Smashbox Arena
- December 7, 2016
- BigBox VR, Inc.
- 16h median play time
Smashbox Arena is a fun PSVR title that has some great gameplay but can be short-lived.
Get on SteamSmashbox Arena is a team-based VR game that combines elements of sports and shooters. Players equip themselves with a virtual ball and gun, and compete in a variety of arenas to eliminate the opposing team. Use power-ups, blocks, and strategic throws to outmaneuver and outscore the competition in this energetic and engaging multiplayer experience.
PC
Playstation 4
Virtual Reality
Windows
PlayStation
PlayStation VR
Reviews
- Fun and engaging gameplay that combines dodgeball mechanics with strategic teleportation.
- Polished graphics and smooth performance, making it a standout title in the VR multiplayer genre.
- Active community and developer support, enhancing the overall experience and encouraging player interaction.
- Limited player base, making it difficult to find online matches, often resulting in playing against AI.
- Lack of content and game modes, which may lead to repetitive gameplay over time.
- Technical issues and bugs, including problems with compatibility on newer VR headsets.
- gameplay113 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Smashbox Arena is widely praised for its engaging and polished mechanics, featuring a unique teleportation system that enhances strategy without causing motion sickness. Players appreciate the easy-to-learn controls, fast-paced action, and the depth provided by power-ups and room-scale VR, making it suitable for both newcomers and seasoned players. While the multiplayer experience is highlighted as particularly enjoyable, some users note that the single-player content may lack depth for long-term replayability.
“It's simple mechanics make it easy to pick up and hard to master.”
“The controls are easy to pick up for beginners and the gameplay has enough depth to keep you coming back to improve your skills.”
“The gameplay is clean, quick, and easy to pick up.”
“I didn't need more than just a few minutes of gameplay to realize this game lacked the depth I needed for replayability.”
“At first glance, the gameplay of Smashbox Arena is quite simple.”
“This essentially is paintball from Rec Room with a few more bells and whistles (power-ups, better teleport mechanic, ability to block/catch incoming balls) and some polish on top.”
- graphics43 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received generally positive feedback, with many users praising the clean, smooth visuals and fun art style that enhance the gameplay experience. While some describe the graphics as merely "good enough," others highlight the polished visuals and well-implemented 3D elements that contribute to an engaging atmosphere. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong aspect of the game, complementing its fast-paced action and unique mechanics.
“It has amazing graphics and the game mechanics are superb.”
“Super fun gameplay, great visuals, and great sound effects.”
“The graphics and scenery, 3D elements are well done.”
“Graphically this game is very slick, you have to give credit to the developers for that but the gameplay is where it all falls down for me.”
“Plagued by technical, AI, and graphical issues, the online community is barren and lacks a particular visual flair.”
“The graphics are okay.”
- story22 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game's "story mode" is primarily a series of multiplayer stages played against AI opponents, lacking any actual narrative content. While it serves as a useful introduction for new players and offers a challenging experience, many users noted the absence of a traditional story, making it feel more like a tutorial than a true story-driven mode. Overall, it is appreciated for its gameplay mechanics but criticized for its misleading title.
“I think the story mode is a fantastic way to introduce players into the game!”
“The bots are good, and the game includes both a tutorial and a short single player 'story' mode, so if you want to get up to speed before playing against real people, you can.”
“Fantastic little multiplayer shooter - all the tension and fast-paced action of old school gaming with a fun art style, cool maps, the ability to play story mode against bots if there's not many people online.”
“The only thing I disliked was that the story mode had no story.”
“The story mode is very deceptive and is really just the multiplayer stages with AI enemies and partners, with no story at all.”
“I was able to breeze through all three difficulties in story mode fairly easily.”
- replayability20 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, with many users highlighting the excitement of facing new opponents and the skill-based gameplay that keeps it engaging. However, some players felt it lacked depth, leading to a less favorable view on its long-term replay value. While many find it incredibly entertaining and worth the investment, a few users experienced a quick realization of its limitations in replayability.
“Replay value for this type of game is huge because you always have new opponents.”
“Incredibly replayable, lots of skill, and when you get even matchups it's an absolute blast.”
“This game has the most replayability of all my current VR games.”
“In the end, I refunded the game because I could see that this game had little replay value for me.”
“I didn't need more than just a few minutes of gameplay to realize this game lacked the depth I needed for replayability.”
“Incredibly replayable, lots of skill, and when you get even matchups, it's an absolute blast.”
- humor14 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players consistently highlight the game's humor as a key element of their experience, often finding themselves laughing uncontrollably during intense matches. The combination of adrenaline and comedic moments fosters a lively atmosphere, leading to memorable interactions and friendships formed during gameplay. Overall, the humor contributes significantly to the enjoyment and social aspect of the game.
“I made multiple new friends instantly and we played online for almost 4 hours straight and by the end of it we were all exhausted, hungry, and laughing our asses off!”
“Every down to the wire match had everyone yelling and then laughing at the end.”
“My stomach still hurts from laughing so hard.”
- stability10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its stability, with users reporting a smooth experience free from glitches or frame rate drops. While there was minor lag noted, the overall performance is described as polished and immersive, making it a refreshing change from other titles with significant technical issues.
“The game runs great.”
“Fun game for the Vive so far; it runs great and the multiplayer experience will keep you coming back for more.”
“I went from playing onward with tons of glitches and bugs and performance issues to this super well polished game and it was like a breath of fresh air.”
“There were no glitches or frame rate drops, and there were no issues with the graphics or interface that prevented me from getting immersed in the game (other than a little lag).”
“I have had zero technical glitches during gameplay so far.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its excellent optimization, providing a polished experience free from the glitches and performance issues that plagued previous titles. Players find it to be a refreshing improvement, making it a preferred choice until other games resolve their performance problems.
“I went from playing Onward with tons of glitches and bugs and performance issues to this super well-polished game, and it was like a breath of fresh air.”
“Great performance!”
“I think I'll stick with this until Onward works out their performance bugs.”
- music4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music aspect of the game has received criticism for the absence of a soundtrack, which has been noted as a significant drawback by users.
“That's my only complaint, no soundtrack.”
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the character development suffers from a lack of originality and artistic skill, resulting in designs that feel cheesy and uninspired. This has led to a negative perception of the characters, detracting from the overall experience.
“Had the character design been developed with someone with original and artistic talent, it may have worked, but it seems like someone with very little skill in that area came up with the design, and it came off feeling cheesy.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players express growing cynicism towards monetization in VR games, citing concerns over incomplete titles, cash grabs, and exaggerated marketing claims. This sentiment reflects a broader frustration with the industry's tendency to prioritize profit over quality.
“I know a lot of VR players have become rightly cynical about half-finished games, cash grabs, and overhyped experiences.”
Critic Reviews
Smashbox Arena Review - Are You Not Entertained?
Smashbox Arena's core gameplay makes for tension-filled multiplayer showdowns, proving that simple design is all you need sometimes. However, dearths of content, modes, and polish sell it short when it could shoot for so much more.
50%Smashbox Arena Review
Smashbox Arena might be amusing for some multiplayer shenanigans, but it is very rare to find anyone online to play with given the niche base of VR (with PS Move sticks, no less). The story mode is very deceptive and is really just the multiplayer stages with AI enemies and partners, with no story at all. Even the announcer for the matches sounds like he is extremely bored and is about to yawn. There is a complete lack of appeal and energy, and the overall presentation just feels like it was made by an amateur programmer and not a designer at all. The lack of controller options really hurt this - not that they would make Smashbox Arena much better, since it is nigh empty of content.
20%Smashbox Arena Review
Smashbox Arena’s knockout gameplay is entertaining online – assuming you can find a match. While there is a small community on the servers right now, it’s difficult to predict how long that will persist, and thus purchasing is a bit of a risk. Unless you can convince friends to pick up the package, then be warned that the single player content is thin, even if the core gameplay loop is undeniably fun. More work in the art department could have elevated the release enormously, so ultimately you’re left with an ugly but enjoyable multiplayer game that will be defined by the number of people who stick with it beyond launch.
60%
