Blasters of the Universe review

Reviewed on: PS VR

An 80s-themed shooter, with well-implemented gameplay mechanics and plenty of dashes of fun: how could it go wrong? I think it can’t; after all, who doesn’t love the 80s? Who doesn’t love a good shooter? That is what you will find in this wave shooter, which pairs very well with VR.

I should say right away that, unlike other wave shooters on the market, Blasters of the Universe, with many distinct types of weapons whose parts can be customized, stands out with this approach; where other games of the genre offer little customization or none, here it is the opposite: it substantially changes the way we play according to the customizations applied, which draws attention to this element that is so obvious in this type of experience but so poorly used by competitors in the genre. Since the customization items are unlocked as your game progresses, it is a good incentive for the player to stay entertained and keep advancing in the game.

The story can at times be silly, but it keeps the player motivated and interested in its outcome, with the villain taunting the player at every moment during the game, mocking and stoking in the player a desire to overcome the objectives the game proposes along the journey, serving as another point that makes Blasters of the Universe stand out against other games in the genre: motivation and interest in the conclusion of the plot.

But of all the distinct elements the game presents, there was one that really caught my attention, especially since it is a wave shooter: the game’s artificial intelligence. The different enemies show distinct reactions and varied tactics, forcing the player to adapt to the reactions to overcome obstacles, with the enemies’ response not being predictable at all, which renews the fun with each match, and that makes all the difference in a game of this genre.

So, in this wave shooter that looks like it was pulled straight from the 80s, we find an over-the-top story, as things were in that era, at times silly, but which together with the villain serves to give the player a background, as well as a motivation to move forward, being an element that is rare to find in shooters, earning a score of 8.0 for the narrative presented to the player.

As for the gameplay mechanics, the shooting is very well implemented, making the player dodge the enemies’ shots, crouching, standing up and dodging the thousands of bullets fired, all while shooting wildly to take down the enemies; in other words, you can be sure the game will make you sweat, but packed with lots of fun, making superb use of the Move controllers, earning a score of 9.0 for gameplay.

As for the technical aspects, especially graphics and sound, they were very well implemented in the game, having many traits of 80s productions, with lots of neon, lots of shades of blue or green on the enemies, common to productions of that period, making the player feel immersed in an environment, with sounds that give a perfect sense of shots hitting the force field, in a perfect sci-fi mood, earning a score of 8.0 on the technical side.

If you like the wave shooter genre, and despite there being few stages in the game, the replay factor and the way the game was implemented, together with the price charged, make Blasters of the Universe one of the best options on the market, and fun packaged with an 80s look deserves the player’s attention, delivering just the right amount of fun.

final score: 8.3