Vector 36

82%
Game Brain Score Based on 203 reviews
  • optimization
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Vector 36 Game Cover
Starting at €14.79Buy now
Get on Steam

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

Play Modes

Reviews

82%
Audience ScoreBased on 203 reviews
gameplay13 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions
  • Vector 36 offers a unique and complex racing experience, combining physics-based flight mechanics with deep customization options for skimmers.
  • The sense of speed and immersion in VR is exceptional, making players feel like they are truly racing through Martian landscapes.
  • The game has a dedicated developer who actively responds to feedback and regularly updates the game, showing commitment to improving the player experience.
  • The learning curve is steep, making it difficult for new players to grasp the controls and mechanics, leading to frustration.
  • The user interface, especially in the garage for customizing skimmers, is clunky and unintuitive, making it hard to make adjustments effectively.
  • Performance issues and bugs, such as stuttering and crashes, can detract from the overall experience, especially in VR.
  • optimization27 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant frame rate drops and stuttering, even on high-end hardware. While the customization options for vehicle performance are praised and provide a satisfying engineering experience, the overall graphical performance, particularly in VR, is considered lacking. Players express hope for further optimization improvements, as the game shows potential but currently struggles with performance issues.

    • “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.”
    • “I just wished for it to be better optimized as there are evident framerate drops and stuttering even on a beefy config.”
    • “It needs more realistic physics, more content, and is still unoptimized; it often doesn't even launch.”
  • gameplay26 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 variety of customization and rewarding physics-based interactions, it requires patience and a willingness to learn, making it less suitable for those seeking immediate gratification. Overall, players appreciate the innovative mechanics and immersive experience, especially in VR, despite some initial challenges.

    • “Be prepared for a learning curve; I feel a lot of these negative reviews are from impatient players who refused to go through the tutorial or didn't take seriously the need to learn a new gameplay style.”
    • “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; 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 five stock skimmers feel a bit bland, and tinkering with a design tends to be more of a frustrating waste of time than it should. 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 found my experience in gameplay and skimmer building very similar to the learning curve I had to overcome when I started playing KSP.”
  • graphics23 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 be groundbreaking, they are acceptable for a simulation-focused experience, especially when complemented by good physics. Overall, the graphical performance is seen as a weak point, particularly for those expecting high-quality visuals in VR.

    • “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!”
    • “The graphics of passing ships are nice, and the world graphics are impressive. Overall, it's a first-rate VR game.”
    • “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.”
  • music4 mentions

    The game's music has received positive feedback, with many praising its catchy and memorable themes, particularly the menu music. While there are some technical issues with sound output, the soundtrack effectively complements the gameplay, providing an enjoyable auditory experience.

    • “Also, the music slaps and the menu theme will live rent-free in your head.”
    • “The soundtrack fits really well with the gameplay, giving a nice escape from the sounds of thrusters.”
    • “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.”
    • “Its lack of video options beyond a few simple selectors for resolution and general video effects detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “The soundtrack fits really well with the gameplay, giving a nice escape from the sounds of thrusters.”
  • grinding3 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the racing career to be unbalanced and frustrating, leading to a tiresome and boring experience that detracts from the otherwise excellent physics and immersive driving. Many express a lack of motivation to continue grinding for upgrades and rewards.

    • “Tl;dr: excellent physics and immersive driving in contrast to an unbalanced, frustrating, and grindy racing career.”
    • “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...”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game is viewed as cautious, with the developer positioning DLC as optional rather than essential, which is appreciated by some users. However, there are concerns about the potential for future cash grab tactics similar to other franchises, indicating a desire for transparency and fairness in future content offerings.

    • “This feels more like a quick cash grab, taking advantage of LucasArts/Disney completely failing to capitalize on their IP.”
    • “This is an early access game with DLC. The developer argues that he sees the DLC as a luxury that not all users will need, which I can mostly understand. However, I sincerely hope we don't see any Payday 2, Call of Duty, or other cash-grabbing DLC installments in the future.”
  • stability2 mentions

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent freezes, particularly for Linux users, and numerous bugs that lead to crashes. Additionally, players report problems with the menu interface and the potential loss of craft modifications, further detracting from the overall experience.

    • “The menu interface is ordinary, and the limited number of race courses is disappointing. It often freezes for Linux users, and you can lose previous craft modifications, with only two crafts available at a time, each having three versions.”
    • “Not only that, but it was buggy and crashed frequently.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The game offers a captivating atmosphere with a strong sense of speed, immersing players in a challenging simulation experience. While the initial flights may be difficult due to the realistic handling of the skimmer in low-density environments, it appeals to fans of hardcore simulators.

    • “Great atmosphere and sense of speed.”
    • “The game offers a challenging experience; flying a skimmer in a low-density atmosphere is not easy. Don't expect arcade-like behavior from the skimmer; it's a hardcore simulator. If you enjoy simulation games, you should definitely buy it now!”
  • story1 mentions

    The story aspect is not explicitly detailed in the reviews, but it suggests that while players quickly grasp the gameplay mechanics, achieving victory presents a more challenging narrative.

    • “The learning curve is short, and you will soon be scooting around with ease; however, winning is another story.”
    • “The story feels disjointed and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
    • “I found the plot predictable and uninspired, which made it difficult to stay engaged.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game arises from the chaotic interactions between flying mechanics and the unpredictable terrain, leading to amusing situations where players' ships bounce, roll, or crash due to mishandling.

    • “The humor in the game is hilarious, especially when your ship bounces and rolls unexpectedly due to the terrain!”
    • “I can't stop laughing at how my ship crashes in the most ridiculous ways when I misjudge the terrain.”
    • “The comedic elements really shine through when you're trying to navigate and end up in a hilarious disaster!”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The game offers engaging and deep gameplay that enhances its replayability, particularly in virtual reality, making it a fantastic experience for players.

    • “It has very interesting gameplay, depth, replayability, and is just fantastic in VR.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Players express frustration and disappointment with the game, highlighting feelings of helplessness and regret after unintentionally altering vehicle settings, which rendered the game unplayable.

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

Buy Vector 36

Play time

7hMedian play time
15hAverage play time
4-32hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games

Game News