Zero Caliber VR
- July 31, 2023
- XREAL Games
- 6h median play time
"Zero Caliber VR" is a tactical simulation game for premium VR headsets, featuring single and multi-player modes with up to 2 players in co-op and PvP. Its action-oriented story offers gripping gunfights and a realistic weapon system with hyper-realistic visuals. However, it has some bugs and grinding, while the immersive gameplay and stellar replayability make up for them. The game has recently received a major update and is planning to add mod support.
Reviews
- Great gunplay and weapon customization options.
- Fun single-player campaign with engaging missions.
- Co-op mode adds to the enjoyment, especially with friends.
- AI teammates are often unhelpful and can get in the way.
- Game has been abandoned for updates, focusing more on the Quest version.
- Performance issues and bugs detract from the overall experience.
- story1,562 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story in "Zero Caliber" is generally considered weak and forgettable, often described as a cliché military narrative with poorly executed dialogue and character development. Many players feel that the missions serve more as a backdrop for gameplay rather than a cohesive story, leading to a repetitive experience where the plot feels disjointed and lacks depth. While some appreciate the action and gunplay, the overall consensus is that the story does not significantly enhance the game, making it more suitable for those focused on gameplay rather than narrative.
“The combination of a compelling story and intense action is a winning formula.”
“Amazing game, realistic guns, realistic physics (for the most part) and great story.”
“This game does a lot of things right, such as gun mechanics, story driven campaign, and coop.”
“The storyline is painful to limp through, like a really bad Red Dawn fan-fic packed full of agro male chatter bullshit and tired old 80s action movie tropes.”
“To call it a story is a stretch, really since it's just a bunch of loosely connected missions, in which nonsensical things happen like a random friendly helicopter just deciding to fly straight into the enemy line of fire and both pilots being violently thrown out of the aircraft, with the objective being to rescue them.”
“The story is cliche as hell, and not even that well thought out.”
- gameplay766 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Zero Caliber VR is characterized by solid weapon mechanics and a fun, immersive experience, though it suffers from issues like enemy spam and simplistic level design. While many players appreciate the depth of combat and customization options, others find the gameplay repetitive and the controls clunky, leading to mixed feelings about its overall execution. Despite its flaws, the game offers a unique climbing mechanic and engaging missions that can be enjoyable, especially in co-op mode.
“Gameplay is fun and rewarding with a long-term and progressive reward system with the weapons, skins, and accessories.”
“The gameplay is nothing short of breathtaking.”
“In conclusion, Zero Caliber VR is a true masterpiece in virtual reality gaming, offering unparalleled immersion, stunning visuals, and thrilling gameplay.”
“Had been watching gameplay of it for years and was thoroughly disappointed to find that I couldn't enjoy it.”
“Graphics feel very dated, and the gameplay just doesn't have the right 'feel' to it; hard to explain, but I would rather play any other first-person VR game than this.”
“The gameplay is so barebones and it plays very stiff.”
- graphics672 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that they do not match the promotional material and often appear dated, reminiscent of early VR titles or even older console graphics. While some users appreciate the improvements made in recent updates, others report persistent issues such as blurriness, low texture quality, and performance problems, particularly on lower-end systems. Overall, while there are moments of impressive visuals, many feel the graphics need significant optimization and enhancement to meet modern standards.
“This game earns a solid 5-star review for its exceptional immersion, breathtaking graphics, and intense action.”
“In conclusion, Zero Caliber VR is a true masterpiece in virtual reality gaming, offering unparalleled immersion, stunning visuals, and thrilling gameplay.”
“The graphics are great, climbing is cool, sounds are amazing, and the gunplay is fun as well as immersive.”
“When turned up to the max, the graphics still look like ass, nothing like the promotional material.”
“Graphics look like they are from the late 90's, and that's on ultra, mind you.”
“The graphics are the most appalling thing about this game.”
- optimization332 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players reporting severe performance issues such as stuttering, freezing, and low frame rates, even on high-end hardware. While some updates have improved performance slightly, significant optimization is still needed to make the game playable and enjoyable. Overall, the consensus is that the game is currently poorly optimized, requiring further development to address these critical performance problems.
“Visually the game has definitely improved since the update and performance-wise it seems to have improved as well.”
“The performance is much better and completely playable at ultra graphics at 120fps.”
“The graphics and optimization on this game have been improved greatly.”
“The optimization makes this game nearly unplayable.”
“Currently, this game is *horribly* optimized.”
“The game is horribly optimized.”
- stability174 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and performance issues that significantly hinder gameplay. Many players experience severe lag, crashes, and unresponsive mechanics, even on high-end systems, leading to a frustrating experience. While some users find enjoyment in the game despite these issues, the consensus is that it remains a "buggy mess" that requires substantial improvements before it can be recommended for purchase.
“Zero Caliber is a pretty bug-free game at the moment.”
“Game now runs great on the Oculus Rift S and is quite fun.”
“I have a RX 570 (similar to a GTX 1060 6GB) and, after the latest update, the game runs great!”
“Can't start PvP servers, NPCs still running into your weapon, buggy to a point I had to turn off haptics just to get some clean shots. It's a mess; I literally had the game get me killed because the character was 'floating' (which it wasn't). Climbing is buggy, the list goes on and on.”
“Sadly, over time this game has become an increasingly buggy mess, which is a shame because I really enjoyed it when it first came out.”
“At the moment, this game is way too buggy. I hoped this would be better; the reload mechanic is pure garbage in rushed situations, the game is buggy, and the story is rubbish. I want my money back.”
- replayability82 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game offers a decent amount of replayability, particularly through its engaging campaign and multiplayer modes, which are enhanced by various difficulty levels and fun gunplay. However, some players feel that the linearity of the maps and a lack of diverse content limit long-term replay value. Overall, while many enjoy the game for its fun mechanics and co-op experience, there are calls for additional maps and features to further enhance replayability.
“The campaign is very replayable, making way for hours of content.”
“Prepare yourself for a VR co-op shooter like few others that has a decent story, large maps, fun combat, excellent gunplay and physics, and great replayability.”
“This game offers a lot of replayability and it keeps you interested.”
“Fun gunplay and an overall goofy game, but not a whole lot of replayability.”
“And there's little replayability due to the maps being linear and not changing at all from playthrough to playthrough.”
“A lot of potential, no replayability.”
- grinding72 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 21 % neutral mentions
- 78 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players finding it tedious and time-consuming, particularly when leveling up and unlocking weapons. While some appreciate the realism and replayability it offers, others feel that the lack of content and the slow progression can make the experience frustrating. Overall, players who enjoy grinding may find it rewarding, but those seeking a more streamlined experience might be put off.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The game is so fun, I highly recommend it, but the grinding is kind of annoying because the missions take a while and it takes a really long time to level up.”
“I spent 6 of the 12 hours I have in this game farming the easiest level in the game for free XP, and with exponential increases to XP requirements, I was nowhere close to the level I needed to get to, perhaps a tenth of the way.”
“Only complaint is that grinding XP for weapon unlocks takes forever.”
- humor70 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding the chaotic gameplay, quirky mechanics, and amusing NPC dialogue to be a source of constant laughter. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to create hilarious moments through its janky physics and the absurdity of certain weapons and scenarios, making it particularly enjoyable when played with friends. Overall, the humor adds a lighthearted charm to the experience, despite some criticisms regarding the game's seriousness and design.
“Running around the campaign with a few nitwits shooting at everything that moves is hilarious.”
“Couldn't even finish the tutorial without laughing my butt off.”
“The action is quite fun and making your own guns with wacky attachments can be funny.”
- emotional26 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a mix of emotional responses to the game, ranging from frustration and nausea due to control issues and movement mechanics to exhilaration and empowerment when engaging in combat. While some find the immersive experience and loot system rewarding, others struggle with feelings of discomfort and disorientation, impacting their overall enjoyment. The emotional journey appears to be heavily influenced by the game's mechanics and the player's ability to adapt to them.
“I think since then, he's been a little emotionally unwell.”
“With a milsim/tactical shooter you'll want to routinely move in small increments around windows, the corners of walls, etc., and doing that made my head turn in a way no other VR game has made me feel.”
“I guess it was the bootcamp that frustrated me and made me sway to that level of thinking... boy was I wrong as almost straight afterwards... it became a AAA+ shooter that made me feel like the biggest bad-ass the world has ever known!”
- monetization24 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn mixed reactions, with some players labeling it a "cash grab" that lacks depth and effort, while others appreciate the absence of microtransactions, suggesting that the game could benefit from additional content. Many reviews highlight the disparity between the game's promotional ads and the actual gameplay experience, leading to disappointment and requests for refunds. Overall, the monetization strategy appears to be a contentious point, with players divided on its impact on the game's quality and enjoyment.
“As usual, an absolute cash grab for what used to be a decent PCVR game, which is now 'cross platform'.”
“It doesn't feel like much effort went into it, more like someone just slapped a bunch of pre-made UE4 assets into a quick and half-assed cash grab.”
“I request a refund after an hour I played it; it's just not as fun as it looks and as Youtubers advertised it.”
- music18 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally criticized as cheesy and overwhelming, often drowning out important audio cues and team communication. Players express frustration over the lack of options to adjust the music volume, leading to a chaotic experience where gameplay details are hard to discern. Some users suggest using their own music instead, indicating that the in-game soundtrack detracts from the overall experience.
“Pretty cool game, amazing with music playing in the background.”
“☐ use your own music.”
“They will stay behind objects and then get up and get down (jump jump jump, I forget what song this is but if you know, let me know) and then run into other objects and do some other funny stuff.”
“This is fine at the start as you can put off the attack, but when details are being given while music blasts around you and your gun rattles it's basically impossible to hear.”
“There's no option to even turn down the music that the devs have blasting to the point you can't even hear your team-mates.”
“Pistols, suppressors, armor, and melee are pretty much useless, the AI sucks, the music sucks, the narration sucks, most of the sights and scopes are redundant, 'realistic weapon handling and physics' is a flat out lie, stealth and tactics don't exist, it takes way too long to grind and unlock everything in the armory, the armory itself is a joke...”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is mixed, with some players appreciating the setting and combat ambiance, particularly during fire battles, while others criticize the graphics and overall lack of atmospheric depth. Despite being in development, there are calls for more atmospheric levels to enhance the experience.
“Although this game is still under development as of February 2019, I have to say that I really enjoy the atmosphere and setting that the developers have created.”
“Graphics are not great, and there is no atmosphere.”
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Character development has been criticized for its poor character designs, which many users find unappealing and lacking in visual quality. Additionally, the lighting effects on characters are noted to be inconsistent, further detracting from the overall experience.
“The character designs have been completely remodeled, and they look terrible. No matter what graphical setting you're using, the lighting never reflects properly on the characters.”
“The character designs have been completely remodeled, and they look terrible. No matter what graphical setting you're using, the lighting never reflects properly on the characters.”