Vertigo 2

Vertigo 2 is a charming game which had me itching to play more, with great writing and replayability.

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"Vertigo 2 is a single-player VR adventure game set in a massive, unique world filled with bizarre lifeforms, deadly robots, and challenging boss fights." The game offers a wide variety of enemies, hybrid locomotion, and a state-of-the-art VR arsenal, along with fully voiced characters and an original soundtrack. As you navigate through the depths of Quantum Reactor VII, you must determine who to trust and face off against intense boss battles in your journey home.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

79%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,663 reviews

story454 positive mentions

stability32 negative mentions

Vertigo 2 is an incredible VR experience, combining engaging gameplay, a humorous story, and stunning visuals, making it one of the best VR games available.
The game features a wide variety of unique weapons, each with satisfying reload mechanics, and a diverse range of enemies that keep combat fresh and exciting.
Developed primarily by one person, Vertigo 2 showcases a remarkable level of creativity and polish, offering a lengthy campaign filled with secrets and replayability.

Some players have reported frustrating difficulty spikes, particularly during boss fights, which can feel overwhelming and lead to repeated deaths.
The game can suffer from minor bugs and performance issues, including stuttering during certain sections and awkward interactions with the environment.
The story can be convoluted at times, and some players found the humor and dialogue to be hit or miss, potentially detracting from the overall experience.

story
950 mentions
48 % positive mentions
49 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The story of Vertigo 2 is widely praised for its engaging and humorous narrative, drawing comparisons to iconic titles like Half-Life: Alyx. Players appreciate the game's unique world-building, character development, and the blend of absurdity and coherence in its plot, which keeps them invested throughout the approximately 10-hour campaign. While some find the story convoluted or silly at times, the overall consensus is that it offers a rich and entertaining experience, enhanced by strong voice acting and a variety of branching paths that encourage replayability.
- “Overall, Vertigo 2 is one of the best story-driven VR shooters and a breath of fresh air in terms of quality and polish after disappointing Saints & Sinners 2 and Hubris.”
- “The story is nothing short of amazing and will have you hooked throughout its entire playthrough.”
- “The narrative is equally compelling, weaving an intricate and engaging story that keeps you hooked from start to finish.”
- “The story and writing/voice acting is also eh and didn't make a whole lot of sense to me, but there's enough charm there that I didn't care.”
- “I found the story to be too silly to really get into and I struggled to even follow what was going on in the actual story, some of the characters I can't even understand what they are saying.”
- “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.”
gameplay
446 mentions
52 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Vertigo 2 is widely praised for its engaging mechanics, blending traditional first-person shooter elements with innovative VR features, puzzles, and a variety of unique weapons. Players appreciate the smooth controls, diverse environments, and the constant introduction of new challenges that keep the experience fresh and exciting. While some users noted minor glitches and frustrations with certain boss encounters, the overall consensus is that the gameplay is immersive, fun, and comparable to or even surpassing titles like Half-Life: Alyx.
- “The gameplay is simply phenomenal; the enemies don't stand around waiting to be killed.”
- “Vertigo 2 isn't just a game; it's an unparalleled virtual reality experience that sets an unprecedented standard for immersive gameplay.”
- “The gameplay mechanics are a revelation, seamlessly blending traditional first-person shooter elements with mind-bending puzzles and gravity-defying challenges.”
- “Gameplay is frustrating and boring, with multiple glitches preventing progress.”
- “My problem is that each time I had to confront a boss in an arena, gameplay came to a screeching halt.”
- “The gameplay is not fun, it's annoying, it's frustrating with too many poor design choices.”
graphics
292 mentions
55 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and unique art style, often described as both beautiful and immersive, particularly in a VR context. While some players noted occasional graphical glitches and a lack of ultra-realism compared to titles like Half-Life: Alyx, the overall aesthetic and attention to detail in environments and character design were highlighted as standout features. Many reviews emphasized that the game's visuals contribute significantly to the engaging gameplay experience, making it a visually impressive title in the VR landscape.
- “The graphics are nothing short of stunning, with an attention to detail that makes every environment feel alive and dynamic.”
- “Incredibly fun and breathtaking journey, the graphics and visuals are incredible especially when mixed with the amazing and large environments this game features.”
- “With stunning visuals, immersive gameplay, and an enthralling storyline, it's a journey you won't want to miss.”
- “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.”
- “The game starts slow and I wasn't impressed with the graphics nor the enemies' animation.”
humor
278 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 storytelling, creating a fun and immersive experience that keeps them laughing throughout. While some found certain jokes hit or miss, the overall consensus is that the game successfully delivers a unique and entertaining comedic tone that enhances its gameplay.
- “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.”
- “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've played in a while.”
- “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.”
music
160 mentions
75 % positive mentions
23 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its exceptional quality and ability to enhance the overall experience. The soundtrack is described as diverse, fitting various situations perfectly, and is considered one of the best in VR gaming, often compared favorably to titles like Half-Life: Alyx. Overall, the music significantly contributes to the game's atmosphere, emotional impact, and enjoyment, making it a standout feature.
- “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 really good, like really really good, I've already put a few tracks from the game into my playlists, I'm still in shock after hearing that Zach also produced all the music.”
- “The music is fair.”
- “The music seriously goes hard, and much like all the other aspects of the game, only gets better as you go along.”
- “The game graphics, the soundtrack, the characters and enemies design.”
optimization
78 mentions
41 % positive mentions
41 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while many players praise its solid performance and beautiful graphics, some report issues such as stuttering, crashes, and poor framerates in specific areas. Despite these drawbacks, several users highlight that the game runs well on various systems, particularly after patches, making it one of the better-optimized VR experiences available. However, certain levels and scenarios still exhibit performance inconsistencies that detract from the overall experience.
- “It's surprisingly well optimized and looks really great on Meta Quest 2.”
- “By far the best VR game I've played; a lengthy story, plenty of secrets, and 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.”
- “All the trappings are there - solid graphics, phenomenal optimization (runs great!) and art design that I can get behind.”
- “Really good game but it has bad performance issues on Quest 3 with Virtual Desktop.”
- “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, and I had to blindly change the graphical settings. Eventually, it started working, but it still crashes now and then on random loading screens. 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.”
replayability
55 mentions
27 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability, enhanced by features such as new game plus, multiple endings, and player-created content. Players appreciate the variety of unlockables, secrets, and different playthrough options, making it a compelling choice for those seeking a rich narrative experience. Overall, the combination of engaging gameplay and diverse replay options ensures that players will find plenty of reasons to return.
- “The replayability, the different monsters, and the cool creative weapons make this game an amazing VR game.”
- “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.”
- “Replay value isn't really high but there is a new game plus and a level editor coming soon.”
- “Even though not all the levels are high quality, it does make the game more replayable.”
- “The game seems to offer decent replayability with a chapter select and new game plus, which I presume allows the player to experience the story again but with all their weapons available from the start.”
stability
42 mentions
24 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
76 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players reporting various glitches and bugs that can disrupt gameplay, such as graphical issues, calibration problems, and unexpected character behavior. However, some users noted that the game runs well on high-end systems and that minor glitches did not significantly impact their overall experience. Overall, while the game shows promise and is considered enjoyable, its stability issues may detract from the experience for some players.
- “Runs great, i7 8700k, RTX 3080, 32GB, Valve Index.”
- “All the trappings are there - solid graphics, phenomenal optimization (runs great!) and art design that I can get behind.”
- “Not buggy!”
- “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 don't know if it's just because I have Quest 2 or something wrong with the game. The story was good, guns were pretty good, mechanics were well done, just so many times, I've encountered numerous bugs and glitches, such as limbs stretching out of proportion, getting guns stuck in walls, enemies able to shoot through said walls at random. When respawning, you have no time to react as everything murders you on sight, even on the lowest difficulty. When I was driving the boat, it would suddenly jump sporadically like crazy and flip the whole thing upside down and glitch me around.”
- “This game is amazing and the reloading is amazing, but the reason I'm giving this a bad review is that the calibration is incredibly buggy and I found myself floating in the air and also getting shoved into the ground.”
atmosphere
28 mentions
71 % positive mentions
18 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning environments, engaging sound design, and effective use of music that enhances emotional moments. Reviewers highlight a blend of sci-fi and horror elements, complemented by varied gameplay and a sense of humor, creating a vibrant and immersive experience. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as a labor of love, contributing significantly to its replayability and enjoyment.
- “The graphics are simple but the atmosphere this game provides is stunning, the gameplay is varied, and the story is exciting and humorous.”
- “It is clearly a labor of love that is constantly engaging, has quite a bit of replayability, a good story that doesn't overstay its welcome, insane spectacle and atmosphere, and is just really fun.”
- “The atmosphere, the lands, and the gunplay are all so amazing.”
- “The music perfectly complements the on-screen action, enhancing the emotional impact of key moments and contributing to the overall atmosphere of the game.”
- “It all looked pretty; the lighting and atmosphere helped set the tone.”
grinding
24 mentions
0 % positive mentions
8 % neutral mentions
92 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be less of a focus compared to other titles, as it avoids forcing repetitive tasks like searching for resources. However, some battles and boss fights can feel tedious and frustrating, with certain sections of gameplay described as monotonous. While the game offers a variety of encounters, the combat can become tiresome, particularly in specific levels where enemy respawns contribute to the feeling of grind.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “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.”
- “Had no shame in turning the difficulty down to easy a few times, because even if I could get through it, it would have been more tedious than fun.”
character development
20 mentions
70 % positive mentions
30 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highly praised, with reviewers highlighting the top-notch character design and impeccable voice acting that adds emotional depth. The creative and varied character designs, along with interesting idle animations, contribute to an engaging experience that enhances both the story and gameplay. Overall, the character development is seen as a standout feature that significantly enriches the game.
- “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.”
emotional
14 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game evokes strong emotional responses through its heartfelt storytelling and impactful music, which enhances key moments and overall atmosphere. Players express deep attachment to the characters and a sense of sadness upon completion, highlighting the game's wholesome and genuine nature. While it maintains a goofy tone, certain moments can be emotionally intense, making it a memorable experience that inspires joy and excitement.
- “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 for anything.”
- “Thank you Zulubo/Zach for making such a genuinely amazing game! The credits song almost made me cry despite being a banger of a song.”