vapormaze
- September 9, 2017
- Akuno
"Vaporwave-themed roguelike first-person shooter, VaporMaze, challenges players to navigate mazes filled with robots and manage resources to escape. Physics-based gameplay adds realism, while seven procedurally generated mazes provide unique experiences. Meaningful decisions must be made in regards to items and upgrades, with permadeath adding to the intensity. Average playtime ranges from 20 minutes to 1 hour."
Reviews
- The game's aesthetic and soundtrack are outstanding, creating a unique and immersive experience.
- Each playthrough offers excellent randomness and replay value, keeping the gameplay fresh and engaging.
- The game has fun mechanics, such as using bombs and power-ups, which can enhance the overall experience.
- The controls are floaty and difficult to master, making platforming and combat frustrating.
- The visual clutter can make it hard to see enemies and navigate the mazes effectively.
- There is a lack of quality-of-life features, such as a save system and customizable controls, which detracts from the overall experience.
- graphics8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are praised for their unique aesthetic and strong visual and audio presentation, creating an interesting atmosphere. However, some players feel that the overall execution is flawed, leading to a dull experience despite the appealing style. While the graphics are a highlight, they do not fully compensate for the game's lack of direction and polish.
“The visual and audio aesthetic is on point.”
“Graphics and style look great.”
“The game also exceeds aesthetically, as the world and the music are quite unique and different from many other games I have played.”
“Plus, the game mechanics are nothing uncommon, and combined with the graphic engine, they make the experience rather dull and confusing.”
“It's presented in a well-meaning and aesthetically unique way, but the product as a whole feels like it lacks direction and proper fundamentals.”
“Tldr is that I recommend it if you like the aesthetic and are okay with a work in progress.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Gameplay is generally satisfactory, featuring a mix of familiar mechanics that can initially feel confusing but become enjoyable with practice. While the game offers a high skill ceiling and fun movement and physics elements, some mechanics can be finicky, and improvements are needed in the shooting system. Overall, it provides a relaxing yet challenging experience, enhanced by a beautiful aesthetic and a great soundtrack.
“However, if you continue playing you'll find that the mechanics become second nature and are fun to use.”
“Simultaneously chill and challenging, beautiful with a killer soundtrack, and fun movement and physics mechanics.”
“Plus, the game mechanics are nothing uncommon, and combined with the graphic engine, they make the experience rather dull and confusing.”
“I feel as though the game has a high skill ceiling, as certain mechanics, movement, and gunplay are hard to nail down at first.”
“By the way, the game still needs some improvements in physics, mechanics, and the shooting system.”
- music8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its sublime and chill quality, enhancing the overall experience with a unique and aesthetically pleasing soundtrack. Players appreciate the ability to customize their music choices, and many highlight specific tracks, such as "windows96," as standout elements that contribute to the game's engaging atmosphere. Overall, the combination of beautiful sound design and effective integration of music elevates the gameplay significantly.
“Music is everything I was hoping it would be; it's really easy to vibe into.”
“The soundtrack is sublime and some of the most chill FPS action you'll encounter on Steam.”
“The ability to add your own media (mp3, etc.) as a music choice is a great feature.”
“The game also exceeds aesthetically, as the world and the music are quite unique and different from many other games I have played.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely regarded as its standout feature, effectively immersing players in its world. However, some elements, such as money and robots, can detract from this immersive experience.
“The atmosphere of this game is probably its greatest achievement.”
“While the atmosphere has its moments, it often feels overshadowed by the game's mechanics, making it hard to fully immerse myself.”
“The atmosphere is inconsistent; at times it captivates, but more often than not, it feels flat and uninspired.”
“I appreciate the effort to create a unique atmosphere, but it often feels forced and detracts from the overall experience.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the high replayability of the game due to the ever-changing maze, which keeps each playthrough fresh and engaging.
“The maze changes every playthrough, making for fun replay value.”
“Each run feels fresh and exciting due to the dynamic elements.”
“I love how the game offers different paths and outcomes, encouraging multiple playthroughs.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight the emotional weight of Vapormaze, noting the impressive dedication and effort from its solo developer, which adds a personal touch to the game. The extensive hours invested in its creation resonate with players, enhancing their connection to the experience.
“Vapormaze is made by a single guy, and I give credit where it's due; the amount of work that must've gone into the final product is truly impressive and emotional.”
“The story in Vapormaze resonated with me on a personal level, evoking feelings I didn't expect from a game.”
“Every moment in Vapormaze felt like a journey through my own emotions, making it a deeply immersive experience.”
- stability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that the game runs smoothly and efficiently, requiring minimal storage space while providing a satisfying challenge for fans of the genre.
“Runs great, takes up little space, and is challenging enough for a fan of these types of games to enjoy.”