Vector 36

82%
Game Brain Score Based on 406 reviews
  • optimization
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Vector 36 Game Cover
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Vector 36 is a space combat and exploration game that puts you in the cockpit of a advanced fighter ship. Harvest resources, engage in battles, and explore the vast open world of

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

82%
Audience ScoreBased on 406 reviews
gameplay26 positive mentions
grinding6 negative mentions
  • Vector 36 offers a unique and complex racing experience that combines physics-based flight with customizable skimmers, making it stand out in the anti-gravity racing genre.
  • The sense of speed and immersion in VR is exceptional, providing an exhilarating experience as players navigate through Martian landscapes at high speeds.
  • The game features a deep customization system for skimmers, allowing players to fine-tune their vehicles' performance and handling, which adds a rewarding layer of strategy to the racing.
  • The learning curve is steep, and many players find the controls unintuitive and frustrating, especially for newcomers who may struggle to grasp the mechanics.
  • The user interface, particularly in the garage for customizing skimmers, is clunky and lacks clarity, making it difficult for players to effectively manage their vehicles.
  • Performance issues, including stuttering and bugs, can detract from the overall experience, especially in VR, leading to discomfort and motion sickness for some players.
  • optimization54 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with many players experiencing significant frame rate drops and stuttering, particularly in VR and on high settings, even with powerful hardware. While the customization and engineering aspects of vehicle performance are praised, the overall graphical performance and optimization need improvement, as players often find it challenging to gauge performance in the garage and during gameplay. Developers are actively working on updates to enhance performance, which gives some hope for future improvements.

    • “It's not only the fact that you can basically trim your power-to-lift ratio on the go, or that you will need to make full use of rudder, roll, and pitch to keep your craft precariously skimming past outcrops and obstacles, but you can also purchase, swap, install, and fine-tune the placement and orientation of all the components in your ship, which in turn will also affect its behavior, center of mass, thrust pitch, and performance.”
    • “Even without replacing any parts, and just adjusting the placement of your old ones, you can drastically alter the performance and handling of your skimmer.”
    • “You will crash, you will burn; but when you control your skimmer and get 110% performance out of it, it's clearly a great feeling.”
    • “Graphics are poorly optimized for VR; I run the Valve Index and a 2080 Ti overclocked with a water-cooled GPU.”
    • “Despite some occasional performance issues due to the early stage in development, the game is awesome.”
    • “It needs more realistic physics, more content, is still unoptimized, and often doesn't even launch.”
  • gameplay52 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by a steep learning curve and deep mechanics, particularly in vehicle construction and racing physics, which can be frustrating for new players. While the game offers a rich and rewarding experience, especially in VR, it requires patience and a willingness to learn, as many players find the initial tinkering with designs to be cumbersome. Overall, the innovative mechanics and engaging physics provide a unique and enjoyable gameplay experience, though it may not appeal to those seeking a more casual gaming experience.

    • “The game has huge potential, especially for its unique and excellent driving mechanics and customizations.”
    • “Challenging, deep gameplay that also manages to be a hell of a lot of fun too.”
    • “I love games that incorporate physics and this one does a good job of it. You can 'feel' the mass of your vehicle; as in, you can sense the inertia and the thrust mechanics. It is a blast just flying around.”
    • “For all the mind-boggling variety of construction that the game allows, the 5 stock skimmers feel a bit bland, and tinkering with a design tends to be more of a frustrating waste of time than it should be. It feels like a lot of its mechanical depth is locked behind this often obtuse facet.”
    • “Not for the impatient gamer, though: the mechanics have a steep learning curve, and the modifications can be extremely frustrating in the beginning when you don't understand the consequences of your changes.”
    • “I can't comment on gameplay because I couldn't even get that far.”
  • graphics46 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players finding them solid and well-suited for VR, while others criticize them as poorly optimized and lacking in modern appeal. Many agree that while the visuals may not stand out, they are complemented by strong physics and gameplay mechanics. Overall, the graphical performance is seen as a weak point, particularly in VR, but some players appreciate the immersive experience it offers.

    • “This game is amazing, the graphics, though not the best, are perfectly suited to VR and look as good as most modern titles.”
    • “Thrilling experience, great graphics, fun, and the developer keeps updating. Thank you!”
    • “Absolutely a 1st rate VR game. Runs nice, the graphics of passing ships are nice, the world graphics are good. Gameplay 10/10, love it!”
    • “A really disappointing game, was looking forward to a VR racer but instead got this low-graphics, nauseating pile of rubbish.”
    • “Graphics are poorly optimized for VR; I run the Valve Index and a 2080 Ti overclocked with a water-cooled GPU.”
    • “The visuals don't look that special and the menus are actually pretty ugly.”
  • music8 mentions

    The game's music has received positive feedback for its catchy and memorable tracks, particularly the menu theme, which players find hard to forget. While the soundtrack complements the gameplay effectively, enhancing the overall experience, some users have reported technical issues with sound output that detract from the enjoyment.

    • “Also, the music slaps and the menu theme will live rent-free in your head.”
    • “Bland, covered up but cool techno music.”
    • “The game has some weird technical quirks, like locking into a sound output and simply not playing any music or sounds when selecting a different one on Windows.”
    • “The soundtrack fits really well with the gameplay, giving a nice escape from the sounds of thrusters.”
  • grinding6 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the racing career mode to be unbalanced and frustrating, leading to a tiresome and boring experience. Despite the game's excellent physics and immersive driving mechanics, the grind required to unlock top-tier content detracts from overall enjoyment.

    • “It starts to be grindy, tiresome, and boring pretty soon.”
    • “I don't feel like grinding my way through to get all the best stuff...”
    • “Tl;dr: excellent physics and immersive driving in contrast to unbalanced, frustrating, and grindy racing career.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game is viewed as cautious, with the developer presenting DLC as optional rather than essential, which is generally appreciated by users. However, there are concerns about the potential for exploitative cash grabs similar to those seen in other franchises, indicating a desire for fair and non-intrusive monetization practices.

    • “This is more than a quick cash grab, taking advantage of LucasArts/Disney completely failing at capitalizing on their IP.”
    • “This is an early access game with DLC. The developer has argued that he sees the DLC as a luxury that not all users will need, which I can mostly understand, but I sincerely hope that we don't see any Payday 2, Call of Duty, or other cash-grabbing DLC installments in the future.”
  • stability4 mentions

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent freezes—especially for Linux users—and numerous bugs that lead to crashes. Additionally, players may lose previous craft modifications, further detracting from the overall experience.

    • “Not only that but it was buggy and crashy as hell.”
    • “The bad - ordinary menu interface, limited number of race courses, freezes often for Linux users, you can lose previous craft modifications (only two craft at a time, with three versions each).”
    • “The bad - ordinary menu interface, limited number of race courses, freezes often for Linux users, you can lose previous craft modifications (only two craft at a time, with three versions each).”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The game is praised for its immersive atmosphere and exhilarating sense of speed, providing a realistic experience that challenges players with its hardcore simulation mechanics. Users note that flying a skimmer in a low-density atmosphere can be difficult, emphasizing the game's commitment to authenticity over arcade-style gameplay.

    • “Great atmosphere and sense of speed.”
    • “About the game itself, first flights are going to be hard. It's not easy to fly a skimmer in a low-density atmosphere, and don't be fooled into expecting arcade behavior from the skimmer. It's a really hardcore simulator; if you like sims, go buy it now!”
  • story2 mentions

    The story aspect is not explicitly addressed in the provided texts, which focus more on gameplay mechanics and the learning curve. However, it suggests that while players quickly grasp the basics, achieving victory presents a more complex challenge.

  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game primarily stems from the chaotic interactions between flying mechanics and unpredictable terrain, leading to amusing moments of bouncing, rolling, and crashing if players fail to navigate properly.

    • “It's hilarious how flying can turn into a comedy show when the terrain makes your ship bounce, roll, or crash if you don't handle it properly.”
    • “The humor in this game comes from the unexpected moments when your ship hilariously bounces and rolls due to the terrain.”
    • “I love how the game combines flying with slapstick humor, as your ship can easily crash in the most ridiculous ways if you're not careful.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    Players highlight the game's depth and engaging gameplay, noting that it offers significant replayability, especially in virtual reality. Overall, it is regarded as a fantastic experience that encourages multiple playthroughs.

    • “It has very interesting gameplay, depth, replayability, and is just fantastic in VR.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Players express frustration and a sense of helplessness due to the inability to revert vehicle settings, leading to feelings of incompetence and disappointment in the game's mechanics.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

7hMedian play time
15hAverage play time
4-32hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 10 analyzed playthroughs

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