Underdogs
- January 25, 2024
- One Hamsa
- 8h median play time
Get on Steam"Underdogs" is a single-player simulation game set in a brutal world of underground mech fights. Players can customize their mechs with 120+ items, meet unique characters, and navigate the city's criminal underworld in a roguelike experience. The game features phenomenal visuals, a compelling soundtrack, and a physics-based mech brawler system for metal-on-metal violence. This is New Brakka, the mech fighting capital of the world, where only the strong survive.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Incredibly fun and immersive gameplay that combines physics-based combat with a unique movement system.
- Stylish art direction and an engaging soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- Great replayability due to roguelike elements, allowing players to experiment with different builds and strategies.
- The game is relatively short, with some players completing it in just a few hours.
- Limited enemy variety can lead to repetitive gameplay after multiple runs.
- Some players may find the roguelike mechanics frustrating, especially with the potential for losing progress upon death.
- gameplay224 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay in this VR title is widely praised for its intuitive controls, satisfying combat mechanics, and engaging physics-based interactions, creating a visceral experience that feels both fun and immersive. While some players find the core gameplay loop repetitive and simplistic, many appreciate the depth offered through customizable builds and resource management elements. Overall, the combination of unique movement mechanics, a compelling art style, and a dynamic soundtrack contributes to a highly enjoyable and addictive gameplay experience.
“Simply put, Underdogs is one of the best gameplay experiences you can have in VR; every hit has solid weight behind it, and the flow of fights leads to you getting 'in the zone' very easily.”
“The gameplay loop is incredibly addicting; the only things stopping me from playing this for hours on end are the battery life on my headset and the accumulation of sweat from moving around.”
“The mechanics are very solid and responsive, allowing movement and combat in a way that I would expect to be nauseating.”
“The presentation is decent, but gameplay is dull and simple, locomotion is clunky and no smooth locomotion is available.”
“Gameplay is quite too casual; you want some strategy, but the best strategy is just mashing everything.”
“It's got some original aspects but ultimately feels kind of shallow; combat is mindless and the arena is small, the gameplay loop is really basic and slow as it takes you out of the action constantly.”
- story181 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed feedback, with many players praising its unique visual novel style and engaging narrative, but expressing disappointment over its brevity, often completing it in just a couple of hours. While the storytelling is described as compelling and well-integrated with the gameplay, players are eager for more content and expansions to deepen the experience. Overall, the story is seen as a strong aspect of the game, but its short length leaves many wanting more.
“The story is great, the voice acting/sound design is phenomenal, and the graphics are so good that I find myself just looking around at my character and the level during downtime.”
“Amazing game, great storytelling/world building, and the gameplay is phenomenal.”
“The story hits some highs but feels like the ending is a bit clunky; I still enjoyed it, just wish it was a bit more.”
“The story is extremely short, and even if you complete runs quickly, you end up experiencing the same cutscenes and dialogues repeatedly.”
“I wish there were more options for interacting with NPCs and making choices in the main story.”
“Once I completed the story, I lost most of my motivation to explore anymore.”
- music144 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its energetic and immersive quality, perfectly complementing the gameplay and art style. Players appreciate the unique blend of genres, particularly the gritty and vibrant soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere and excitement during combat. Many reviewers noted that the soundtrack not only fits the game's theme but also stands out as a highlight, making it enjoyable enough to listen to outside of gameplay.
“Great music and world building really immerse you in beating up robots.”
“The music is top notch, the atmosphere is consistent and the story is 'good enough'.”
“The soundtrack is a banger, it's really damn good.”
“The music isn't my cup of tea but fits with the style of the game.”
“Some bugs here and there (one in particular is the grabber arm can get stuck under the ground which roots you in place, but quitting and reloading the level usually fixed it), and the music isn't super up my alley, but the visuals are amazing, the combat is both responsive and a hell of a lot of fun, and it's clear a lot of love went into making it.”
“The only gripes I have are purely subjective though, I'm personally not a fan of the music genre but I can easily just swap it out for something else.”
- graphics123 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their unique and stylish art style, which effectively combines 2D and 3D elements to create an immersive atmosphere. Players appreciate the vibrant visuals, impressive use of VR's capabilities, and the overall aesthetic that enhances the gameplay experience. The game's visuals are described as top-notch, with a gritty, comic book-inspired design that complements its engaging narrative and dynamic combat.
“The aesthetics are perfect, the visual design makes good use of VR's strengths in regards to depth and scale; the developers clearly understand what makes VR great on a visual level.”
“The art style is also amazing, plus the variety of weapons and the sandbox means I'll definitely get more playtime out of this.”
“Realistic graphics look a bit shit in low res, and my poor 3080 doesn't run them in high res.”
“It's hard to see details in Underdogs because the game is so dark - but the darkness also hides the low-quality phone VR graphics (Quest 2 uses the Adreno 650 phone GPU, part of the XR2 SoC).”
“The graphics are high resolution and the art style paints some huge jaw-dropping cities around you, but it's not very demanding on a GPU which means anyone can pick this up.”
- replayability31 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers significant replayability, primarily due to its rogue-lite elements, variety of builds, and engaging combat mechanics. While some players note that the story can become repetitive after multiple playthroughs, the continuous updates and diverse character options enhance the replay experience. Many reviews highlight the game's balance of challenge and fun, making it a worthwhile investment for those seeking a game with lasting appeal.
“Worth the price and is being continuously updated from the looks of it, has plenty of replay value due to build variety and the 'daytime' mechanics.”
“The variety of weapons, upgrades, and enemies makes it highly replayable.”
“The story gets repetitive after a few playthroughs; I hope they make more playable characters, each with their own quirks during the day.”
“There's just enough variety of upgrades, add-ons, weapons, and other parts for you to make quite a few different builds to suit your play style and keep it fresh, so replay value is definitely there.”
“Pretty decent replay value as well considering you can keep your mech and keep running skirmishes and story missions.”
- atmosphere26 mentions
- 69 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its dense, gritty aesthetic and immersive worldbuilding, effectively drawing players into its cyberpunk setting. Reviewers highlight the excellent art style, engaging soundtrack, and a narrative that enhances the overall experience, making it feel both captivating and intense. Overall, the atmosphere is described as a standout feature that elevates the gameplay, creating a compelling environment that resonates with players.
“The atmosphere in this game is incredible, with great art and aesthetics that really give you a vibe for the setting of the game before you even play.”
“The cyberpunk atmosphere, dialogues, and music really kept me in the zone, movement-to-moment.”
“The atmosphere created by the graphics and sound is well made.”
“The gameplay is a 11/10, the atmosphere is a 9/10, the story is a 7/10 (I wish I had some more context but hey mech fist go bonk), I write this at the end of my first 'run', which took me about 2 hours.”
“Atmosphere.”
- optimization17 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 12 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
Overall, the optimization of the game received mixed feedback from users. While some players experienced significant performance issues, such as stuttering and screen tearing, others praised the game for its smooth performance and impressive visuals, particularly on lower-end hardware. Many users expressed hope for future updates to enhance performance further, indicating that while the game shows potential, it still requires optimization improvements to reach its full capabilities.
“It is one of the best VR games performance-wise; I haven't experienced any stuttering, input lag, or other issues.”
“Maybe something positive first: performance is amazing.”
“My biggest complaint with any VR game is when it just doesn't feel properly optimized.”
“Hoping for some more content and some performance updates to allow more carnage and eye candy as smoothly as possible.”
“I have a Quest 2 and use Air Link, and every other VR game I've played has never had performance issues like this.”
- humor9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating its funny gameplay and immersive experience, though some find it a bit crude. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to evoke genuine laughter, making it both entertaining and addictive. Overall, the humor is seen as a strong point, contributing to the game's enjoyment.
“Exquisite art and visuals, funny gameplay and very immersive too.”
“Genuinely challenging, made me laugh, and super addicting gameplay.”
“No other game has had me laughing maniacally as much as this.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be intense, often requiring significant time investment, but many appreciate the variety in each run that keeps the experience engaging rather than tedious. The roguelike elements enhance the gameplay, making the grinding feel rewarding and fitting within the game's lore.
“You do have to start from scratch each time you die in the game, but it can vary so much from run to run that it still feels great and not tedious.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Nothing beats grabbing robot dogs and yeeting them into each other or grindy machine thingies.”
“One of the few recent games where being a roguelike adds to the experience and fits lore-wise instead of being tedious.”
- stability3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its stability, featuring a polished experience with minimal glitches, though one user encountered a significant issue that required restarting a run. The PCVR version performs well on the Quest 3, contributing to a generally smooth gameplay experience.
“Bug-free, polished, voice acted, beautiful art, excellent combat system, and in-depth story.”
“PC VR runs great on Quest 3.”
“I encountered several glitches that forced me to restart my run on day 13 because I couldn't select one of the two options.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to progress without losing my progress.”
“I experienced constant lag and frame drops, which severely impacted my gameplay experience.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game effectively evokes strong emotions, offering a poignant critique of modern society that resonates deeply with players, often leading to tears. Many users express that it successfully rekindles feelings they have been longing for since playing other impactful titles like Alyx.
“It is a clever critique of our modern-day society; it made me shed a tear.”
“Since Alyx, I have been struggling to find a game that made me feel... something.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviewers appreciate that the game's monetization strategy prioritizes quality and player experience over profit, indicating a commitment to creating a meaningful gaming experience rather than merely pursuing financial gain.
“The monetization system feels overly aggressive and detracts from the overall experience.”
“It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game fully without spending extra money.”
“The constant push for in-game purchases makes it feel more like a cash grab than a genuine gaming experience.”
- character development1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While the game features impressive art and character design, along with strong music and mechanics, the reviews do not provide specific insights into the depth or progression of character development. Overall, the focus seems to be more on aesthetics and gameplay rather than on the evolution of characters.
