurassic Trespasser mixed with the Yandere Sim developer to create a fantastically bright, loud, and jarring experience that most Vietnam vets wouldn't be able to take just because of the sheer graphics this game brings alone.”
- gameplay20 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its immersive mechanics and solid player controls, particularly in VR, though some users express concerns about core mechanics and AI needing improvement. While the game effectively captures a 'nam atmosphere, issues like sound volume and graphical fidelity have been noted, with calls for updates to enhance the overall experience. Overall, the potential is recognized, but players are eager for refinements before further content is released.
“Generally great player controller and some excellent gunplay and extra immersion mechanics which are rarely seen in VR; this is definitely one to follow.”
“It delivers a genuine feel to the gameplay and gets you into that 'Nam headspace, but please add a volume slider or something because as it stands I can't play for more than about an hour without getting a headache.”
“The developer randomly watched the stream and valued our feedback, so an update to certain mechanics is coming in a few days.”
“Please work on the core mechanics of the game before making any more missions as it seems like even just mission one has problems.”
“Not in sound, graphics, gameplay, and probably not even code.”
“It delivers a genuine feel to the gameplay and gets you into that 'nam headspace, but please add a volume slider or something because as it stands I can't play for more than about an hour without getting a headache.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive and terrifying qualities, particularly the tension created by uncertainty during gameplay. Reviewers note that the atmosphere evolves effectively with each level, contributing to a top-tier experience that suggests potential for further improvement and development.
“The atmosphere is really well done and it changes level by level.”
“The atmosphere that this game sets up is top tier; I could really see this game getting better and going places.”
“The atmosphere in this game is really good; it can get terrifying not knowing where you're being shot from.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game is widely criticized for its poor optimization, with players reporting significant performance issues even at low graphics settings, leading to high GPU usage without visual payoff. The presence of multiple enemies can drastically reduce frame rates, although the low-poly art style offers some performance benefits and aids in target identification. Overall, the optimization leaves much to be desired.
“The low-poly art style keeps performance up and allows you to identify targets slightly easier.”
“Not optimized at all, the game maxes out my GPU at very low graphics and has nothing to show for it.”
“Poorly optimized; three enemies shooting at you is enough to tank FPS.”
“The low-poly art style keeps performance up and lets you identify targets slightly easier, though this is kind of negated by another issue.”
- stability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game currently suffers from significant stability issues, including camera glitches and various bugs that hinder gameplay. Many users recommend waiting for further development and bug fixes before purchasing, as the experience is still considered janky and lacking in content.
“The game unfortunately is still buggy/janky in some ways and has a lot under development.”
“I'd actually recommend waiting to get this game once it gets more content and bugs are fixed, since some people aren't happy buying a buggy game with less content, but whatever floats your boat.”
“I am unable to fly the choppers because the camera glitches into floorboards.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability, featuring a complete campaign alongside ongoing content updates, which enhances its longevity and encourages players to return.
“Plenty of replayability too!”
“It has a full campaign with another one ongoing, regular updates, and replay value.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Players express that the grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of time akin to having a second life to fully engage with it.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users find the humor in the game particularly centered around the m14, describing it as "hilarious." This suggests that the comedic elements related to this aspect are well-received and contribute positively to the overall experience.
“The M14 is hilarious, though.”