Waves

About

"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

+17

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,713 reviews

music288 positive mentions

story10 negative mentions

Waves is a visually stunning twin-stick shooter with a vibrant aesthetic and an engaging soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience.
The game features multiple modes, including Survival, Bombing Run, and Challenge, providing variety and replayability for players.
The mechanics, such as the combo system and slow-motion ability, add depth to the gameplay, rewarding skillful play and strategic decision-making.

Some players find the game can become repetitive over time, especially with limited content and only one main arena.
The controls can feel sluggish due to the inertia-based movement, which may frustrate some players during intense gameplay.
There are reports of technical issues, such as crashes on startup and problems with controller support, which can detract from the overall experience.

music
452 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
34%
2%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its energetic and immersive qualities, particularly the electronic and chiptune soundtracks that enhance the gameplay experience. However, some users noted issues with uneven volume levels across tracks and a limited selection, leading to repetitiveness. Overall, while the soundtrack is often described as fantastic and engaging, there are calls for more variety to keep the experience fresh.
- “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 makes this game awesome!”
- “The music doesn't really match the theme.”
- “There's a music that is too loud and there's some that is almost non-existent (humming ambience).”
- “Could have used a few more background music tracks; there are only three tracks looping.”
gameplay
284 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
50%
4%
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 can become repetitive, the overall design and scoring complexity keep it enjoyable and replayable for many.
- “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.”
- “Gameplay is well balanced and addictive, with enough twists through the different game modes to keep things interesting.”
- “The gameplay itself is highly enjoyable and offers several modes that suit different people's tastes.”
- “Very mediocre shovelware gameplay with a disproportionately high $7.50.”
- “Tldr: bland gameplay despite the decent presentation.”
- “The game is uninteresting, mechanics are beyond boring, and the scoring system is fundamentally flawed such that it favors luck over skill in almost every scenario.”
graphics
246 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
37%
2%
The graphics of "Waves" are widely praised for their stunning neon visuals, vibrant colors, and mesmerizing particle effects, creating an immersive arcade experience. Reviewers highlight the game's eye-catching art style, which complements its fast-paced gameplay and electrifying soundtrack, although some note that the visuals can become overwhelming during intense moments. Overall, the graphics are considered a significant strength, enhancing the game's addictive nature and appeal.
- “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 and unmoved, so I'm less motivated to keep playing.”
- “For starters, the graphics are too noisy.”
- “Graphics seem to drag on my card pretty hard though.”
humor
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, characterized by a mix of British millennial wit, sarcastic commentary, and playful insults that keep the tone light and entertaining. While some find the writing cringe-worthy, many appreciate the cleverness of the casual messages and instructions, which add a layer of fun to the gameplay. Overall, the humor enhances the experience, making it a memorable and enjoyable aspect of the game.
- “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
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
57%
12%
The game offers significant replayability through its fast-paced arcade action, various game modes, and the challenge of beating high scores. While the selection of modes may not be vastly different from competitors, the inclusion of achievements and leaderboards enhances the overall replay value. However, some players feel that the addition of gun upgrades could further increase longevity, as the game may become repetitive without them.
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “It's fast-paced arcade action with replay value for as long as you can entertain yourself beating your own high scores.”
- “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.”
story
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
45%
42%
The game lacks a traditional narrative, with multiple reviews highlighting the absence of a story or character development. Instead, it focuses on varied game modes and fast-paced gameplay, making it feel more like a tech demo than a full-fledged game. Players are encouraged to enjoy the action without expecting any story depth or overarching goals.
- “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 lacks 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.”
- “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. If you want to kill some time and can buy this for cheap - then why not!”
- “It lacks 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 to speak of - just stay alive.”
atmosphere
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
29%
The atmosphere in "waves" is highly praised for its stunning neon visuals and dazzling particle effects, creating a mesmerizing and immersive experience. The combination of excellent graphics and upbeat music enhances the overall ambiance, making it a standout atmospheric shooter that players find deeply engaging and enjoyable.
- “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 it for a great atmosphere along with the cool background.”
optimization
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
50%
30%
The game's optimization is tailored for a solo experience, with controls designed primarily for a controller, though it also supports mouse and keyboard effectively. While the visuals are acceptable, some users express frustration over performance issues, suggesting that the game should run smoothly on decent hardware given its simplistic graphics. Overall, the lack of multiplayer is seen as a non-issue, as the design is well-suited for single-player gameplay.
- “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.”
- “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.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a strong emotional engagement with the game, particularly during intense modes like survival and bombing run, where the thrill of gameplay is heightened by the risk of sudden failure. The escalating difficulty and the constant pressure to avoid mistakes create a heart-pounding experience that evokes both excitement and frustration, making each moment feel impactful.
- “My personal favorite modes are survival and bombing run, which both keep your heart pounding until that heartbreaking moment when you inevitably explode.”
- “As you gain levels, it becomes exponentially more difficult to coordinate your sphere's movement (you cannot touch any other shapes or you'll explode!), your plasma beams, and the path you'll need to take your sphere in the next 1 - 3 seconds to avoid the semi-predictable paths of the other shapes and avoid touching any of them, lest you explode.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability has been criticized, with reports of freezing at startup and buggy controls that render it unplayable. Despite its polished Unreal Engine design, these technical issues significantly detract from the overall experience.
- “Tried launching again, 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
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game frustrating, particularly due to the leaderboard display being tediously slow, which hampers the overall experience.
- “The leaderboard display is tediously slow.”
- “The leaderboard display is tediously slow.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The monetization aspect highlights the struggle of a talented developer whose game, despite being one of the best in its genre, failed to generate significant revenue due to a lack of advertising. This situation underscores the importance of marketing in the success of a game, regardless of its quality.
- “The monetization strategy feels exploitative, as it seems designed to squeeze every last penny from players rather than enhance the gaming experience.”
- “I was really disappointed to see how much of the game is locked behind paywalls; it feels like a cash grab rather than a fair model.”
- “The constant push for in-game purchases detracts from the overall enjoyment, making it feel more like a chore than a game.”

80%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews

Waves Review
Eurogamer.net
80%

Buy Waves

5h Median play time

5h Average play time

5-5h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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