Wave Break
- June 11, 2021
- Funktronic Labs
Wave Break is a fast-paced arcade-style skateboarding game set in a vibrant, retro-inspired world. Perform tricks, grind on rails, and catch big air off ramps, all while riding waves on a wakeboard. Compete in online matches, customize your character and board, and enjoy an original funk soundtrack. Experience a unique blend of extreme sports and water-based stunts in this thrilling game.
Reviews
- The game features a unique blend of skateboarding mechanics with boating and shooting, providing a fresh take on the genre.
- The visuals and soundtrack are highly praised, with a colorful aesthetic and a great selection of synthwave music that enhances the overall experience.
- The park creator is a standout feature, allowing for creative customization and multiplayer collaboration, which adds significant replayability.
- The controls can feel clumsy and imprecise, leading to frustration, especially for players unfamiliar with the mechanics of similar games.
- The game has a steep learning curve and can be excessively difficult, which may deter some players from fully enjoying the experience.
- There are reports of bugs and issues with level design that can disrupt gameplay, making it feel less polished than expected.
- music19 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The music in the game has been widely praised for its stellar synthwave soundtrack, which complements the vibrant art direction and enhances the overall gameplay experience. While many players find the tracks to be engaging and well-suited for maintaining a relaxed flow, some note that the limited number of songs can lead to repetitiveness. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a highlight, featuring contributions from notable artists like Weezer and resonating well with fans of the genre.
“The soundtrack is stellar and includes some of your favorite synthwave artists.”
“If you are a fan of synthwave music, this soundtrack is heaven, pairing very well with the art direction, making it very easy to get into a relaxed flow with the mix of chill and upbeat tracks.”
“The soundtrack invokes the feels I needed to maintain my skate flow and is probably the single best soundtrack I've heard in any game this year so far.”
“I mean, it's got original music by Weezer, enough said.”
- gameplay13 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its engaging mechanics, smooth execution, and enjoyable aesthetics, though many players find it challenging, with some describing it as "extremely hard." While the game offers a mix of traditional goals and unique features, such as slow-motion shooting and multiplayer interactions, mastering its physics and controls can be daunting for newcomers. Overall, players appreciate the satisfying combos and the option to use different control schemes, enhancing the overall experience.
“Great vibes, great soundtrack, great gameplay.”
“If you genuinely like THPS gameplay mixed with shooting, with a story that doesn't take itself seriously, I highly recommend picking this up at its current price; it's well worth the ride, not to mention the cool physical prizes you can win for participating in the monthly events!”
“The core gameplay works very well; it's very satisfying and fun to pull off a sick combo.”
“But it will scratch a similar itch, but you need to keep in mind the game has its own physics and mechanics to learn and master.”
“The single player will have you completing more traditional goals like high scores, collecting letters, landing specific tricks, and even collecting secret tapes, but there are also a handful of 'story missions' for each level that have you completing tasks that showcase some of the more unique gameplay features in this game like the slow motion shooting while you complete various Miami Vice influenced objectives based around running product and encountering undercover cops.”
“If you have, you should feel mostly at home, but the game does offer unique twists and differences in gameplay that you will need to get used to and master.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 78 % positive mentions
- -11 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their vibrant and colorful aesthetic, which stands out against the more muted palettes of similar titles. Reviewers appreciate the diverse environments and the attention to detail, noting that the visuals reflect a strong artistic vision and enhance the overall gameplay experience. Additionally, the game supports various display settings, including ultrawide and high refresh rates, further elevating its graphical appeal.
“The visuals are fun and colorful, which are a nice contrast to the more muted color palettes of other games of this type.”
“You can tell by looking at the visuals and well-designed world how much love went into the game.”
“Visually, the game looks great and has a beautiful aesthetic to it.”
“The graphics are outdated and feel like they belong to a previous generation of gaming.”
“The character models lack detail and the animations are stiff, making the game feel less immersive.”
“The environments are bland and repetitive, which detracts from the overall experience.”
- story7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The story in the game is lighthearted and humorous, providing an entertaining backdrop that complements the gameplay without being overly intrusive. Players engage in a mix of traditional objectives and unique story missions, reminiscent of classic titles, while navigating a world filled with Miami Vice-inspired tasks and quirky characters. Overall, the narrative enhances the experience, making it enjoyable for those who appreciate a blend of action and comedy.
“If you genuinely like THPS gameplay mixed with shooting, with a story that doesn't take itself seriously, I highly recommend picking this up at its current price. It's well worth the ride, not to mention the cool physical prizes you can win for participating in the monthly events!”
“The story is funny and enough to keep you going but not too intrusive.”
“The way you have to navigate your boat and trying to collect mission items is so counterintuitive to actually enjoying the gameplay.”
“As many people have stated, it's basically Tony Hawk's Pro Skater with guns and a constant quest for cash.”
“The single player will have you completing more traditional goals like high scores, collecting letters, landing specific tricks, and even collecting secret tapes, but there are also a handful of 'story missions' for each level that have you completing tasks that showcase some of the more unique gameplay features in this game, like the slow-motion shooting while you complete various Miami Vice-influenced objectives based around running product and encountering undercover cops.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is well-received, featuring a blend of witty storytelling and amusing elements, such as playful flavor text and a cheeky mouse cursor. Players appreciate the lightheartedness that enhances the experience without being overwhelming, and the developer's engaging personality adds to the overall comedic tone.
“The guns are a fun Max Payne-inspired addition that makes playing with your pals hilarious.”
“There's also a nice layer of humor over everything, from flavor text for cosmetic items to the mouse cursor sneakily giving you the bird at all times.”
“The developer is super cool with a great sense of humor (very engaged in the forums too).”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is marred by numerous bugs, particularly affecting the combo system and physics, which can detract from the overall enjoyment by level 3. However, players acknowledge the developers' commitment to improving the game, indicating that it is not simply a case of neglect or abandonment.
“The combo system is buggy and tends to drop your combo at random if you're within a mile of water. The physics are wonky, and the levels have so many weird bugs that by level 3 it becomes downright unfun.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players note that while grinding in the game allows for impressive combos and high scores, it can be challenging for those not skilled in this aspect. The potential for achieving massive point totals through grinding remains a key feature, enhanced by the game's additional mechanics.
“Grinding in this game feels like an endless chore, with little reward for the time invested.”
“The repetitive nature of grinding makes it hard to stay engaged; it often feels like I'm just going through the motions.”
“I find the grinding mechanics tedious and unfulfilling, which detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”