Waves

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"Waves" is a comedy shooter game with splendid gameplay and stellar graphics, despite its poor storyline. As a single-player, you must defend your system in a neo-cyberspace arena against bugs, errors, and viruses, using a variety of weapons and special abilities like time buffer and bombs. With its phenomenal soundtrack, multiple modes including Survival, Challenge, Chase, and Hold, and online leaderboards, Waves offers a high skill threshold and intense action that will keep any shooter fan entertained.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 641 reviews

music125 positive mentions

story4 negative mentions

Waves features excellent game controls and eye-catching visuals, making it a visually stunning experience.
The game offers a variety of fun game modes, each with its own local and online leaderboard, enhancing replayability.
The soundtrack is engaging and complements the fast-paced gameplay, creating an immersive atmosphere.

The button mapping for controllers cannot be adjusted, which can hinder gameplay for some players.
Some menus are difficult to navigate using just a controller, leading to frustration.
The game is single-player only, which may disappoint those looking for a multiplayer experience.

music
193 mentions
65 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its electrifying and immersive quality, with many reviewers highlighting the impressive soundtrack that enhances the overall gameplay experience. However, some users noted issues with uneven loudness across tracks and a desire for a greater variety of music, as the limited selection can become repetitive. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's addictive and engaging atmosphere.
- “The game's soundtrack, composed by James Semple, is equally impressive, with pulsating electronic beats and adrenaline-pumping rhythms that drive the action and elevate the intensity to new heights.”
- “The soundtrack is amazing and brings an additional layer of awesomeness to an already great game.”
- “Waves comes through with the music and the feeling; the effects mixed make this game awesome!”
- “The music is average, not particularly bad nor memorable, but taken altogether, Waves is an above-average entry into the field.”
- “There's a music that is too loud and there's some that is almost non-existent (humming ambience).”
- “Edit: the music is pretty ehh as well; thought I should mention it; easily fixed by turning it off and turning on your own music.”
gameplay
123 mentions
48 % positive mentions
49 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Waves" is characterized by its fast-paced, addictive twin-stick shooter mechanics, enhanced by a variety of game modes and a unique time-slowing feature that adds depth to the experience. Players appreciate the smooth controls, stunning visuals, and engaging soundtrack, which together create a thrilling arcade atmosphere. While some find the gameplay repetitive over time, the overall design and balance keep it enjoyable and replayable, making it a standout in the genre.
- “With its intense gameplay, stunning visuals, and electrifying soundtrack, it's an experience that will keep you hooked from the first wave to the last.”
- “The gameplay is excellent, the music draws you in, the ambience is breathtaking, the brilliant display of explosions and sparks as you chase the high score: all of it is tremendous.”
- “Waves breaks up the monotony by implementing a slow down mechanic based upon an ever replenishing gauge: use it to get out of hairy situations or to rack up bonus points.”
- “Tldr: bland gameplay despite the decent presentation.”
- “Gameplay can be repetitive, even in the same run.”
- “My only real complaint is that gameplay sessions lasted a bit too long.”
graphics
107 mentions
62 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Waves" are widely praised for their stunning neon visuals, vibrant colors, and smooth animations, creating an immersive and visually appealing experience. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to balance flashy effects with gameplay clarity, ensuring that players can navigate the action without becoming overwhelmed. Overall, the combination of beautiful graphics and a captivating soundtrack contributes significantly to the game's addictive nature and arcade-style charm.
- “Visually, 'Waves' is a feast for the eyes, with stunning neon visuals and dazzling particle effects that create a mesmerizing and immersive atmosphere.”
- “The graphics in this game are stunning, and the gameplay experience takes me back to the days when I played Robotron 2084 and Tempest back in the 80's - it's very fast-paced and the screen can get full where the gameplay becomes a flow.”
- “Waves has an awesome art style, everything is very crisp and works well together with the amazing neon glow of everything.”
- “The abstract art style makes me feel disconnected, unmoved, so I'm less motivated to keep playing.”
- “It has a few cool features (like the time slow that charges up as you make kills, or the bomb that becomes available when you get a 10x multiplier) but to me, the punishing difficulty combined with an abstract art style and lack of progression or difficulty options means I'll be turning elsewhere for entertainment.”
- “With everything going on around you and the colorful graphical effects, it's easy to lose track of what's going on.”
humor
20 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is characterized by a British millennial style, featuring sarcastic and playful banter that adds a lighthearted touch to the intense gameplay. Players appreciate the witty and derisive humor, often likening it to the teasing of an older brother or a sports coach, making the experience both entertaining and engaging. Overall, the humor is a standout feature, enhancing the game's appeal and enjoyment.
- “One of the 'undersold' features of this game is that it's sarcastically funny, and rags on you almost every time you finish a game.”
- “There's a lot of humor in the casual messages displayed here, and it's one of the things I like best about it: while the gameplay is intense and a bit sweaty, the game doesn't take itself (or you) very seriously.”
- “Not to mention the dry wit and humor in the instructions and end game screens is hilarious and well worth a few dollars.”
replayability
13 mentions
31 % positive mentions
69 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability through its fast-paced arcade action, various game modes, and the challenge of beating high scores. While some players feel the lack of upgrades may limit long-term engagement, the inclusion of achievements and diverse gameplay options keeps the experience fresh and enjoyable for fans of the genre. Overall, it is praised for its fun factor and replay value, making it a compelling choice for players seeking a game with lasting appeal.
- “It's fast, frantic, simple, and massively replayable.”
- “Waves is a great twin-stick Geometry Wars clone with a lot of replayability thanks to the achievements, leaderboards, and variety of game modes.”
- “The urge to keep beating that high score keeps the replayability of this game right up there; aside from your usual 'survival' mode, there are other game modes such as challenges, bomb runs, etc.”
- “Should probably have some kind of gun upgrades or something, it'd spice the game up and give it a lot more replay value; without it, this game gets old a lot faster than other similar games.”
- “The urge to keep beating that high score keeps the replayability of this game right up there; aside from your usual 'survival' mode, there are other game modes such as challenges, bomb runs, etc.”
- “All these great modes, enemy types, and overall challenge add up to a lot of replayability.”
story
11 mentions
9 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
36 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that the game lacks a traditional narrative, with no significant story or character development present. Instead, it focuses on varied game modes and fast-paced action, resembling a tech demo rather than a fully fleshed-out game. Players are encouraged to enjoy the gameplay for its own sake, as there is no story depth to engage with.
- “In some games, story is presented as a series of characters with lines of dialogue, and/or events that happen.”
- “In other games, story is emergent, in that you create your own narrative based on choices you make.”
- “It's lacking any sort of story depth that Super Meat Boy may have, but it has that same lightning-fast, razor's edge pace that demands every ounce of attention you can possibly wring from your brain.”
- “No story, just varied game modes, simple but very nice visuals, and constant action.”
- “This is pretty fun Unreal Engine tech demo, but I can't call it a full-fledged game; it has no story or true goals, just different trials and challenges.”
- “No story to speak of - just stay alive.”
atmosphere
6 mentions
67 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "waves" is highly praised for its stunning neon visuals, dazzling particle effects, and immersive music, creating a captivating and enjoyable experience. Reviewers highlight the combination of impressive graphics and upbeat soundtracks as key elements that enhance the game's overall ambiance.
- “Visually, 'Waves' is a feast for the eyes, with stunning neon visuals and dazzling particle effects that create a mesmerizing and immersive atmosphere.”
- “Such an incredible twin-stick shooter... immersive music and atmosphere... hugely fun to play... 10/10!”
- “The awesome, upbeat music makes for a great atmosphere along with the cool background.”
optimization
5 mentions
20 % positive mentions
80 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's design is well-optimized for a solo experience, with controls tailored for a controller, though it also supports mouse and keyboard. However, some users express disappointment with performance issues, suggesting that the game should run smoothly on decent hardware given its simple visuals. Overall, the optimization appears to cater to specific input methods while leaving room for improvement in performance consistency.
- “Personally, I don't mind the lack of multiplayer, as the game's design feels optimized for a solo experience, and I believe that adding multiplayer may not have benefited this title overall.”
- “You will need a controller for this - it is optimized for one.”
- “Also, where Geometry Wars's control scheme really was optimized for dual analog sticks, Waves plays just as well with a mouse and keyboard.”
- “You will need a controller for this - it is optimized for one.”
- “Also, where Geometry Wars's control scheme really was optimized for dual analog sticks, Waves plays just as well with a mouse & keyboard.”
emotional
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional engagement with the game, particularly in high-stakes modes like survival and bombing run, where the tension and adrenaline build until a devastating failure occurs. The challenge of navigating complex movements while avoiding enemies creates a heart-pounding experience that heightens the emotional stakes as players strive to improve their skills.
- “My personal favorite modes are survival and bombing run, which both keep your heart pounding until that heartbreaking moment when you inevitably explode.”
stability
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with some users experiencing freezing issues at startup and buggy controls that hinder gameplay. However, others appreciate its polished performance as an Unreal Engine-based twin-stick shooter, contrasting it with previous less stable versions.
- “Tried launching again; it freezes at startup.”
- “The controls are completely buggy and make it unplayable.”
- “This is by the Arcadia guy, but where that was a buggy, unplayable SDL-based mess, this is a fun and polished Unreal Engine-based twin-stick shooter in the Geometry Wars style.”
grinding
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game frustrating, particularly due to the slow leaderboard display, which hinders the overall experience and progression.
- “The leaderboard display is tediously slow.”
- “Grinding feels like an endless chore with no real reward.”
- “The repetitive tasks required for leveling up are exhausting and unfulfilling.”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect highlights the struggle of a talented game developer who created a top-tier game but faced financial difficulties due to a lack of advertising, resulting in poor sales and limited revenue despite the game's quality.
- “The monetization strategy feels exploitative, as it seems designed to squeeze every last penny from players rather than enhance the gaming experience.”
- “I can't believe how many microtransactions are crammed into this game. It feels like you can't enjoy it without spending extra money.”
- “The game is fun, but the constant push for in-game purchases really ruins the experience. It feels like I'm being nickel-and-dimed at every turn.”