War Dust
- May 6, 2020
- raptor lab
- 42h median play time
Get on Steam"War Dust VR" is a large-scale multiplayer VR shooter with 32v32 battles, featuring diverse landscapes and dynamic day-night environments. Engage in immersive tactical warfare with customizable loadouts and conquest-style gameplay, as you capture control points and dominate the battlefield. This community-driven game also offers a variety of player-created maps, with continuous development guided by its active player base.
PC
Virtual Reality
Windows
Oculus VR
Windows Mixed Reality
Reviews
- The game offers a fun and chaotic battlefield experience in VR, reminiscent of the Battlefield series.
- The inclusion of vehicles, such as tanks and helicopters, adds a unique layer of gameplay and excitement.
- The community is friendly and helpful, making it easy for new players to learn the ropes and enjoy the game.
- The graphics are subpar and can feel outdated, detracting from the overall immersion.
- There are numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including issues with controls and weapon handling.
- The progression system is slow and can feel grindy, with many unlocks being cosmetic rather than impactful.
- gameplay186 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this VR title is often described as chaotic and fun, reminiscent of classic battlefield mechanics, with a mix of vehicle and parachute dynamics that enhance the experience. While many players appreciate the core mechanics and the engaging multiplayer action, there are frequent complaints about clunky controls, unpolished graphics, and various bugs that detract from the overall experience. Despite these issues, the game maintains a dedicated community and offers a unique, enjoyable gameplay loop that appeals to fans of large-scale FPS action.
“I love this game and the ability to be able to drive all sorts of vehicles as well as the parachute mechanic which makes getting around a blast!”
“The gameplay is pure, non-stop action!”
“The gameplay is really fun.”
“The gameplay can be a bit janky.”
“The game is heavily imbalanced, probably the most buggy game ever made, and the mechanics are the most contrived thing I've ever seen in a video game.”
“Awful graphics, awful gameplay, awful sound effects, abandoned development (just a workshop to let the community do the work for them).”
- graphics180 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many users describing them as outdated, low-resolution, and often janky. While some players acknowledge that the visuals are not the focus and that gameplay compensates for the graphical shortcomings, others express frustration over the poor quality, comparing it unfavorably to older titles. Overall, the consensus is that while the game may be fun, its graphics need significant improvement to enhance the overall experience.
“Graphics and maps are well put together.”
“The graphics are pretty good for a VR title this big.”
“The major update made the game so much better graphically and added a lot of immersion.”
“The graphics are abhorrent and the gunplay is even worse.”
“The graphics are very low res but I am thankful for that.”
“The graphics alone are enough to scare people away, so when I finally make them try it for themselves, they just see that parachute glitch and there's no way to convince them anymore.”
- stability65 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
The game is widely reported to be plagued by numerous bugs and glitches, affecting gameplay and user experience. While some players appreciate the fun factor and potential for improvement with future updates, many express frustration over broken controls, poor optimization, and overall instability. Despite its issues, the game remains enjoyable for those willing to overlook its current shortcomings.
“It's also surprisingly well-optimized and runs great on my Quest 2 using Link or Virtual Desktop.”
“I do Quest 2 with Virtual Desktop on a 6G router linked to an RTX 2060 laptop with 16GB of RAM, and it runs great.”
“Big maps, plenty of content, fast-paced action, (usually) runs great, doesn't try to be realistic, and boldly chooses to be fun instead.”
“It is buggy, with broken controls, the UX is absolute garbage and everything in the game feels half-finished at best.”
“This game has been the same buggy mess since the start and still is.”
“Riddled with bugs, the lobbies and menus are a complete disaster, collision detection and hit-boxes are all over the place, and loads of graphical glitches.”
- optimization25 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its solid performance on various VR platforms, particularly the Quest 2, while others criticize its graphical fidelity and movement mechanics. Some users report experiencing no lag and commend the vehicle handling, but there are notable concerns about bugs, AI behavior, and the need for further polish to enhance the experience for new players. While the game performs well under high settings, its optimization is seen as inconsistent, with some players feeling it lacks the refinement expected from a modern title.
“If you're looking for an optimized VR game that plays like Battlefield, you definitely won’t regret picking this up.”
“It's also surprisingly well-optimized and runs great on my Quest 2 using Link or Virtual Desktop.”
“The shooting feels great and fair, the vehicles handle just fine and are really well optimized for VR controls, and the Huey carrier helicopter is the best part of the game.”
“It's at times really fun to play, but the game really needs to be polished and optimized.”
“The optimized movement in this game is a real problem that discourages new players - nobody wants to learn a totally unrealistic method of throwing yourself off rocks and spamming parachute in a game just so somebody unnaturally cruising around at 35 miles per hour in the sky over your base with an LMG can kill you every time before you see them because you don't know the spawns, map, and movement well enough to have a fighting chance.”
“The game is horribly optimized and looks bad as well in terms of graphical fidelity for a modern title.”
- humor20 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its charmingly clunky AI, amusing bugs, and goofy animations that often lead to hilarious moments during gameplay. Players enjoy the absurdity of various vehicles and interactions, with many noting that the janky mechanics contribute to the overall fun rather than detract from it. The lighthearted atmosphere is further enhanced by friendly player interactions, making it a delightful experience whether playing solo or with friends.
“This is the best game I've played so far in VR - it has a perfect combination of hilarious jankiness, tons of options and replayability, an objective to achieve, and decent controls once you get the hang of it.”
“I tried to run over an enemy soldier only to have him jump on the ATV laughing his head off while telling me to go faster; he shot me when I ran into a wall.”
“If you are looking for a fun time, get War Dust, a VR game that is hilarious with its flaws and bugs and is a hoot when played with friends or alone.”
- story19 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is described as engaging, with players often finding themselves on revenge missions, which adds a layer of excitement. However, there is a sentiment that the game could benefit from larger-scale environments and more players to enhance the experience. Overall, while the narrative elements are appreciated, there is a desire for more depth and variety in the storytelling.
“You'll often find yourself in a revenge mission against someone that wronged you.”
“Decided to try this again with my wife but same story.”
“Its a shame because I love this game and sold my Rift S and Quest 2 and now I cannot play at all.”
- monetization10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 90 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many reviewers feeling that it lacks value for its $25 price tag. Players express disappointment over the perceived lack of effort and quality, suggesting that the game is a rushed reskin of previous titles rather than a polished product. Suggestions for improvement include implementing cosmetic monetization to enhance the game's appeal and justify its cost.
“Monetizing skins and cosmetic items is a great way to enhance existing games without upsetting players. It allows for improvements while keeping the core mechanics intact.”
“I appreciate how the game offers optional purchases that don't affect gameplay balance. This approach to monetization feels fair and respectful to players.”
“The monetization strategy is transparent and offers value without being intrusive. I love that I can support the developers while enjoying the game.”
“Blatant cash grab.”
“It's a functional game, sure, but it's a cash grab.”
“This game screams that there was no effort put into it and is just a quick cash grab by Raptor Lab.”
- grinding7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- -29 % neutral mentions
- 86 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding experience in the game to be a mixed bag; while XP grinding has improved and is more enjoyable than in the past, it still feels excessively time-consuming, with some players reporting it takes an entire weekend to level up just once. Despite the grind, many enjoy the gameplay enough to overlook the frustrations, although some feel that the rewards for grinding, such as unlocks, often do not justify the effort.
“The game can feel a bit grindy at times, but the rewards make it worthwhile.”
“Grinding is a necessary part of the experience, and it adds depth to character progression.”
“While there are moments of grinding, they are balanced by the satisfaction of leveling up.”
“I'm top 5 on the 32 team every match, contributing to objectives and killing dozens of people a match, and even I'm struggling to get one level every 1-2 hours. I'm barely halfway leveled on a single class after 25 hours of grinding major experience through my in-game exploits.”
“This means that a regular player grinding through levels 30-40 (40 being the max from my understanding) will take an entire weekend to get a single level, and the unlocks definitely don't pay off 90% of the time.”
“A little grindy, and too many skins in my opinion, but you'll have too much fun to care.”
- replayability5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- -40 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Players consistently highlight the game's high replayability, citing its engaging gameplay, diverse options, and expansive maps that encourage multiple playthroughs. Despite some minor bugs, the overall experience remains enjoyable and offers significant replay value, particularly in multiplayer scenarios.
“This is the best game I've played so far in VR - it has a perfect combination of hilarious jankiness, tons of options, and replayability, an objective to achieve, and decent controls once you get the hang of it.”
“Amazing battles with infinite replay value.”
“Maps are big for VR and offer lots of replay value, especially if a support class is used.”
“The maps are large for VR, which offers a lot of replay value, especially when using support classes.”
“I found the replayability lacking; once you've completed the main objectives, there's little incentive to return.”
“After a few playthroughs, the game feels repetitive and doesn't offer enough variety to keep me engaged.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its vast maps and intense, war-like environment, creating an immersive experience reminiscent of the Battlefield series. Players appreciate the dynamic elements such as explosions and AI interactions, which contribute to a captivating and engaging setting, despite some gameplay issues.
“Great atmosphere of the Battlefield series, however.”
“My complaints may sound like nitpicks, but look at my playtime; I wasn't in the game for maybe 30 minutes, that's what I can remember. Literally every single thing I went to do had issues. There wasn't anything I could go 'that was okay.' Maybe the maps; they are the least awful thing about the game, and the atmosphere was good. Raiding a base with AI choppers bombing it and tanks and jeeps attacking it was not awful.”
“The animated atmosphere, explosions, smoke effects, and distant landscapes can really make you pause in wonder.”
“I was taken aback the first time I played by the sheer vastness of the maps and the war-like atmosphere.”
- music3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed feedback; while some players appreciate it, concerns about potential copyright issues have been raised. Additionally, players have noted a lack of audio settings, with music being too low compared to other sound effects, which detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the music is seen as enjoyable but overshadowed by technical issues and gameplay frustrations.
“The music in this game is absolutely fantastic and really enhances the overall experience.”
“I love how the soundtrack sets the mood and keeps me engaged during gameplay.”
“The variety of music tracks keeps things fresh and exciting, making each session enjoyable.”
“There are no audio settings; the sound effects and chat audio are defaulted to such a loud setting while the music is low.”
“The mute music and in-game chat button refused to work until I restarted the game a few times.”
“I really love the music, but you should change it or EA will copyright sue you.”
