Vertigo 2
- January 15, 2024
- Zach Tsiakalis-Brown
- 9h median play time
Vertigo 2 is a charming game which had me itching to play more, with great writing and replayability.
"Vertigo 2" is a first-person shooter game where players must fight their way through a dangerous, alien-infested world. As the lone survivor of a space expedition, players must use an arsenal of weapons and their wits to survive and reach home. With immersive environments and intense combat, players must find a way to battle through hordes of hostile aliens and uncover the secrets of this mysterious planet.
Reviews
- Incredible gameplay and gun mechanics that feel satisfying and immersive.
- Unique and engaging story with a mix of humor and creativity, keeping players invested.
- Impressive variety of weapons, enemies, and environments, providing a fresh experience throughout the game.
- Some boss fights can be frustratingly difficult, leading to repetitive gameplay.
- Occasional performance issues and minor bugs that can disrupt the experience.
- The teleportation movement can feel limiting and may not suit all players' preferences.
- story511 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of "Vertigo 2" has been widely praised for its engaging narrative, humor, and unique world-building, often drawing comparisons to iconic titles like "Half-Life: Alyx." Players appreciate the depth and creativity of the plot, which features memorable characters, branching paths, and a mix of light-hearted and serious moments, making it a standout in the VR genre. While some found the story a bit convoluted or silly at times, the overall consensus is that it offers a captivating and immersive experience that keeps players invested throughout its lengthy campaign.
“The story hits hard; while it's simple, it still manages to build on itself repeatedly and do something unique and fun!”
“Vertigo 2 is one of the best story-driven VR games I've played yet, even more than Half-Life: Alyx and Boneworks.”
“The story is incredible, the gunplay is the best I've seen in VR; they are all so satisfying to use.”
“The story is linear and yet it feels so explorable.”
“The plot feels unnecessarily complex given your role in it, somewhat the low point but it allows some unexpected situations and environments given the 'everything goes' type of sci-fi genre it is.”
“The story is not very engaging and only serves as an excuse for the setpieces.”
- gameplay238 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this VR title has been widely praised for its engaging mechanics, variety, and smooth execution, often drawing comparisons to acclaimed games like Half-Life: Alyx. Players appreciate the innovative weapon mechanics, diverse enemy encounters, and the seamless integration of humor and storytelling, making for a captivating experience. While some minor glitches and design choices were noted, the overall consensus is that the gameplay is a standout feature, offering a fun and immersive adventure that keeps players entertained throughout.
“The gameplay is simply phenomenal; the enemies don't stand around waiting to be killed.”
“Vertigo 2 isn't just eye candy; its gameplay mechanics are impeccable.”
“The gameplay, story, soundtrack, and weapon system is fantastic.”
“Gameplay is frustrating and boring, with multiple glitches preventing progress.”
“Vertigo 2 starts out interesting, but slowly devolves into genuinely frustrating, infuriating, and just outright awful gameplay as it progresses.”
“The gameplay is not fun, it's annoying, it's frustrating with too many poor design choices.”
- graphics155 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received a mixed but generally positive reception, with many praising the stunning visuals, unique art style, and immersive environments. While some reviewers noted that the graphics may not reach the AAA level of titles like Half-Life: Alyx, they still found them to be beautiful and well-optimized for VR, contributing significantly to the overall experience. A few users mentioned occasional graphical glitches and dated elements, but these were often overshadowed by the game's artistic design and engaging gameplay.
“The graphics are nothing short of stunning, with an attention to detail that makes every environment feel alive and dynamic.”
“With stunning visuals, immersive gameplay, and an enthralling storyline, it's a journey you won't want to miss.”
“The art style is beautiful 3D eye candy that doesn’t rely heavily on high res textures.”
“A few times I get graphical glitches where parts of the scenery disappear.”
“The graphics in this game are also outdated and at times the animations are janky.”
“Buggy game, with dated graphics, cringe voice acting, bad jokes and cliché mechanics.”
- humor151 mentions
- 97 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The humor in Vertigo 2 is widely praised for its clever writing, quirky characters, and engaging dialogue, often drawing comparisons to the comedic styles of games like Portal and Rick and Morty. Players appreciate the game's ability to blend humor with action and exploration, resulting in a fun and immersive experience, though some find the humor hit-or-miss. Overall, the game is described as a delightful mix of funny moments and engaging gameplay, making it a standout title in the VR genre.
“The writing is hilarious.”
“Vertigo 2 manages to simultaneously pay homage to multiple gaming genres and deliver a strikingly unique and refreshing experience; it self-consciously recycles old gaming tropes and breathes new life into them; and it is very, very funny.”
“The story is intriguing, there's a great mix of humor and sincerity, and plenty of moments that get your adrenaline pumping and make you feel amazing.”
“Overall, it works well enough but I felt the story was too random (is it supposed to be funny or serious?), the weapons aren't punchy enough, the upgrades are few and far between, and I can't tell you how often I felt like an enemy was attacking me from inside my body.”
“The characters and dialogue are all bland, boring, and not funny.”
“Apart from creative alien design, this is the most boring and unfunny game I played in a while.”
- music85 mentions
- 74 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its quality, variety, and ability to enhance the overall experience. The soundtrack is described as fantastic, fitting seamlessly into the gameplay and elevating emotional moments, making it one of the standout features of the game. Overall, players consider the music to be a significant highlight, contributing to the game's immersive atmosphere and enjoyment.
“The music perfectly complements the on-screen action, enhancing the emotional impact of key moments and contributing to the overall atmosphere of the game.”
“The music is absolutely wonderful and it's available on most streaming services, including some of the more obscure ones like Tidal, which I can always appreciate.”
“The soundtrack is great, even the acting is engaging, something rare in what I understand is a very small team.”
“The music is fair.”
“The game graphics, the soundtrack, the characters and enemies design.”
“Music is a vibe.”
- optimization41 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
Overall, the optimization of the game has received mixed reviews. While some players praise its solid performance and smooth graphics, others report issues such as lag spikes, stuttering, and crashes, particularly in specific areas or after recent patches. Despite these concerns, many still consider it one of the better-optimized VR games available, especially on certain hardware configurations.
“By far the best VR game I've played; a lengthy story, plenty of secrets, a level editor on its way, as well as three new playable characters and challenging boss fights. It's also the best optimized game I've ever seen.”
“It's surprisingly well optimized and looks really great on Meta Quest 2.”
“All the trappings are there - solid graphics, phenomenal optimization (runs great!) and art design that I can get behind.”
“Performance was also a bit off with weird lag spikes.”
“I also had a lot of weird performance issues. The first time I launched the game, I couldn't play it; it would crash on load. I had to blindly change the graphical settings, and eventually, it started working. It still crashes now and then on random loading screens, and I also got softlocked and had to restart an area for shooting something that I needed to pick.”
“Several levels have significant stuttering, likely as a result of them being so huge - the lava and forest levels are where I noticed this the most, and lowering graphics settings didn't seem to help much at all.”
- replayability28 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability, enhanced by various features such as new game plus, multiple endings, and player-created content. Players appreciate the diverse gameplay options, including different characters, modifiers, and secrets to discover, making each playthrough feel fresh. Overall, it offers a rich experience that encourages exploration and experimentation, solidifying its value for both casual and dedicated gamers.
“It has its fair share of replay value too, given the number of ways to try another playthrough thanks to the update, plus some player-made levels to fiddle around in.”
“Replayability is through the roof, with so much exploring and not to mention all the super cool secrets!”
“There is already more replayability out of the box, with an entire codex to fill out and complete, and an arsenal of weapons with unique upgrades hidden throughout all the levels - not to mention a 'new game plus' built right into the base game.”
“Even though not all the levels are high quality, it does make the game more replayable.”
“Replay value isn't really high but there is a new game+ and a level editor coming soon.”
“The game seems to offer decent replayability with a chapter select and new game+ which I presume allows the player to experience the story again but with all their weapons available from the start.”
- stability22 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 77 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting various glitches and bugs that can disrupt gameplay, such as graphical issues, character animations, and environmental interactions. While some users experienced significant problems that hindered their progress, others noted that the game runs well on high-end systems and only encountered minor issues. Overall, while the game shows promise and is enjoyable, its stability remains a concern that may improve with future updates.
“Runs great on my GTX 1650.”
“All the trappings are there - solid graphics, phenomenal optimization (runs great!) and art design that I can get behind.”
“Not buggy!”
“A few times I get graphical glitches where parts of the scenery disappear.”
“Gameplay is frustrating and boring, with multiple glitches preventing progress.”
“Look, this game was hilarious and fun, but most of the time, the game bugs out a lot. I've gotten numerous bugs and glitches, such as limbs stretching out of proportion, getting guns stuck in walls, and enemies able to shoot through said walls at random.”
- atmosphere15 mentions
- 73 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning environments, engaging music, and a blend of sci-fi and horror elements that enhance the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the vibrant graphics, immersive sound design, and a sense of fun and creativity that permeates the gameplay, contributing to a captivating and enjoyable atmosphere. Overall, the game is described as a labor of love, with a rich atmosphere that keeps players engaged and entertained throughout.
“The music perfectly complements the on-screen action, enhancing the emotional impact of key moments and contributing to the overall atmosphere of the game.”
“The graphics are simple but the atmosphere this game provides is stunning, the gameplay is varied, and the story is exciting and humorous.”
“The atmosphere is great throughout and the mechanics leave nothing to be desired.”
“The pacing, the humor, the atmosphere, etc. I'll say it is harder than I expected.”
“It all looked pretty; the lighting and atmosphere helped set the tone.”
- grinding13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- -15 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience. While the game avoids forcing repetitive tasks, some battles and boss fights can feel tedious and frustrating, particularly due to enemy respawns and certain combat scenarios. However, the engaging storyline and variety in gameplay help mitigate the grind for many players.
“Grinding in this game feels rewarding and keeps me engaged for hours.”
“The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel earned.”
“I love how the grinding mechanics are balanced; it never feels like a chore.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The story line was enough to propel you through one battle after another - sometimes boring and tedious battles.”
“The combat can get tedious at times, plus enemies respawn when loading an autosave - I especially noticed the tedious combat in the forest level, especially with so many saplings to kill who quickly become easy to figure out and dispatch.”
- character development11 mentions
- 73 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The character development in this VR game is highly praised, with reviewers highlighting the impressive character design, emotional depth brought by excellent voice acting, and inventive set pieces. The variety and creativity in character designs, along with engaging animations, contribute significantly to the overall immersive experience. Overall, the game excels in delivering a rich and captivating character-driven narrative.
“The character development is top-notch, and the voice acting is impeccable, adding layers of emotion and depth to the overall experience.”
“I cannot recommend this game enough, the world and the character designs are beautiful and creative.”
“From the story to the combat, to the level and character design, this game hits almost every single spot I've wanted from a VR game.”
- emotional7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game elicits strong emotional responses through its impactful music and well-developed characters, leaving players feeling genuinely sad at its conclusion. While it maintains a lighthearted and goofy tone, certain moments resonate deeply, creating a wholesome experience that inspires excitement and happiness. Overall, it is praised for its heartfelt execution and emotional depth, making it a must-play.
“The music perfectly complements the on-screen action, enhancing the emotional impact of key moments and contributing to the overall atmosphere of the game.”
“There was so much character in the game, and I was so sad when it ended; usually, I don't get that emotional about anything.”
“Thank you zulubo/zach for making such a genuinely amazing game :D also, the credits song almost made me cry despite being a banger of a song.”