BoomXR (Steam VR)

VR Shop Score – Bronze Award

System: Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift & Windows MR
Price at Time Of Review: £3.99
Comfort Rating: Green (No Movement)
Genre: Music and Rhythm
Input: Tracked Motion Controllers
Best Playing Position: Standing, Room-Scale
Multi-Player: No
Age Rating: PG

 

Description: A boxing pad trainer where you hit targets in sync with the default music or your mp3s. You’ll also have to dodge and parry strikes as you top the ranks of the ninja shrine. Ergonomics are strict and the game promotes hip movement for intense workouts. The dark setting combines elements of rave and martial arts in a colourful experience.

Review: ‘BoomXR’ is yet another boxing style rhythm game of the likes we have already seen lots of times before. Only this time you will be fighting invisible ninjas with punches of the corresponding colour to your fists in time with the music. The good news is the 5 tracks on offer are not terrible and the beat mapping seems to be mostly OK. You can even use your own music, but of course, the beat mapping will be terrible.

I get that £3.99 is a small price, but I just don’t think this game offers even enough content at that small price. Using the Oculus Rift I also found the punching hands off-angle and the gameplay far too frantic to be called fun. There are a few different game modes, but they are mostly all the same. It is not something I am willing to recommend just yet, but with a few improvements (especially to the learning difficulty) I could see that opinion changing.