Recent reviews by Marley The Buffalo Soldier

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TL:DR: Do you want something to play after finishing HL:A and Boneworks for the 10th time? Do you want a game that can make you nostalgic for Wolfenstein 3D even though its a few years older than you? Do you want a game where you feel like John McClane when Die Hard had no sequels.

Compound is the game for you!



This game easily earns its place in the trifecta of "Must Have Index Games" alongside Half-Life: Alyx and Boneworks. Whereas unlike with both the other games mentioned, it is a rogue-lite with randomised maps, enemies and weapons during each play-though.

With 15 levels as you work your way up from the basement to the boss, each full action packed cycle takes about 1hr - 1hr 30mins to complete. Coupled with the rogue-lite elements, unlike HL:A and Boneworks, Compound can be jumped into and out of for some quick arcade'y fun either between other story heavy and long games or for a quick VR shooting session.

The retro graphics are also equally an engaging element of this game with you feeling like you've just entered into a VR Wolfenstein 3D or Rise of the Triad, as you duel wield two bazookas, blasting away goons. Likewise, after playing this game on both a high end and low end VR machine, the graphics also help cover up the related aliasing and resolution issues that are visible when gaming on a low end machine, making this one of the few games with relative parity in quality between low and high end.

As for controls, it uses a fantastic ammo system where loading is manual (unless a certain mutation is taken...), but the ammo, rather than being stored on your body, can be equipped by making a free hand into a fist and then your hand becomes the ammo for a single round/magazine. While in intense combat with loads of enemies all rushing you, this mechanic while not realistic, is quite immersive and compared with the jankyness of 'Boneworks' and 'Hotdogs, Horseshoes and Handgrenades', is quite superior and well suited to fast arcade action.

The best thing about this game however is its ease of picking up. Compared again with HL:A and Boneworks who have more elaborate mechanics, you can jump into this game and get a feel for how it works within 15 mins. This makes it a perfect VR guest game (alongside The Lab and Superhot VR) and from prior experience, this is always the game they want to get back to (so they can get revenge on their last death!)

Highly Recommend.

"I am sorry about your legs" "Don't be, I've learnt how to fly!"

Badass from beginning to end.