Not all games need shiny AAA graphics, they utilise quirky designs and stylish artwork to create engaging worlds. Whereas some games have what’s called “a face only a mother could love”. And that certainly seems to be the case with Bionic Hunter: The Ancient Sword, with 131XR’s review finding a game that is more fun than it is pretty.
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What is Bionic Hunter?
Bionic Hunter: The Ancient Sword is most easily classed as a boomer shooter; think of it along the lines of DOOM, Quake and even Serious Sam. But while it might be in a similar category to these revered franchises, it’s not quite in the same league.
Originally released as Bionic Hunter VR way back in 2019 for PC VR headsets on Steam, developer Anomos Studios brought the game to Meta Quest as Bionic Hunter: The Ancient Sword in 2021. Since then, it has stayed in early access until its official launch in late September. That brought with it a bevvy of updates, including a ‘visual upgrade’. Those graphics might still need some work, yet the gameplay loop is surprisingly enjoyable.
Bionic Hunter Review
As 131XR is keen to point out right away in its review of Bionic Hunter: The Ancient Sword, this is not a good looking game. Even after years of development, one look at the gameplay footage could easily put you off. The environments are quite barren and detailless, and the monsters you’ll encounter don’t exactly strike much fear into each encounter. That’s further compounded by the poor enemy animations, as they lumber and stutter towards you.
However, and quite surprisingly, 131XR doesn’t dislike Bionic Hunter: The Ancient Sword as a whole. The silly, over-the-top gunplay works reasonably well, and the titular Ancient Sword that you pick up early on is fun to wield.
131XR acknowledges that Bionic Hunter: The Ancient Sword won’t be for everyone, especially if you’re looking for a polished experience. But if you’re looking for a fast-paced, single-player boomer shooter in VR, this is worth a look.
Can it get better?
Any game can get better with enough time and effort, just look at No Man’s Sky. Yet there’s no indication at present if Anomos Studios plans on addressing some of the issues 131XR encounters in Bionic Hunter: The Ancient Sword. Those are, namely, the visuals and animations that would help elevate the experience beyond a mere early access game.
Considering the two updates listed on the Horizon Store are three years apart, you might have to be patient.
Graphics don’t make a game, but they do help. What do you think? Let us know in the comments.
