Sparc

The community, mechanics and gameplay are all top tier and have the potential to suck in even those who are notoriously adverse to organised sports

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"Sparc" is a Science Fiction inspired sport game that can be played in both single-player and multi-player modes. Experience real-time competition through fast-paced, physical gameplay in VR. Customize your avatar, track stats, and spectate matches in Courtside, a social area for VR users. Compete in cross-platform ranks, and challenge friends or online contenders in quick matches.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

77%

Audience ScoreBased on 294 reviews

gameplay17 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

Sparc offers a unique and engaging VR experience that combines elements of dodgeball and racquetball, providing a fun and physically demanding workout.
The game features a friendly and helpful community, making it easy for new players to learn and improve their skills.
The customization options for characters are extensive, and the cross-platform play allows for a larger player base, enhancing the multiplayer experience.

The player base is currently low, making it difficult to find matches at times, especially during off-peak hours.
The game suffers from server issues and lag, which can affect gameplay and make it frustrating for players.
There is a lack of single-player content and AI opponents, limiting options for practice and solo play.

gameplay
49 mentions
35 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is generally praised for its polished mechanics, smooth controls, and engaging multiplayer experience, offering a unique blend of sports elements reminiscent of squash and dodgeball. However, some players express frustration over the lack of solo modes, one-sided matches due to skill disparities, and issues with throwing mechanics, which can hinder enjoyment. Overall, while the game has a high skill ceiling and immersive qualities, it faces challenges in player retention and accessibility for newcomers.
- “The gameplay feels very smooth and addicting.”
- “Clever mechanics and buttery smooth physics/tracking make this the most seamless and immersive game I've played on VR.”
- “The community, mechanics, and gameplay are all top tier and have the potential to suck in even those who are notoriously adverse to organized sports.”
- “Matches are completely one-sided because a few players have figured out the very weird game mechanics.”
- “My PC is well above the minimum specs, and can run every other VR game perfectly fine, but in this game, I get a lag spike every time I try to do any kind of rapid movement, which is kind of key to the gameplay.”
- “I do not like that the gameplay is almost entirely focused on arm and wrist movement with very little needed body shifting or leg movement.”
graphics
16 mentions
69 % positive mentions
13 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally praised for being good to great, with many users highlighting the crisp visuals and polished appearance, particularly in the VR context. However, some players note the absence of customizable graphics settings and mention that while the visuals are suitable for a VR esports game, they may not be the best available. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the immersive experience, though there is room for improvement in customization options.
- “It is a superb VR experience with great visuals.”
- “I highly recommend this game for wicked-good graphics, kickass avatar customization, and a good, ongoing challenge.”
- “This game is very polished, great graphics, mechanics & gameplay.”
- “The most basic form of graphics.”
- “So, I cannot recommend this game in its current state; maybe in the future if they fix this or add an option to turn down the graphic settings.”
- “However, the lack of settings in the menu doesn't allow any customization in terms of graphics at all.”
music
7 mentions
29 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
Reviewers express a strong desire for background music during gameplay, noting the absence of a soundtrack as a significant drawback. Many suggest that incorporating music, similar to the gameplay trailer, could enhance the experience and reduce the distraction of ambient sounds like heavy breathing. Overall, a dynamic soundtrack that aligns with the game's pace is highly recommended.
- “What this needs is a great soundtrack, maybe one that can follow the speed of the game.”
- “Just think about adding the gameplay trailer music as background.”
- “Other than that, I'd really like to see some background music in-game.”
- “You end up just listening to other people breathing heavily sometimes, and it might be nice to have the option for some background music at a low volume.”
- “My only complaint is I wish there was music during the match, and the PS VR players would switch to push-to-talk so you don't hear them breathing so much.”
humor
5 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game shines through when playing with friends, fostering a lively atmosphere reminiscent of VRChat, where players engage in lighthearted banter and enjoy amusing interactions in the lobby. Users appreciate the camaraderie and laughter shared after matches, although the small player base limits random matchmaking. Overall, the game's comedic elements enhance the social experience, making it a fun and entertaining environment.
- “The experience is like VRChat in the way that you meet new people from around the world and just talk about whatever while making your avatar do funny stuff in the lobby.”
- “I really enjoy the part where after you play a game, you just hang out in the lobby, bullshitting and laughing.”
- “Just be careful not to smash your steering wheel or any other things. I had to remap my sensors to avoid that after I punched my wheel, and my wife was laughing at my kung fu moves. Big thumbs up to the devs!”
story
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
75 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is described as fairly simple and not particularly diverse, making it less appealing for players seeking intricate narratives. However, it is well-suited for those who enjoy sports-themed experiences and physical gameplay, suggesting a focus on action over storytelling.
- “It's fairly simple in its design, so if you like long and diverse games with storylines, then this may not be for you.”
replayability
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players highlight the game's high replayability, noting its engaging mechanics and immersive experience, which make it worth the investment even at full price.
- “I've thought quite a bit about this game, including the mechanics, the physics, and the overall replayability.”
- “I bought it on sale, but it's worth the 20 euros because of the high replayability.”
- “Very cool, very immersive, very replayable.”
- “The mechanics and physics of the game are intriguing, but the overall replayability leaves much to be desired.”
- “After completing the game, I found little incentive to replay it, as the experience felt repetitive and lacking in variety.”
- “While the initial playthrough was enjoyable, the lack of meaningful choices and consequences significantly diminishes the game's replayability.”
stability
2 mentions
150 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The game offers an enjoyable experience, but users report significant stability issues, particularly in Steam VR, where performance is lacking. While the multiplayer aspect is polished, it is plagued by server crashes, long connection times, and network glitches, reminiscent of a beta version.
- “The game runs smoothly and consistently, providing a stable experience throughout.”
- “I appreciate how well the game maintains its performance, even during intense moments.”
- “The stability of the game is impressive, allowing for an immersive experience without interruptions.”
- “Polished multiplayer game but still suffers from server crashes, long server connection times, and network glitches that you'd find in a beta version.”
optimization
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is well-optimized with no significant bugs reported; however, some users experienced poor performance during online play, while offline gameplay functioned smoothly.
- “Well optimized, no bugs so far.”
- “I experienced terrible performance when I first played this game online, while offline it worked fine.”
- “The optimization is lacking, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
- “Even on high-end hardware, the game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate, which is frustrating.”
atmosphere
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Reviewers consistently praise the atmosphere, highlighting it as "awesome" and a standout feature of the game.
- “The atmosphere is incredible, immersing you completely in the game world.”
- “The game's atmosphere is hauntingly beautiful, creating a sense of unease that keeps you on edge.”
- “Every detail contributes to the atmosphere, making it feel alive and engaging.”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Reviewers appreciate that CCP offers a variety of customization options for avatars without resorting to microtransactions or loot boxes, contrasting positively with other developers' monetization strategies that often involve nickel-and-diming players.
- “While other developers are trying to nickel and dime you with microtransactions, CCP has given you an array of options to customize your avatar without asking you to open a loot box or pay $0.99 for any 'custom' gear.”
- “The monetization model feels exploitative, with constant prompts to spend real money on in-game advantages.”
- “It's frustrating to see a game that could be great bogged down by aggressive monetization tactics that prioritize profit over player experience.”
emotional
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Users express a desire for a more engaging emotional experience in the game, suggesting that implementing penalties for inaction could enhance the overall intensity and connection players feel during gameplay.
character development
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-500 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The game features a character designer that allows players to create and customize their own characters, enhancing the personal connection and investment in character development.
- “The character development is incredibly deep, allowing players to shape their protagonist's personality and skills in meaningful ways.”
- “I love how the choices I make throughout the game truly impact my character's growth and relationships with others.”
- “The ability to customize not just appearance but also backstory and motivations makes the character development feel personal and engaging.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression.”
- “I was disappointed by how one-dimensional the characters are; they don't evolve throughout the game.”
- “The choices I made didn't seem to impact the character's growth or story, making it feel pointless.”