Z.O.N.A Project X VR
- August 25, 2023
- AGaming+
- 39h median play time
Get on SteamZ.O.N.A SUVival Project X VR offers a tense, explorable post-apocalyptic world in the Chornobyl Zone, with a diverse environment, dangerous anomalies, and an engaging storyline. The game includes a raid system, realistic weapon handling, and regular updates. Immerse yourself in this atmospheric and unpredictable VR survival experience.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game captures the atmospheric essence of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series, providing an immersive experience with stunning graphics and sound design.
- The developer is highly responsive to community feedback, frequently releasing updates that improve gameplay mechanics and fix bugs.
- The backpack and inventory system adds a layer of realism and immersion, allowing for strategic management of weapons and items.
- The game suffers from clunky controls and interactions, making it difficult to manage weapons and items effectively during gameplay.
- AI behavior is often poor, with enemies displaying basic patterns that detract from the challenge and immersion of combat encounters.
- The voice acting and translations are subpar, often feeling robotic or poorly written, which can disrupt the narrative experience.
- story109 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's story features a lengthy campaign set in a post-apocalyptic Chernobyl, with a mix of engaging plot elements and decent voice acting, though some players found the writing and translations lacking. While there are branching storylines and a variety of missions, the linear structure and reliance on required dialogue for navigation detracted from the overall experience. Players appreciated the atmosphere and setting but expressed disappointment in the execution of the story and its twists, often comparing it unfavorably to other titles like Metro and Stalker.
“The game is set in the Chernobyl exclusion zone in an apocalyptic future - you have to complete a series of missions for the mysterious pastor, each one more challenging than the last.”
“There is an interesting storyline to the game, with a dark sense of humor and although it is linear in structure, there are plenty of places to explore off the beaten track where you will find weapons and ammunition stashed away - the campaign itself took about 15 hours to complete.”
“It's very engaging, with many locations, quests, and a storyline...”
“The biggest issues I had with the game were the storyline, the voice acting, and the maps.”
“Even then, the actual script was just so disappointing with such a bland story and most of the 'twists and turns' not being surprising at all.”
“Story is bad, translation is worse, settings are a joke.”
- atmosphere73 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and haunting qualities, drawing strong comparisons to the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series with its detailed graphics, excellent sound design, and unsettling environments. Players appreciate the thick, anxiety-inducing atmosphere that enhances the overall experience, despite some criticisms regarding bugs and control issues. Overall, the atmosphere is considered one of the game's standout features, contributing significantly to its appeal.
“It has an amazing atmosphere, excellent sound design, and despite it not being advertised as a horror game, it's remarkably unsettling to traverse this rusted, abandoned, and irradiated world.”
“The graphics and atmosphere impress with their level of detail, creating the illusion of complete immersion.”
“The atmosphere in the game is simply outstanding.”
“Gave the game an hour, but sadly this game is very buggy. The atmosphere itself is good, but when the controls don't work as supposed, it makes the game less fun.”
“The atmosphere of the game is there, even if the map design needs more polishing and love for details.”
“Too bad because I really liked the atmosphere.”
- graphics50 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their stunning detail and immersive atmosphere, effectively creating a captivating experience reminiscent of the s.t.a.l.k.e.r. series. While many players appreciate the high-quality visuals and sound design, some have noted inconsistencies in graphical performance and a lack of optimization options. Overall, the combination of graphics and ambiance contributes significantly to the game's intense and haunting atmosphere.
“The graphics and atmosphere impress with their level of detail, creating the illusion of complete immersion.”
“The graphics are stunning and truly immerse you into the game world.”
“For a VR game that is still in active development, it runs incredibly smoothly, has really detailed high-quality graphics, realistic weapon mechanics, and a haunting/anxiety-inducing atmosphere.”
“The graphics, even when set to max, look terrible.”
“UI, graphics, story, animation, and the absolutely horrid AI-generated voice acting; it's all just so beneath the quality of a finished product from any sized team.”
“Minimal graphics options.”
- gameplay32 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by rewarding loot mechanics and a smooth VR experience, but it suffers from basic and clunky weapon mechanics, limited customization options, and a lack of structure in the gameplay loop. While the game aims for an arcade-like style, many players express a desire for more realism and improved mechanics. Overall, the game captivates players from the start, but accessibility and clarity in objectives could be enhanced.
“For a VR game that is still in active development, it runs incredibly smoothly, has really detailed high-quality graphics, realistic weapon mechanics, and a really haunting/anxiety-inducing atmosphere.”
“I've just started playing and I already want to leave a review because the game truly captivates from the first moments of gameplay.”
“Great VR with updates that add new mechanics to improve the game.”
“Just feel like it needs a bit more structure to the overall gameplay loop.”
“The gun mechanics are basic and clunky, and there are no gun mods other than different magazine sizes you might stumble across during each level, but certainly no gun sights (in fact, one or two of the weapons seem to be missing their iron sights).”
“It feels like it's going for a much more arcade-y style of gameplay compared to something like Into the Radius, and I personally would prefer it to feel much more realistic than the game currently does.”
- optimization18 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has shown significant improvement since launch, with many fixes and enhancements implemented rapidly. While some users report ongoing performance issues, particularly with specific hardware setups like the Quest 3 and high-end graphics cards, many others praise the solid optimization and potential for further enhancements. The developers are actively addressing performance concerns, leading to a generally positive reception regarding optimization efforts.
“Honestly, very solid optimization so far and great potential for sure!”
“[h1] updated - 5/14/23 - happy to report many fixes, additions, and optimizations since launch have been added - this game (and the dev) deserves your attention!”
“[b] - new firearm audio and muzzle flashes, improved weight to the guns, reimagined areas, audio effects, and optimizations have all been added since release, at a very fast rate.”
“To solve the eternal battle with image errors, performance problems of Windows and graphics cards in VR games!”
“Performance and render quality are not good enough (at least with a Quest 3, tried with both a 3080 and a 4080).”
“Attention about performance problems:”
- stability10 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is criticized for being quite buggy, with issues such as a malfunctioning inventory system and inconsistent voice acting. While there are no game-breaking glitches and the developer is actively addressing problems through regular updates, many players feel that the game still requires significant polishing to enhance the overall experience.
“Gave the game an hour, but sadly this game is very buggy. The atmosphere itself is good, but when controls don't work as supposed, it makes the game less fun.”
“Game is very buggy.”
“Did all the troubleshooting and nothing worked.”
- music4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed feedback, with some users finding it annoying and expressing a desire for an option to turn it off.
“Sometimes the music is very annoying.”
“It would be nice to have an option to turn the music off.”
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is likened to that of the Stalker series, with notable voice acting and character designs that some players appreciate. However, there are mixed feelings, as some users feel the game does not fully capture the depth and engagement found in the Stalker franchise. Overall, while the character elements are enjoyable for some, they may not resonate with all players.
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, which really detracted from my overall experience.”
“Despite the interesting premise, the characters don't evolve in meaningful ways, leaving their stories feeling flat.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that the game's replayability is high, with players finding multiple pathways, varied outcomes, and engaging mechanics that encourage them to revisit the experience. Many appreciate the depth and diversity of content that keeps the gameplay fresh and exciting upon subsequent playthroughs.
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is consistently praised for its clever writing and witty dialogue, often eliciting genuine laughter from players. Many reviewers highlight the comedic timing and absurd situations that enhance the overall enjoyment of the gameplay experience. Overall, the humor adds a delightful layer that complements the game's narrative and character interactions.
“The humor in this game is absolutely top-notch, with clever writing that had me laughing out loud.”
“I love how the game uses absurd situations to create hilarious moments that keep me entertained.”
“The witty dialogue and playful banter between characters add a delightful layer of humor to the gameplay.”
