Mortars VR, developed and published by Growl Interactive, is a virtual reality-focused multiplayer artillery shooter that places players in command of towering cannon emplacements. Released in 2018, the game blends strategic artillery combat with VR immersion, offering a unique twist on competitive multiplayer gameplay. Players are tasked with controlling massive towers, firing at opponents to destroy their structures, and ultimately growing their own towers taller and more powerful. The concept is both inventive and visually striking, leveraging VR technology to create a sense of scale and presence that few other artillery games achieve.
Gameplay in Mortars VR revolves around precision and strategy. Players must account for factors such as wind, distance, trajectory, and weapon velocity to land successful shots, while also monitoring the actions of enemy towers. The game encourages tactical thinking, as players can form temporary alliances, target specific opponents, or defend their own position. Multiplayer matches provide the most engaging experience, though the game also includes offline modes with AI-controlled opponents for practice or solo play. However, some players have reported connectivity and server issues in online matches, which can disrupt the competitive flow and detract from the overall experience.
Visually, Mortars VR embraces a stylized, cartoonish art style that complements its playful yet competitive gameplay. Each tower features a fully realized cockpit, enhancing the immersion and giving players the sensation of operating a massive artillery unit. The environments are varied and designed to maintain clarity during combat, helping players gauge distances and trajectories effectively. Despite these strengths, some users have experienced performance issues, including frame rate drops and occasional lag, which can impact the precision-based gameplay that the game relies on.
The game offers a range of tower classes and weapon types, each with distinct strengths and abilities. With fifteen different weapons available, players can experiment with diverse strategies and approaches, adding depth to matches. While the variety provides interesting tactical choices, the progression and customization systems are relatively basic, leaving some players wishing for more complexity and long-term goals to maintain engagement.
Being in Early Access, Mortars VR shows promise but also reflects its developmental status. Updates have been sporadic, and while the developers have communicated plans for additional content and improvements, the lack of consistent updates has frustrated portions of the community. Feedback from players has been generally positive regarding the concept and core gameplay, but technical stability and content depth remain areas for improvement.
Overall, Mortars VR delivers a creative and engaging VR experience that combines artillery mechanics with strategic multiplayer competition. Its immersive tower controls, tactical depth, and distinctive visual style make it stand out among VR shooters. However, technical limitations, server instability, and limited progression systems prevent it from fully realizing its potential. For VR enthusiasts seeking a unique and innovative approach to multiplayer combat, Mortars VR offers a memorable, if somewhat rough-edged, experience in virtual artillery warfare.
Rating: 6/10
