Recent reviews by vango

Remember to override!
And shoot the reds!

Yes.

Multiplayer is fun and community is very nice.

Just get it!

Still awesome!!!

Small, light, really fun!

With massive economy and balance changes coming every couple of weeks its hard to predict how fair the f2p model is gonna be when the game finally comes out, but the core gameplay is great, the graphics are nice and full of so much gore and blood you wouldnt believe it even when you see it.
And to top it off all your matches will be commented by the incredible ingame announcer C-SAR.
How can you pass up on all that?

Got it for free during the event and 1st I`ll open with the bad, since it makes the game UNPLAYABLE until fixed by the user:

1. The controls.
Whoever designed the default control layout never played or planned on anyone to play this game with keyboard and mouse alone, nor have they ever played any other pc game with keyboard and mouse.
The process of setting the controls to your liking is very long and painfull, but in the end after you have spent atleast 30 mins in the controls section of the options menu between games you will be able to make your ship do whatever you want with incredible ease.

2. The bugs.
There are a lot of bugs I`ve experinced in the 10 hours I`ve spent in the game so far, most notably getting stuck on loading screen at the start of the battle, getting dcd for no reason a few times, going into infinite spin inside a wall (only once), and getting shot in the face but taking 0 dmg (again only once, the person shooting me was also warping around).

3. The interface.
In the menus you don`t get to name your loadouts, the edditing process requires way to many clicks and there is a LOT of wasted space.Looks like it is designed for a 7 inch tablet.
Not sure if intentional, but in the game only the target ahead button will target enemies, and while what happens around is pretty the main HUD is rly lacking when it comes to IFF and target retention.
On the other hand you have the compass and the radar, which give you ALL the information aside from your weps position, so you will be looking at that 80% of the time and missing on the amazing visuals.

4. Balance.
May be subjective since me and my friends just started this game, but so far we all agree out of the 4 ships only 2 are playable, since both the eagle and the sidewinder are just not agile enough to compete.
Speed is life, and if you cant use your weps it doesnt matter how much armor or shields you have.

5. Lack of content.
Needs more maps, more gamemodes and maybe maps/modes that allow more players.
Ship / wep / upgrade diversity is there, and the exsisting maps all feel pretty good, I just wish there were more.

The good:

1. Freedom!
The movement system is amazing! Directional thrusters are ridiculously powerfull and quick to react making the 3D battle trully 3D.
The stations and asteroids provide a very challanging route for any foe trying to catch up to you and the small corridors push the agility of the ships to the limit.
Even better, the ships are not only VERY agile but extremely resiliant as well, so crashing into a wall, asteroid or an opponent will do very little actual damage.

2. Progression.
Not much of it but its just enough to make me feel like I`m earning something each time I rank up.

3. Visuals.
Just look at it!

4. Optimisation.
Runs perfectly on gtx 460 and an FX4350, so if you have any relatively modern computer, chances are you can play this game.

5. Map design.
While I don`t really like the idea of power ups and would love to see a game mode without them, I cant deny they are very strategically placed and the balance of both sides seems good on each map.
Each and every map allows for wide variety of engagements as well, with wide open space and 0 cover to the wild chasing scene from the trailer up top and everything inbetween. So long as you pay attention to the flow of the battle you get to engage on your terms.

6.Easy to get into.
Once you are finished setting up your controlls, the ships behave very intuitively, the mouse controls the ship very accuratly and shooting a stealthed ship or performing all sorts of maneuvers becomes natural in a very short amount of time.

7. Hard mode.
If you get bored and think youve hit the skill ceiling just turn off flight assist from the options menu.
After you have turned it back on for good you will know the game can become a lot harder if you wish and despite the fact youll never turn it off ever again you know there is a challange waiting for you if you want it.


EDIT: Additionally to all the things listed above still holding, if you try to play the game outside of prime time nowadays be prepared for a LONG wait.
It appears player base is very small.

I kinda liked the other zatwor game, but this one simply sux.
The music is still boring and repetitive, but here it is also unneeded, since it will do you no good with the level timing.
Visuals are still simple and to the point, however often times vital information is obscured off the initial screen and rquires multiple trials until you understand how its timed.
Difficulty is all over the place, with some levels requiring impecable timing and spot on positioning, and the very next level being a pretty much str8 run to the exit.
Some levels last WAY too long, there is even a level where you must wait for a door to open while being shot by turrets and dodging lazers, and it takes what feels like ages of doing the same movement pattern over and over and over again `till it finally opens...

On the plus side, compared to the other Zatwor game, the hitboxes are all correct, the levels arent easily exploitable, or at least i didnt find any that were and the camera doesnt trow off your controls whenever you get near the edge of the level.

The BAD:
The game is supposed to be a rhytm type real time puzzler, but the music is simply not very good.
Level design is poor, with some levels extremely easily bypassable completely by just going around or trough the nozzles of guns / lazors.
Hitboxes are all messed up with the camera fields almost never being as drawn - some have shorter range and some have longer then indicated.
Controls are bad - keyboard is unplayable on most levels with the fast changes in direction you HAVE to take, and mouse is held back by the camera snaping on the edges of the game and the character gaining momentum as he moves.
The game is also very short, and the story is only represented in 2 cheesy low quality "cutscenes" at the start and at the end, but at least it has some story i guess.
Not all mechanics are explained at the start, but ohnestly there is nothing at all that requires any tutorial if you have ever played another game in this genre before.

The GOOD:
Overall with a bit better controls, a few fixes on leves that are way to easy to bypass, a few more leves and a better soundtrack this game could be very enjoyable.
The tracks , while repetitive and uninspired, are very well timed for the levels and will help you beat the game.
The pacing is spot on, levels are short but challanging, difficulty raises steadily troughout the game.
Has a few really fun levels that will kill you repeadly but not make you rage.
Has trading cards.