Early Access is often a troubling proposition. Is the game ready for the public or are the public just glorified beta testers? That’s where we come in. Welcome to the Early Access Report, where Player 2’s writers tackle an early access title to determine if it is worth your time now, or is something you should keep an eye on in the future.
The Early Access Report - On Point
Key Information
The Game: On Point
The Pitch: The arcade classic party gun game Point Blank reimagined in VR
On Point is an arcade-inspired VR first-person shooter, filled with Warioware-style minigames. Think, aim, and blast your way to a high score through endless shooting minigames, but don’t hit those bombs or you’ll run out of lives!
The Game Version This Report is Based On: 0.0.1.1.9
The Developer: Actuator Digital
I miss the old light gun days, both on the Playstation and in the Arcades. Modern arcade titles just don’t capture the simple fun that these games used to deliver. My favourite of all these classic titles was Point Blank. On my home PSX and down at the local pinny parlour (yes, I am old) Point Blank was a constant joy. The simplicity of the game hid what was a super addictive experience and one that could be shared with loved ones in epic game nights. Well, Australian developer Actuator Digital is here to recapture my fond memories with On Point, a VR spin on the classic arcade title and I am here to say that despite being early access, they are well on their way to doing so.
On Point captures the classic Point Blank formula perfectly. There are three different difficulty levels and each is broken up into stages of four different mini-games/shooting galleries. Some require you to use accuracy, some limit ammo, some require you to shoot everything in sight. The range of games here is impressive and the devs have already promised even more to come. It is a system that works well, with global and local leaderboards for each difficulty so bragging rights are there to be grabbed. I will be honest here, there is nothing really new here, On Point is really just Point Blank in VR, but frankly it has been so long since Point Blank 3 that I don’t care. It is exactly what I am craving.
I played on a Meta Quest 2 both natively and on Steam and I am pleased to report that everything runs smoothly without any hiccups. The shooting is accurate and satisfying, the simple graphics may not be testing system limits but they are appealing and the UI is clean and simple to use. This is a very stable early access release with no real tech issues to speak of. I do need to point out here that the best way to play this game is with friends, which can be a little fiddly with VR. For simplicity, I recommend getting the Steam VR version if possible. It is much more entertaining to play this game while others are watching on, cheering and jeering, and while it can be done natively on the Quest, it is much simpler on Steam as the game shows up on your computer’s monitor.
There are things that I hope the devs add as the early access period rolls on. Firstly, I would love for an endurance mode to be added. This was my most played mode in Point Blank 3 and was the perfect way to play with friends, each of us trying to get further than the other in the hundred-level marathon. Bonus levels where lives can be regained would also be a nice addition, letting people have the chance to recover from a poor level. Finally, I think some more options with the leaderboards would be great. Having leaderboards for each minigame would be fantastic and would allow for things to get really competitive if the game takes off.
Personally, I think On Point is off to a great start. It is one of the few VR games that everyone in my family wants to play and it scratches an itch that I thought would never be scratched again. The fact there is an Aussie dev team behind it only makes me smile even more. If you have a VR unit and a looking for that classic arcade lightgun experience then On Point is not only the best option, but possibly your only option. It has a lot of room to grow, the developers have committed to making even more mini-games and as it stands, there are zero technical issues to be found. For about $20 AUD, there is a lot of fun to be had right now, especially with friends, so I am happy to say you are safe to jump in early on this one.
On Point was played on a Meta Quest 2 natively and through Steam VR support. Thanks to the publishers for supplying code for coverage.
