New VR Shooter VENDETTA FOREVER Mashes Pistol Whip & Superhot Into Something Unique

Veteran VR studio nDreams has a history of creating innovative shooters with unique mechanics. This experience has influenced their publishing decisions as well. Their latest publication, VENDETTA FOREVER, developed by MeatSpace Interactive and published by nDreams, showcases a distinctive movement mechanic that adds a fast-paced element to VR gameplay. We had the opportunity to try out the Quest demo, which is now available to the public.

Update (August 15th, 2024, 3:46PM ET): Vendetta Forever is being published by nDreams and developed by MeatSpace Interactive, a studio operated by Zander Dejah.

An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that VENDETTA FOREVER was developed by nDreams themselves.

Vendetta Forever is a classic arcade shooter with its own twist. While it incorporates elements of ‘auto-aim’ reminiscent of Pistol Whip and the bullet-dodging slow motion of SUPERHOT VR (including similar aesthetics), Vendetta Forever stands out as a unique experience. It introduces a movement mechanic where players can teleport to any visible gun, whether on the ground or falling from an enemy’s grasp.

This gameplay mechanic forms the core of the game, requiring players to quickly transition from one gun to another not just for mobility but also to evade incoming bullets. The game sets a frantic pace of gun-jumping to avoid being hit, even on the ‘Normal’ difficulty setting.

Initially, players may experience multiple deaths, but with practice, they can develop superhero-like speed and sharpshooting skills. The gameplay demands constant movement to survive, similar to Pistol Whip.

During my hands-on experience, there was a brief slowdown moment while shooting from a helicopter with a heavy machine gun, offering a welcome change of pace. I hope the game includes more such moments to add variety. An ability to ‘freeze’ the action momentarily for strategic planning could enhance the gameplay, possibly with a cooldown mechanism to maintain challenge.

The game’s levels follow a predictable pattern, allowing players to anticipate enemy movements and become adept at gunplay. While this predictability enhances the feeling of mastery, alternative paths based on teleporting choices add a layer of replayability for those aiming for high scores on leaderboards.

The levels in Vendetta Forever are relatively short, typically taking 30-60 seconds to complete if players follow a known path. Exploring the levels by trial and error can extend this time. For players not focused on leaderboard rankings, the game offers fast-paced progression, raising the question of whether the developer can provide enough content to engage a broader audience.

Despite its stylized visuals, the game exhibits noticeable aliasing, which seems out of place given its low-polygon aesthetic. For optimal performance, the game should ideally run at maximum resolution and native 90Hz or 120Hz on Quest 3. It’s possible that the version I played has yet to be optimized for Quest 3, or improvements may be implemented before the official launch.

The core mechanics of Vendetta Forever, such as teleporting between guns and auto-aim features, are compelling. The game’s success will depend on the quality and variety of its levels, as well as the developer’s ability to maintain player engagement. Overall, I am optimistic about the game’s potential!

The demo for Vendetta Forever on Quest is now accessible, with the official launch scheduled for October on Quest 2, Quest Pro, Quest 3, and PSVR 2 platforms.