The Cubicle.
- April 5, 2016
- Joppe de Graaf
The Cubicle is a short VR experience about your regular everyday job in an office, or is it?
Reviews
- The Cubicle is a unique and trippy VR experience that effectively captures the monotony and surrealism of office work.
- It's a free game that serves as a great introduction to VR, showcasing its capabilities and providing an eerie atmosphere without relying on jump scares.
- Many players found it to be a fun and surprising experience, making it a popular choice for demonstrating VR to newcomers.
- The experience is very short, lasting only about 5-10 minutes, which left many players wanting more content and depth.
- Some users reported issues with motion sickness due to the artificial movement and limited interactivity, which could detract from the overall experience.
- The graphics and overall quality were criticized as low, with some players feeling it resembled a tech demo rather than a fully developed game.
- story13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as short and meaningful, utilizing a unique, abstract approach that emphasizes immersion without traditional narrative elements. While some players appreciate the innovative storytelling style and the emotional resonance it evokes, others find the lack of clarity and background information leaves them confused about the underlying themes. Overall, the story's depth and coherence are debated, with some players craving more context and development.
“It is a short, meaningful story without saying a word.”
“Interesting new type of storytelling, this really isn't like anything that I've seen before.”
“This is exactly the kind of abstract story to showcase the true power of VR immersion!”
“Missing some background or story content.”
“I don't really get the story; I guess you hate your job or something (join the crowd). If there is a deeper meaning, I did not get it. Maybe someone could explain it to me.”
“Cons: not sure if there's actually a story.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 70 % positive mentions
- 10 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by low-quality, low-poly 3D visuals that may deter some players, yet the minimalistic and surreal style has garnered appreciation for its unique aesthetic and immersive experience. While some reviews describe the visuals as unimpressive, others highlight their effectiveness in enhancing the dreamlike atmosphere of the game. Overall, the graphics are seen as a mixed bag, with a blend of cool visuals and a nostalgic charm that appeals to certain audiences.
“The surreal and dreamlike nature of this was amazing and the graphical style works very well.”
“The graphics and quality are nice, the feel is amazing.”
“This features fairly low quality low poly 3D visuals which will deter a lot of gamers, understandably.”
“Short surreal VR experience with minimalistic visuals that stood the test of time.”
- optimization8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is inconsistent; while some players report smooth performance on their hardware, others experience significant issues, particularly with motion sickness and poor performance on specific setups. The need for further optimization is a common concern among users, especially given the game's heavy motion effects.
“The controls are simple, the performance is good, and the gameplay lasts about 5-10 minutes at best.”
“This game runs smoothly on my hardware.”
“(Almost all the games I tried run smoothly.)”
“It was much more pronounced than other games I've played, so the optimization is questionable.”
“Trippy and interesting game, extremely poorly optimized though.”
“Heavy feeling of motion; poor performance on a 970 in the later half causes motion sickness.”
- atmosphere7 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive and eerie qualities, showcasing the developers' dedication to creating a compelling environment. While it is not overtly scary, the unsettling ambiance effectively engages players, making it a noteworthy experience in virtual reality. Users recommend it for those looking to explore different VR atmospheres without the fear of jump scares.
“Very good interactive VR game for its time, extremely good immersion. The developers have clearly spent a lot of time working on the atmosphere and environment for their game(s).”
“It's not a scary game, but it certainly has a creepy atmosphere.”
“Atmosphere was pretty eerie; I was confused with only one controller though for a second.”
“It has an eerie atmosphere, and at no point tries to explain itself.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized as creative yet brief, lasting around 7 minutes, and serves as a commentary on the monotony of office work. While the controls and design are realistic, players find the experience repetitive and tedious, reflecting the game's thematic focus. Overall, it offers a short but thought-provoking exploration of the mundane aspects of daily life.
“Short and sweet, explorative gameplay that immerses you in the experience.”
“It's a great experience that balances length well, allowing you to soak in the initial mechanics.”
“Creative gameplay that offers a unique experience, even if it's brief.”
“A short experience that stands as a comment on the life of the office worker. The controls and the design are realistic, but the gameplay is repetitive and boring, aligning with the message that the developer was clearly trying to send about office work.”
“Short and sweet, explorative gameplay, but definitely gives you a feeling of your mind slipping as you slog through mindless tedious work.”
“Creative but very short - about 7 minutes of gameplay.”
- emotional5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke strong reactions, both physically and psychologically, through immersive VR experiences. Players report feeling a mix of discomfort and intrigue, with the game creating a creepy atmosphere that prompts deep reflection and leaves lingering questions. Overall, it effectively demonstrates how VR can elicit genuine emotional responses without relying on traditional jump scares.
“It made me feel sick, but in a way that is realistic.”
“A fun demonstration of how VR can create emotional and physical responses through locomotion and ambiguity.”
“I was worried there would be some jump scares, but instead it was an emotional and creepy experience that leaves you with more questions than answers.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has been criticized for its lack of replayability, with many users noting that it offers little incentive to play again after the initial experience. While some found it worthwhile for a single playthrough, the consensus is that it does not provide enough value for repeated sessions.
“Pretty cool for its price, but has zero replayability.”
“I thought I'd add I'm uninstalling it after this review because the replay value is nil.”
“Not much replay value and really just demonstrated what VR could do at the time.”
“Edit: I thought I'd add I'm uninstalling it after this review because the replay value is nil.”
“Not sure about replayability, but definitely worth a go once.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a unique and quirky sense of humor that elicits laughter, with moments that are both amusing and slightly unsettling. While it is a brief experience, players find it consistently funny and entertaining.
“This is a nice quick game with an odd sense of humor on the daily grind.”
“I found myself laughing at some parts and becoming a bit woozy at others.”
“Short, but funny.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while the gameplay is engaging and exploratory, it can become tedious and repetitive, particularly in the middle sections. Some users suggest that it may require a second playthrough to fully appreciate the game beyond the grind.
“Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
“The grind is satisfying and offers a real sense of progression.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Short and sweet, explorative gameplay, but definitely gives you a feeling of your mind slipping as you slog through mindless, tedious work.”
“It gets a little tedious during the middle of it, but besides that, it's pretty good.”
- music1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users appreciate the music in the game, noting that it complements the experience well, with specific mentions of tracks like "Welcome to the Machine" by Pink Floyd enhancing the overall atmosphere.
“The music perfectly complements the gameplay, creating an immersive experience.”
“The soundtrack is a fantastic blend of genres that keeps you engaged throughout.”
“I love how the music enhances the atmosphere, making every moment feel epic.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users report significant stability issues, with many experiencing serious glitches that detract from the overall enjoyment of the simulation.
“I could not enjoy the whole simulation; there were some serious glitches.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
“I experienced constant lag and frame drops, which ruined the experience.”