Review: Clone Drone In The Hyperdome
Clone Drone in the Hyperdome offers a fresh perspective on Doborog Games’ earlier title, Clone Drone In The Danger Zone, by transitioning the experience into Virtual Reality. However, as it steps into the competitive realm of VR roguelike games, can it emerge as a winner?
Release Date: December 12th 2024
Developer: Doborog Games
Publisher: Doborog Games
Price: US $19.99 / CA $25.99 / €17,99 / £16.75
Reviewed On: DPVR E4 Black
* Access Provided For Review *
You Are Blink
In Clone Drone in the Hyperdome, the story kicks off when you find yourself in the body of Blink, a new Looprunner gearing up for the Crashloop, a gladiatorial tournament held within the Hyperdome. While the concept may seem straightforward, the real depth comes from the interactions in the Loading Room between each run. Here, you meet other Looprunners who bring vibrant personalities to the game. Their conversations about past victories and playful banter, including some lighthearted complaints about being eliminated first, help you feel more engaged with the game’s world and narrative.
Tournament To The Death
The game is a roguelike, meaning you’ll be navigating through Crashloops until you either meet your demise or achieve victory. However, even if you win, the Captain will ultimately blow you up. Your goal is to win enough Crashloops so that you can take on the Captain and, fingers crossed, put an end to his rule.
To eliminate enemies and other Looprunners, who join you in the shared loading lobby, you can use melee weapons or bows and arrows. The combat’s precision and physics are impressive, enhancing the gameplay as you block and seize your chances to strike. The thrill intensifies with the ability to dismember your foes, slicing off arms, legs, and hands with accurate hits. However, you must remain vigilant, as they can retaliate in kind. The feeling of immersion in the game is heightened when you lose your robot hand; it’s a disorienting experience that showcases the game’s exceptional design.
In the game, you start with a set number of lives, referred to as clones. If you lose all your clones during a run, you’ll fail that particular Crashloop. Each Looprunner begins with three clones, but you can earn more as you progress through the rounds—just like your opponents can. Throughout each run, you’ll face standard enemies, each varying in difficulty based on their armor type and color. The challenge escalates when you encounter other Looprunners, leading to a showdown until only one remains. At the beginning of each round, you’ll have choices to make, such as acquiring an extra clone, a weapon, coins, a mystery box, or visiting the shop. In the shop, you can use your coins to purchase health, weapons, abilities, and other helpful items. So, it’s important to choose the right path to achieve your goal.
After each run, you’ll find yourself in the loading lobby alongside other Looprunners. Here, you’ll hear them celebrating their victories if they come out on top. However, there’s more to this than just bragging rights; these Looprunners can either become your allies or your adversaries. It’s important to keep them on your good side. If you knock them out, especially if you choose them for your first boss fight, they might start to hold a grudge against you. Too many knockouts in the first round could even lead to a Looprunner being retired for good. So, choose your battles wisely—not just based on who has the fewest clones left, but also keep track of who you’ve already taken down first previously.
As you progress through more runs, you’ll find that you can introduce additional Looprunners to the loading lobby. At the end of a successful run, the Captain will challenge you to battle these new additions. If you manage to defeat them, they’ll join the loading lobby, providing you with more choices to influence their feelings towards you and expanding the range of abilities you can utilise.
When you take out other characters during your run, they lose their unique abilities, many of which can overshadow your teleport skill. I believe this is a clever way to incorporate teleportation for players who want to avoid motion sickness. Each character has their own special ability, which adds a new layer to your strategy. You might find it worthwhile to turn one into an enemy if you really appreciate their skill for your gameplay. For instance, MX2’s shield ability allows you to absorb an extra hit.
Epic Voxel Destruction
Clone Drone in the Hyperdome features Voxel graphics, which initially made me question the choice. While it aligns with Clone Drone in the Danger Zone, I wondered if it would translate effectively to Virtual Reality. However, the concept and execution are so well done that it completely defies my expectations; the game looks amazing in the headset. The destruction of enemies and the risk of losing limbs, combined with the fluid animations and realistic combat poses of each foe, keeps the experience feeling dynamic and engaging. Everything in the game is tangible, with most objects able to be sliced through by your weapons or at least creating sparks when struck. The stunning lighting effects, especially from elements like lava, truly enhance the immersive experience.
The audio experience is impressively crafted, featuring an energetic soundtrack that enhances the action. The sounds of standard enemies as they charge into battle, along with their pained reactions when they get hit, blend seamlessly with the clashing of weapons and the sparks that fly, making the combat feel even more engaging. Additionally, the other Looprunners are superbly voice acted, drawing you deeper into the game’s narrative, whether you’re in the loading room or facing their taunts during the Crashloop battles.
Comfort
The Verdict
Clone Drone in the Hyperdome brings an exciting new roguelike experience to Virtual Reality, featuring some of the most enjoyable melee combat physics I’ve seen in quite a while. You can take down your Voxel foes by severing their limbs in spectacular Voxel destruction, but be careful—your opponents can do the same to you! Losing a hand can be incredibly challenging, especially in the immersive world of VR. The game’s design complements the Voxel graphics beautifully, with sparks flying during battles and the sounds of enemies in pain, creating an immersive experience that surpassed my expectations. If you’re a fan of roguelikes and thrilling physics-based combat in VR, this game is a must-try. Even if you’re not typically into these genres, it’s definitely worth a shot.