Groove Gunner

Hey there fellow gamers, I’ve been playing VR rythm games for a while now after switching from Flatscreen Rythm and think I can give at least a somewhat informed recommendation for why GG is worth checking out.- So let’s Cut straight in;) -So Whats the Game about? In basic words it’s pretty much a cross between the two smaller VR rythmgames Audica and Synth riders, it’s shooting targets and catching incoming bullets. So yeah, obviously it’s inevitable for any VR Rythm game at this point to not have mechanics aligning with other predecessors of the genre but GG does this quite well and makes for a unique and definitely different experience. (And I will get to this in a bit but it’s EA so certainly the mechanics are a constant WIP and will get fletched out further). The Soundtracks are chosen very well, with a good deal of variety in which anyone should find some gems. Mapping seems very solid, a good deal of variety where different maps will differ in rhythmical technicality, coordination, reading and straight aim and speed. So heads up to the small team of 3 developers that managed to come up with a good mapping style as foundation for future tracks and styles to come. Gameplay wise it’s trying to keep it minimalistic, you got the orbs flying towards you and the targets that have to be hit (main gameplay and difficulty is hitting targets though, so more towards audica style). The concept is simple but makes for a really big challenge, even for experienced players. The targets can be shot in the respective hexagon they appear in and this has to be hit, no aim assist, straight aim. Same goes for the bullets that are blocked by shields, the hitbox is literal meaning there is currently no buffer and room for error (which according to the devs will definitely be worked and improved on in the future). Scoring is divided into beat and aim score. There are 3 steps of hitting a target on/off beat, each will be multiplied by the aim judgement. Overall, the rythm aspect isn’t too strict, so it’s fairly easy to hit on beat.- Aim is definitely the limiting factor here. The multiplier can accumulate up to 13x in the hardest of the 4 difficulties, I think you are initially given 2 misses that don’t drop multiplier and from the 3rd miss in a map the multiplier will drop after every second miss.- So, while prone to changes ofc, scoring is geared heavily towards combo. So with all that said, who is the Game for?: GG is hard, very hard - Even for experienced players of the genre. So I can recommend it to anyone who has been playing VR rythm in the past, be it Synth, Audica, Pistol whip etc... And is looking for some fresh air. Obviously with GG being in early access and without a proper customs scene or playerbase it won’t do as well as other rythm games when it comes to long term engagement. However, the steep difficulty and learning curve will definitely be able to occupy you for a bit hence why this should be one of the best new experiences to jump into for a quick clash with others that just recently picked it up. Though there is one thing that will be guaranteed to feel janky for any new player, it’s the bullets and blocking with the shields, they are a WIP and will feel awkward at first, if you see yourself quickly deterred by difficult and unconventional mechanics then this probably won’t be for you at the current stage. Though if you see yourself up to a challenge, then go for it, it will feel much more natural and like a proper mechanic rather than annoyance after a while. Conclusion: Groove Gunner is a polished game for one that just came out of Beta and is backed by 3 devs (very passionate, craving for feedback). I can recommend anyone to take a look into it, especially competitive rythm players as the skill ceiling and mapping difficulty potential of this one is through the roof, personally very curious about how it develops as it grows. Just dont get repelled by the initial awkwardness of shielding, then I can promise you it will be a fun experience!