Bonelab
Bonelab is a 2022 video game developed and published by American studio, Stress Level Zero. The player controls an outcast that escapes death and explores experimental worlds in a research lab in MythOS. Bonelab released for Microsoft Windows and Meta Quest 2 on 29 September 2022.[1]
Bonelab | |
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Developer(s) | Stress Level Zero |
Publisher(s) | Stress Level Zero |
Director(s) | Brandon Laatsch |
Engine | Unity (game engine) |
Platform(s) | Meta Quest 2, Microsoft Windows |
Release | September 29, 2022 |
Genre(s) | First-person shooter, virtual reality |
Mode(s) |
Gameplay
The game is the sequel to 2019's Boneworks and plays similarly. The player can use a wristwatch to change their avatar, which affects their in-game body proportions and ability to use items. The campaign takes place in smaller levels that each focus on different mechanics, from traditional first-person shooter levels to go-karting.[2]
Reception
Aggregator | Score |
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Metacritic | 65/100 |
Publication | Score |
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PC Gamer (US) | 81/100 |
Road to VR | 5/10 |
Bonelab received "mixed or average reviews", according to the review aggregator Metacritic.[3]
PC Gamer criticized the campaign's pacing, but enjoyed the improvements to melee combat, "most avatars I inhabited could swing a sword or club with ease... Blunt attacks land with satisfying weight".[4] While disliking how prone the game was to causing motion sickness, Rock Paper Shotgun praised the gun handling of the game, writing that "the simulated weight and presence of Bonelab's two handed guns that makes it easy to keep track of where your hands are supposed to be".[5] Road to VR felt the title's modding support had vast potential, but wrote that Bonelab's campaign had the same problems as its predecessor.[6] UploadVR was impressed that the Meta Quest 2 version ran as well as it did, but noted numerous performance issues, "It’s certainly playable, but not a completely smooth experience".[2]
References
- Cripe, Michael (2022-09-23). "Bonelab, the Follow-Up to Boneworks, Reveals Gameplay & Extremely Close Release Date". The Escapist. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
- Baker, Harry (2022-09-29). "Bonelab Review: Unrelenting Intensity Meets Mainstream VR On Quest 2". UploadVR. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
- "BONELAB". Metacritic. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
- Tarason, Dominic (2022-11-04). "Bonelab review". PC Gamer. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
- Lane, Rick (2022-10-28). "Reality Bytes: Bonelab is a weird, interesting metric for how how VR has evolved". Rock Paper Shotgun. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
- Lang, Ben (2022-10-04). "'Bonelab' Review – An Ambitious Sandbox Waiting for the Right Toys". Road to VR. Retrieved 2023-03-30.