With continued development and expansion of its core mechanics, Gun X could evolve into something truly special.
In the crowded landscape of VR shooters, Gun X manages to carve out its own unique identity with an innovative premise that transforms the simple act of wielding a firearm into a compelling crafting experience. Rather than simply picking up pre-made weapons, you must assemble your guns piece by piece, creating an engaging loop that merges gunsmithing with survival horror.
The heart of Gun X lies in its weapon assembly system. Each firearm must be built from individual components – springs, sliders, barrels, stocks, and more. This isn't just a gimmick; it's a fundamental gameplay mechanic that adds layers of strategy and skill to what could have been yet another zombie shooter. The assembly process feels intuitive in VR, with each piece clicking satisfyingly into place as you construct your weapon of choice.
This unique approach to gunplay creates moments of intense decision-making. Do you take the time to carefully assemble a more powerful weapon, or quickly throw together a basic pistol when zombies are closing in? The pressure of building weapons under duress adds a thrilling dimension to the traditional wave-based survival formula.
The main attraction is the single-player zombie mode, which takes place across various environments including a dense jungle and an atmospheric trainyard. Each arena features a workbench where you'll spend time assembling your arsenal. The resource management system adds another strategic layer – killing zombies earns you materials that can be used to craft additional weapons or explosives like Molotov cocktails and pipe bombs from the two available drawers.
The combo system introduces an interesting risk-reward dynamic. Maintain your killing streak, and you'll be rewarded with special weapons like shotguns and M4s. However, the game's reload mechanics create constant tension. Instead of simple magazine swaps, you'll need to deposit weapons and reassemble them after use. This forces you to maintain awareness of your ammunition and plan your reloads carefully.
Gun X doesn't pull its punches when it comes to difficulty. The learning curve is steep, and you'll face numerous failures before mastering the flow of combat. The upgrade system provides a sense of progression, allowing you to enhance various aspects of your weapons including fire rate, ammo capacity, and the number of magazine clips available before requiring a full reassembly.
However, the current balance could use some fine-tuning. The lack of a consistent melee option can leave you completely defenseless when caught between weapon assemblies. You can grab zombies by the head and stop them from attacking, but you can't do this for long. Also, there is the option to wack zombies with the gun, but this is not very effective and takes a lot of time to kill them. So like a limited use knife or something would be nice. Additionally, the requirement to return to the main menu for upgrades after each failure disrupts the game's momentum. An option to access the upgrade system from the failure screen would streamline the experience considerably.
The game's competitive mode offers an interesting take on one-on-one combat. These duels test players' weapon assembly speed and accuracy, with victory going to the fastest gunslinger. The random weapon assignment adds an element of unpredictability, but with only about ten guns in rotation, the novelty can wear thin relatively quickly.
While the duel mode showcases the potential of the assembly mechanics in a competitive setting, it could benefit from additional complexity. Adding decoy parts or alternative assembly challenges could help maintain long-term engagement. More guns would also be nice.
The foundation laid by Gun X is impressive, particularly in how it transforms the familiar mechanics of VR shooting into something fresh and engaging. The weapon assembly system could serve as a basis for various game modes beyond what's currently offered. Imagine a full campaign where you must scavenge parts and adapt their arsenal to evolving threats, or expanded multiplayer modes that incorporate team-based objectives. Sure, these things might be way out of scope, but it's nice to dream.
Gun X makes effective use of the Quest 3's capabilities, delivering clear visuals that make weapon assembly intuitive and satisfying. The various environments provide distinct atmospheres, though they serve mainly as backdrops to the action rather than interactive spaces. The zombie designs are serviceable, providing clear targets without pushing any boundaries in terms of horror or gore.
The sound design deserves special mention, with each weapon component producing satisfying clicks and clacks during assembly. The guns themselves pack a decent punch in terms of audio feedback, contributing to the overall feeling of weight and impact.
On the Quest 3, the game runs smoothly with minimal technical issues. The tracking is for the most part precise, but when you are trying to pick up smaller parts things can get a bit wonky. Load times are reasonable, though as mentioned, the frequent returns to the main menu for upgrades can become tedious.
Gun X represents a bold step forward in VR shooter design. Its weapon assembly mechanics create a unique gameplay loop that sets it apart from its peers. While there's room for improvement in terms of balance and content variety, the core experience is both novel and engaging. The combination of strategic resource management, skill-based weapon assembly, and intense combat creates moments of genuine excitement that few VR titles can match.
The game's current state feels like a solid foundation rather than a fully realized vision. With continued development and expansion of its core mechanics, Gun X could evolve into something truly special. Despite its current limitations, it's easy to recommend to VR enthusiasts looking for a fresh take on the shooter genre, particularly those who appreciate games that reward mechanical skill and strategic thinking. Thanks for reading!
The game was reviewed on a Quest 3 via a promo copy provided by the developer. Gun X is available on Meta Quest and PCVR.
