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!

[i]Steam shows 18 minutes of playtime at the moment, I definitely played more in offline mode.[/i] Received beta access as a VR Linux tester, then got the game as a gift from a friend after the release. This is an excellent VR rhythm game, songs are fine, fast reflexes required, devs were nice and friendly when I was on their Discord. What else to say about this game - it's a game where you're supposed to sync your body movement with the song, shoot in the right moment or block incoming projectiles with your arm shields. Never thought I'd enjoy such a game but here I am recommending it. I adore this game, finally a reason to start moving in quarantine. Keep some water nearby. You'll need it. Performance is fine on a 1660 Ti, HTC Vive VR headset, Arch Linux. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtrd2KpTyes

Well if you're looking for a game that you can sit down shoot and block with very little movement, and you're not really into Synth or Pop/Dance music you might like this game. I personally found it a bit boring and only one song I liked but I play a lot of VR rhythm games. I wish they had a neutral choice for games like this, but I guess I'll say yes for someone that might like this.

well, this game is excellent. I knew it was polished from the demo but something felt off. Whatever was off, they seem to have fixed because now it feels incredible. There aren't too many VR rhythm games that could pass as a proper arcade game but this one could. Much like Audio Beats VR. This one is just as polished and feels like it belongs in the arcade. Music is excellent ranging from K-Pop to death metal.

A rhythm game I really like to play more often on stream. I love the included music and the mechanics are a lot of fun. It is a bit hard to learn and has a steep curve climbing up the difficulties, but worth to hang on! A lot of detailed options and settings and very easy to setup for stream too. I just wish for more content soon! :)

I love this game, help me to sync my mind with my body using music. A place to discovery new artists. One of the most friendly Devs that I meet for ever ;-)

Solid rhythm based game. Highly addictive, very good soundtrack. Well priced too. Recommended.

I've been looking forward to this for a long time, and I wasn't disappointed. This is easily one of the best rhythm games in VR. Highly recommended.

A very different rhythm game - it combines accuracy (shooting), timing (when you shoot), coordination (both hands hold a gun), and little bit of synthrunner-style body-bopping. Fun and addictive on Recruit level, it gets seriously challenging on Marksman. So, fun, accessible, addictive, and the challenge is there if you want it. Great soundtrack too. Runs perfectly on Pop_OS 20.04, 5700XT, Valve Index, native for Linux.

This game is loads of fun! very challenging at 1st. I tried pistol whip and also synth riders, didn't like either of them and returned them both. So if you do like both of those games i really don't see how you couldn't like this one 10x more! but everyone has different tastes. after the 1st time i played all i wanted to do was play again. not long after the 1st round i was back in there. i put almost 4 hours in the 1st 2 times i played! its been a while since i found a game i was craving to master right off the bat. Edit:this game is so good i had to come back and say it again. beat saber and groove gunner are my top 2 rhythm VR games. I can see this getting as popular as beat saber tbh. IF ANYONE READS THIS THAT DOESN'T HAVE THE GAME JUST BUY IT ALREADY.