Vox Machinae
The long awaited release of Vox Machinae! No longer just a teaser demo on Oculus DK2!
Get on SteamIn "Vox Machinae" , pilot a massive mining machine in the Serus System and protect your company's resources from a hostile force. Customize your Grinder with various weaponry and engage in an immersive single-player campaign or seamless multiplayer action. This tactical VR simulator boasts responsive action and is built for a seamless VR experience.
PC
Steam Deck
Virtual Reality
Windows
Oculus Rift
Windows Mixed Reality
Reviews
- Incredible VR experience that immerses players in the cockpit of a giant mech, providing a strong sense of scale and presence.
- Intuitive controls that allow players to physically interact with the cockpit, enhancing immersion and gameplay.
- Active community and responsive developers, with regular updates and a variety of game modes including multiplayer and bot skirmishes.
- Limited single-player content, with many players expressing a desire for a campaign mode to enhance replayability.
- Small player base at times, making it difficult to find multiplayer matches, leading to reliance on AI bots.
- Some players report issues with the AI's performance and the overall pacing of gameplay, feeling it can become repetitive.
- story186 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the engaging missions and character interactions, while others find the narrative dull and the dialogue tedious. The campaign features a mission-based structure with decent voice acting, but many players feel that the intermission segments slow down the pacing and detract from the overall experience. Overall, while the story has potential and some enjoyable moments, it often falls short of expectations, leading to a desire for more depth and coherence.
“The story had my attention the whole way through, and I felt as though I really got to know each character of the crew.”
“The story is fairly complete and there is plenty of dialogue with a nice backstory.”
“Just wow at what the devs have done with the single player story since launch in 2018.”
“The story is mind numbing and infuriatingly stupid at times.”
“The story, the writing, the cringe, the voice acting, the mind numbing things they say.”
“The story mode so far has been very, very meh.”
- gameplay133 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is generally praised for its solid mechanics, immersive experience, and smooth performance, particularly in VR. While many players appreciate the fun and addictive nature of the combat and customization options, some express concerns about a lack of depth, variety, and engaging story elements. Overall, the game is seen as a strong entry in the mech genre, appealing to both newcomers and veterans, though it could benefit from additional content and gameplay modes.
“The gameplay and the story are both incredible!!”
“The core gameplay is incredibly solid and the game has a decent amount of variety in terms of mechs and weapons.”
“Gameplay is ridiculously fun and addictive.”
“The gameplay is slow and mundane, and every match feels the same.”
“Unfortunately right now there isn't a lot of variety in the scenery or gameplay which I hope will change over time.”
“Right now getting a kill or dying is more or less meaningless and kills the gameplay.”
- graphics102 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising their quality, detail, and smooth performance, particularly in VR settings. While some players find the visuals impressive and immersive, others criticize them as simplistic or outdated compared to other titles. Overall, the graphics are generally considered good, with potential for improvement and optimization in future updates.
“The graphics style is cool, sort of cartoon meets gritty realism, very appropriate for the genre which was always a bit over the top on all accounts.”
“The graphics are very good, especially the levels themselves; there is no doubt that the creators are both talented and passionate about this game.”
“Beautiful graphics, tight controls and an excellent online experience make for an all-round incredible game.”
“Overall graphics are just way too simple.”
“The graphics look like a game from 20-25 years ago and it is inferior to MechWarrior Online in every possible way.”
“The graphics are ok but the graphics options for non-VR users are somewhat missing.”
- optimization18 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is highly praised for its optimization, delivering smooth performance and impressive graphics even on low-end machines. Users report no significant issues such as stuttering, glitches, or crashes, highlighting a well-polished experience that enhances gameplay immersion. However, some minor performance dips were noted in specific areas, like the campaign ship hub.
“It's a good compromise of quality and performance in my opinion.”
“Very consistent graphical style and the performance is surprisingly well optimized.”
“Absolutely no performance issues, looks beautiful, feels responsive, and the sitting position with the control scheme makes driving the mech very natural and ridiculously immersive.”
“The only way to get this in early access is optimization.”
“Good on space bullet for not releasing unoptimized crap that plagues early access.”
“One of my issues with the game is the fact that the campaign ship hub before missions tanks in performance.”
- music18 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players praise the soundtrack as iconic and atmospheric, others feel it doesn't match the gameplay and suggest improvements, such as the ability to import personal music. Overall, the sound design is generally well-received, contributing positively to the game's immersive experience, though there are calls for a more fitting musical direction and additional features.
“The mechs are deliciously physical, the action is heavy, the soundtrack is iconic.”
“The audio is impressive and the music is fantastic.”
“The sound and music really bring that added atmosphere and finally the tactical paced mech combat really feels satisfying (even if you have to eject).”
“Ambient music really doesn't match the gameplay.”
“The music is dreadful, however.”
“I would love to see some industrial/neurohop/DnB soundtrack for ultimate future feels; the devs could definitely get in touch with some amazing world-class music producers if they choose to.”
- stability14 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is highly praised, with users reporting minimal visual glitches and no significant issues such as crashes or stuttering. It runs smoothly on a variety of hardware, including lower-end systems, and offers a seamless experience in both VR and flatscreen modes. Players appreciate the solid performance and flawless netcode, contributing to an enjoyable gaming experience.
“No glitches, stuttering, clipping, never stuck loading, no crashes, no issues.”
“The game looks great, runs great and the netcode is working flawlessly but the truly bright spot in Vox Machinae is its near-perfect gameplay.”
“Awesome fun and runs great even on potato PC, plays in both VR and flatscreen mode.”
“There are a few visual glitches with this game as well.”
“I won't play buggy games.”
“Buggy.”
- humor10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by immersive writing and voice acting, with many character interactions and single-player dialogues being particularly funny. Players appreciate the comedic elements, such as humorous robot voiceovers and amusing in-game scenarios, including the slapstick moments of mech ejection. Overall, the game is praised for its lighthearted and entertaining approach, enhancing the overall experience.
“The writing and voice acting is immersive and hilarious.”
“Many, many thanks to the devs for this wonderful, very funny, and lovely masterpiece.”
“But hey, this is a very approachable mech game with pleasing visuals that not only offers crossplay, but also has some really neat touches such as humorous robot voiceovers.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report a strong emotional connection to the game, highlighting feelings of nostalgia and empowerment, particularly through its immersive VR experience. The wholesome interactions during online matches and the unique control mechanics contribute to a sense of being in a fantastical world, reminiscent of classic mecha themes. Overall, the game successfully evokes a sense of excitement and satisfaction, making players feel like they are truly part of the action.
“This is one of the games that made me feel like my VR headset was a worthy purchase.”
“The game made me feel like a total badass, and I love the 80's aesthetic of the acid map.”
“Also, my first online match was very wholesome.”
- grinding5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be minimal, as it does not require grinding or microtransactions once purchased. However, some elements, like the slow dialogue and tedious walking segments, can detract from the overall experience, making certain parts feel monotonous. Despite this, the actual missions are generally considered fun and varied.
“This game seems to require no grinding or microtransactions once you own it.”
“The story is meh with 2 boss fights; one is fighting a worm that's so tedious and boring that I wanted to put a revolver to my temple.”
“Some of the voices sound bored and tired, and the dialogue is slow and tedious.”
“Getting to the battle can be a bit tedious, but it definitely adds to the immersion of piloting such a giant war machine.”
- replayability5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers a solid level of replayability, with smooth gameplay and immersive environments contributing to its appeal. While some users note that many VR games struggle with replay value, this title manages to provide enough engaging mechanics and enjoyable experiences to encourage multiple playthroughs.
“I love the gameplay, environments, sound, music, and voice -- every aspect comes together perfectly for many hours of replay value.”
“But what is there is smooth, tactical, and replayable.”
“Immersion is very high, gameplay is good, mechanics are great, and replayability is fair.”
“Most VR games have very low replayability.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised, with users noting the effective combination of sound, music, and tactical mech combat that enhances the overall experience. The blend of atmospheric elements and humor contributes to a satisfying and immersive environment.
“The sound and music really bring that added atmosphere, and the tactical-paced mech combat really feels satisfying (even if you have to eject).”
“This gives the game a fantastic atmosphere.”
“Very atmospheric.”
“Atmosphere and comedy?”
“The sound and music really bring that added atmosphere, but the overall experience feels lacking.”
“The game fails to create a compelling atmosphere, leaving players feeling disconnected.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviewers appreciate the game's free-to-play model with cosmetic monetization, highlighting its rarity as a multiplayer mech game that avoids intrusive microtransactions. This approach is seen as a significant positive, making the game accessible and enjoyable for players, even those without VR equipment.
“Make it free-to-play with cosmetic monetization, and people will flock to it.”
“The monetization model is fair and doesn't hinder gameplay, allowing everyone to enjoy the game.”
“I appreciate that the game offers optional purchases without pressuring players to spend money.”
“Make it free-to-play with cosmetic monetization and people will flow.”
“A real multiplayer mech game like this is very rare to see, especially when it's devoid of microtransactions and other nonsense. It's worth getting for that, even if you don't have VR equipment.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that while the character design in the mech game aligns with a traditional anime aesthetic reminiscent of Gundam, there is a desire for more modern and customizable options. Players express interest in the potential for updated character designs and the ability to upload personal models, suggesting that enhanced character development could improve player engagement and satisfaction.
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
“I was disappointed by the lack of meaningful choices that affect character growth; it feels like the characters are on a predetermined path.”
“The dialogue is often clichéd and doesn't contribute to the development of the characters, leaving them feeling one-dimensional.”
