Shadowcore (Early Access)

Developer / Publisher – Serebum Lab / Silverstar Network Technology
Price – US $24.99 / EU €24.99 / UK £19.49
Release Date – November 1st, 2017
Input – Tracked Motion Controllers
Play Area –  Seated, Standing
Store – Steam
Reviewed on – Oculus Rift / Lenovo WMR

Starting out in the Training area of ShadowCore VR, it’s easy to see the potential the shooter has to become a major player in the VR FPS arena. Easy to use guns, a smart visual style, and enough depth to stand out from the plethora of shooters, make this game fun to play, and brings players coming back for more. Unfortunately, the currently low player base restricts the amount of fun you can have with this game.

Someone is about to get lined up and taken out!

ShadowCore VR gives players the choice of 3 classes, each with a different main weapon and secondary fire. Also in the arsenal, is a wrist weapon that can stun, shoot missiles, and more. There are 3 different game modes (if you like Capture the Flag type modes this game is perfect) and currently has 2 maps to play on. Each game mode is 5v5, and when matches start there is a real sense of adrenaline. If I had to compare this to another popular VR game, I would say it is somewhat similar to Pavlov in how matches play out, with respawns and a faster paced game style. Learning the maps was fairly easy, the layout makes sense, but is not so simplistic that you always know where the enemy is going to come from. Throughout my matches I did not encounter any spawn camping, which was a relief as spawns are one of the biggest make or break items in a shooter.

Visually ShadowCore VR is a treat. During a match I found myself reminded of Far Cry Blood Dragon visuals, purples and green neon everywhere. Nothing is too distracting to the current match, but you really feel like you are in a real location with a cyberpunk theme. The music blaring, I was instantly in the mood to start a virtual shootout, and soon got my wish fulfilled.

In the matches I played, the game definitely had a more Call of Duty feel in regard to how teammates worked together, as in they don’t. While you are placed on a team, I personally did not encounter much teamwork, although at one point we did all work together to successfully secure an objective.  If the community grows, I expect this to change a bit, but for those diving in for the first time, expect to run and gun it alone.

ShadowCore VR has free locomotion with snap turning enabled, so movement is either through thumbstick or trackpad and works well. Reloading works similarly to Arizona Sunshine, pop out you magazine with a button press, pull the gun to your belt to reload.

When you get hit, you’ll know it!

I talked to the community about the game, noting that it takes some time getting in to a match, and I was told there is an update coming that many people are waiting for to jump back in. Sure enough, a fairly large update is coming, including the ability to play with bots, changes to some character classes, UI tweaks, FX tweaks, and quite a few more changes that will make the game even more satisfying to play. The game is in Early Access on steam for Oculus Rift, Vive, and WMR headsets, so I am not surprised or let down they are still ironing out flaws.

ShadowCore VR is definitely a game I will be periodically checking in on, and will be poking friends to pick up.  As the player base grows I expect to see a large influx of players. Unfortunately, the current lack of players keeps me from giving the game a higher score, and without bots yet, there is not tons to do if you cannot get in to a match.

What would I pay? Keep in mind that this is still in early access with a large update ‘coming soon’.  I think for those interested a multiplayer shooter, $10 seems right for what is currently available.  If you’re less interested in that than maybe stay away until the next update(s) rolls out or this leaves early access.

Serebum Lab provided The VR Grid with a review code and, regardless of this review, we thank them for that!