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Holodrive

Holodrive is a side-scrolling shooter where plays take on the role of cute robotic warriors and customize their weaponry, using jetpacks to quickly zip across the map and blast each other in a variety of game modes.

Publisher: Versus Evil
Playerbase: Low
Type: 2D Shooter
Release Date: March 24, 2016
Pros: +Cute art style. +Extensive customization. +Game mode variety.
Cons: -Low playerbase hurts matchmaking. -Repetitive map design. -Poor gamepad support.

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Overview

Holodrive Overview

Holodrive is a fast-paced 2D shooter where players are tiny robots that shoot each other into smithereens across a variety of game modes. Zip across a map with the help of a speedy jetpack and blast each other in Deathmatch, or enter one of three team-based game modes, including the chicken-goal-scoring Cocoball. Customize your bot by equipping unique arms, legs, heads, skins, and jetpacks, to mix and match your character. And collect complete cosmetic sets like Ninja or Shinobi. Open up packs to collect weapons or craft them, carrying up to 7 weapons at a time so you're equipped for any situation.

Holodrive Key Features:

  • Multiple Game Modes - take part in team deathmatch or one of three team-based game modes.
  • Jetpacks - move around maps at breakneck speeds thanks to with the help of zippy jetpacks.
  • Weapon Arsenal - wield up to 7 weapons at a time, earning new guns by crafting or opening packs, or by stealing them from fallen enemies.
  • Customization - slap on unique arms, legs, heads, skins, jetpacks, and more to make your little robot stand out.
  • Map Variety - flex your skills across a variety of maps that test your abillities to shoot and maneuver.

Holodrive Screenshots

Holodrive Featured Video

Holodrive Gameplay - Sunday Funday Round 83

Full Review

Holodrive Review

By, Baruch Spinoza

Holodrive is a charming 2D shooter, one that I wouldn’t mind spending an afternoon goofing around in with some friends. If you don’t know, it began as a browser game and is now available on Steam for free. You play as a cute-looking robot, and complete objectives in team-based matches: whether that be blowing up your opponents with a healthy cache of weapons or carrying a chicken to a goal post. It’s a goofy self-aware game with enough charm to stick out on Steam’s ever-expanding library.

Butter Controls

The controls are buttery smooth and instantly intuitive. A brief tutorial is enough to feel comfortable navigating Holodrive’s variegated 2D landscapes. WASD is used to move, left-click aims, and right-click activates your jetpack. Your little robot character responds instantly and rotates fluidly as they drag their arms across the screen. And then you have Q and E which rotate through your weapon arsenal, two buttons you’ll be pressing quite a bit as you pick up guns around the map. A really nice feature is that as your bots runs down ramps he gains inertia letting her propel himself off the end of the map for a quick speedbost.

It’s easy to see how the simple control scheme began as a browser game, and has now been refined for PC players. And that lends itself to the “easy to pick-up, difficult to learn category.” Experienced players can zip around the map as if it's their own legs moving, and know exactly what angles to take to perfectly get away or ambush other players. That doesn’t mean newbies are crawling on all fours. Just that, Holodrive lends itself to a high movement skill cap, which you find yourself rising through with each game.

Too Much Teal

While not the most graphically intensive game on the block, Holodrive’s aesthetic is endearing enough to charm past its rough edges. And it’s smooth. I had no issues running the game, no stuttering, hiccups, or crashes, which may be thanks to the game’s use of the Unity engine. The character models—the cute robots who look like they could be sold at a Toy Store—stink of endearing charm and I almost felt bad blowing them up. But then again, it’s not my fault these bots love to use weapons.

Holodrive’s maps do become visually repetitive. The same color scheme is used on most levels: shades of teal and turquoise blue. It could use some sprucing up to refresh the eyes, pizzazz them visually. Of course, maps are just background noise for the true spectacle: blowing each other up with high-explosive weaponry.

Robots Go Boom!

You have a healthy number of weapons at your disposal to blow up enemy bots, from simple sub-machine guns to long-range sniper rifles. And you can carry up to 7 weapons with you on the battlefield, so that you equip yourself to handle any situation. Weapons spawn on the ground. You pick them up as you travel throughout the map, and if you die you lose all your gear. But it’s easy enough to stock back up. Some of my favorite weapons use the environment to fire off what might as well be trick shots. You can ricochet grenades against walls to take out pesky opponents ducking around corners, giving guns a skill-based tactical edge.

Is That Link?

Just by playing you'll earn Holopacks, which are analogous to loot crates or battlepacks or any other word you want to insert that means “contains in-game goodies.” Even the tutorial awards two so you can begin customizing your character. On my first box I got a Nagareboshi jet pack, essentially a giant throwing star. Customization is extensive, and no two robots look alike. Which is really neat considering the face-value basic appearance of the game.

My robot ended up looking like Link, which was a surprise when I opened the Holodrive and received the young adventurer’s tunic. You can buy additional Holopacks, the mainstay of the cash shop. So there’s no pay advantage, unless you consider making your bot look cool an egregious sin. But if you’re rational, then it’s a fair business practice.

The Big Issue

Here lies the big issue with Holodrive, one that affects too many games. Without enough players you don’t have a game. At certain times of day you won't find any other players to join a match. And instead of team-based gameplay you end with 1v1s if you’re lucky. That’s too bad. Because the core gameplay is addictive fun. The issue could be rectified with the addition of AI bots, with varying levels to appeal to both players old and new, and at least give the player who randomly downloads the game the intended experience, albeit an artificial one.

Conclusion - Good

Holodrive would be a great pick-up-and-play–free-to-play title if it only had a larger playerbase. But, Holodrive is a fun and easy to learn 2D shooter, one of the better ones if only it was known better. While it lacks depth, it makes up for it with flashy weapons and clutch moments. If you have a couple of buddies and you want to goof around in a game on a Saturday afternoon with cute robots and big explosions then go try Holodrive.

Screenshots

Holodrive Screenshots

Videos

Holodrive Videos

Holodrive - Update Spotlight: Loadout

System Requirements

Holodrive System Requirements

Minimum Requirements:

Operating System: Windows Vista / 7 / 8 / 10
CPU: Dual Core 2.6GHz
Video Card: GeForce 8000/ AMD Radeon HD 2000
RAM: 4 GB
Hard Disk Space: 2 GB

Recommended Requirements:

Operating System: Windows Vista / 7 / 8 / 10
CPU: Dual Core 2.6GHz
Video Card: GeForce 8000/ AMD Radeon HD 2000
RAM: 4 GB
Hard Disk Space: 4 GB

Music

Holodrive Music& Soundtrack

Coming Soon!

Additional Info

Holodrive Additional Information

Developer: BitCake Studio
Publisher: Versus Evil

Engine: Unity

Steam Greenlight: January 22, 2014
Early Access: March 24, 2016

Release Date: TBA

Development History / Background:

Holodrive is developed by BitCake Studio and published by Versus Evil. The game was originally available exclusively for browsers and called Project Tilt. The team announced that Project Tilt would change its name to Holodrive on December 17, 2015. On March 31, 2016 BitCake Studio announced they would be shutting down the Project Tilt browser version due to Unity's announcement they would no longer be supporting their browser plugin, and moving their game onto Steam. It had been posted to Steam Greenlight on January 22, 2014, and the game was released onto Steam as an Early Access title on M arch 24, 2016.