Battlewake review: How is this so good?

As attempts to environment my ship to bring it down go, this ane was fairly well executed. I had the advantage over the two leeward vessels as each struggled to get a clear shot at me. But that left the iii larger ships plenty of space to arroyo and unload their many, many cannons into my stern. A few well-placed volleys set the first ship afire, simply the 2d was at present budgeted as fast as it could. Ramming this ship isn't quite that like shooting fish in a barrel, I thought as I dredged my anchor and narrowly dodged my opponent. And thankfully, as it passed, there was time to unload my cannons two full times to finish the job I'd started earlier.

I slowly right my ship to face the iii larger vessels, and two things become immediately apparent. Kickoff, in that location's no fashion I survive a gunfight with these ships given the state my cute craft is currently in. 2d, the tattoos on my left arm are glowing. That item makes me smile, knowing every bit I flick my wrist that my devoted Kraken would emerge from the deep and make quick work of my enemies.

As the massive creature returns to its home in the water, the ocean around me littered with splinters of wood and bits of cloth, I exhale for the start time in what feels similar minutes. It'south time to relax for a moment because what comes next is likely to be even more challenging.

Guns and ships

Battlewake

Bottom line: This is almost everything I accept always wanted in a naval combat VR game, it's seriously that good.

Pros:

Gorgeous environments
Impressively unique gameplay
Tons of multiplayer potential
Zero motion sickness problems

Cons:

Adequately shallow story way

Battlewake review: What I similar

In that location'south a vast catalog of VR games that only do an okay job of delivering realistic move on apartment surfaces without causing motion sickness in most folks. All I wanted from a alpine-ship combat game was non to injure someone when they tried information technology. I've got fairly solid "VR legs" under me, so it takes a lot to make me uncomfortable in VR. But every single person I put in Battlewake had nothing only positive things to say nearly the experience. Some of these folks tin can just barely tolerate VR roller coaster videos when sitting nonetheless in a chair. Here they were laughing and bravado up ships every bit their craft slammed through waves and tipped to match the next bully just ahead.

This experience is the effect of months and months of testing and feedback at Survios, something the entire squad wanted to get correct from the beginning. Battlewake has been in development for quite a while; in fact, the kickoff time I tried a stable build of the game was back in March of this year. Battlewake uses a combination of horizon line trickery, focus narrowing when the motility gets particularly intense, and environments that feel massive while you're inside of them. And information technology works, maybe not for 100% of people every fourth dimension only for significantly more people than you'd think by looking at the trailers for this game.

Battlewake is everything I've always wanted in VR naval combat.

Battlewake follows the lives of 4 unique characters with an impressive set up of abilities. Some can summon monsters from the deep, while others can create ocean-bound vortexes to swallow ships whole. Each character has their ain specially outfitted transport with a dedicated adventure on the high seas, and when yous consummate 1, you've unlocked some other. Equally you unlock everything, yous tin can mix and match ship and character to your liking. If you want a faster ship with less firepower but a devastating unique ability for attacking multiple enemies, you can do that easily. Best of all, Survios could hands add more characters and ships with this format and accept some fun with different abilities afterward on.

All of the gameplay in Battlewake happens at the captain of whatsoever ship you choose. You keep a manus on the wheel, and to your left and right you have chains you can pull to dredge your ballast to plough faster if you need it. Not exactly 100% accurate for a naval vessel, but entertaining however. In the real globe, y'all've for one hand out at all times to grab the bike, gripping the controller and moving slightly. Your other hand is and then used for combat. As you indicate your other arm out, y'all see the combination of a crosshair and an arcing arrow. You can shoot a simple gun mounted on the bow, or volley your cannons from either side of the ship. The stern has some great weapons as well depending on which ship you cull, ranging from giant flamethrowers to mortars for hit farther abroad targets. The diverseness gives you some flexibility in combat and doesn't accept specially long to get over the learning curve for each transport.

Battlewake is everything I've ever wanted in VR naval combat. The combat is intense, the scenery is stunning, and the characters are compelling. It's also not strictly speaking authentic from a naval perspective thank you to a healthy supply of fantasy and magic. It's great fun all effectually. And similar other Survios games, it volition be made then much more fun past adding in multiplayer gainsay, which I've not yet been able to test.

Battlewake review: What I don't like

Survios has done a fantastic task dropping me in the center of the beautiful earth with dynamic and fascinating characters to wage a unique kind of war. Every minute I've spent in this game has been a feast for my optics. Unfortunately, even now as I've reached the finish of all four stories in the game, I know basically naught most the world.

Who are these incredibly powerful pirate-types? Where practice their powers come up from? Why practice only a handful of people in this universe seem to take the ability to bend the earth itself as a weapon against their foes? What motivates my enemies? Outside of the somewhat generic "we've fought you lot before and are at present doing so again" story we arrive the dialogue, there's not much there. There are so many opportunities to make this world experience fuller, and it doesn't seem like Survios felt any of that was a priority. I get that online gameplay is a lot of what drives Survios games, but come on folks! You've created such an incredible world hither; information technology is downright shameful not to more with it.

This doesn't but end with the earth. The private stories for each character are just sort of there. The absolute minimum endeavour to make some of these people feel connected to or enlightened of ane another is nowadays, only that'south near information technology. Each graphic symbol has a ready of quests leading to a dramatic final battle for a grand treasure, and this treasure is something each character wants for themselves no thing what. But there's no payoff. When you become what you desire, the game just moves on to the next character and questline. It's tragically shallow, and something I wish Survios felt was more important to the gameplay experience.

Should you buy Battlewake?

As much as I would beloved to explore a deep story in this globe, the game Survios has delivered is excellent. And if you lot enjoy playing VR games online with friends, this experience is going to go on you lot busy for a long time. There's so much to explore then many fights to become into. It couldn't be more clear Survios is planning to abound this game into something fifty-fifty more impressive over time.

Take hold of the wheel, summon your strength, and battle some magic pirates in VR. Information technology doesn't get much amend than this.

Guns and ships

Battlewake

Have to the seas every bit a magic pirate!

Battlewake provides epic combat on the loftier seas in VR without making you even remotely seasick, which seemed almost impossible a year agone. If y'all're a fan of fantasy naval battles, this is very much for you lot.

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