Vendetta Forever [Meta Quest 3] | REVIEW

Some of my favourite virtual reality titles are the ones that focus on all-out action with a unique gameplay hook. You know, games like SUPERHOT or Pistol Whip – each offers a minimalistic vibe, but pulls players in with a cool mechanic that keeps the experience fresh and exciting. Vendetta Forever, the latest release from virtual reality publisher nDreams, is exactly the same, with the game transporting players into a world of chaos-fuelled shootouts where the gameplay loop relies on clever planning as you teleport between foes.

Check out some screenshots down below:

The unique gameplay hook of Vendetta Forever is the LO-KILL-MOTION system, which sees players zipping around the environment by chaining kills together. You don’t simply walk or run around this world, with your movement instead relying on teleporting to an enemies’ locations by killing them and grabbing their weapon, whilst then immediately shifting your focus to the next target. It adds a thrilling layer of strategy to the game as you carefully decide who to kill and in what order, with quick thinking (and even quicker reflexes) required if you hope to survive.

In many ways, it actually makes Vendetta Forever feel a bit like a puzzle game… albeit one with a LOT of action-packed killing involved. With each level, you need to carefully figure out the best route of kills to take, essentially using enemies as stepping stones to navigate the environment. It gives players a constant chain of motion that’s fast paced and frantic, but also incredibly satisfying as you figure out the best way to approach each mission. And believe me, when your flow of kills is accurate and effective, it’s makes for a satisfying ballet of movement and gunplay that’ll keep you utterly engrossed in the captivating chaos of the world.

There are 60 missions in total, with most taking a short amount of time to complete once you’ve perfected your approach. There’ll certainly be some trial and error as you find the best route to success, whilst there are always ways to improve upon each attempt you make if you want to try and better your score. Missions offer an impressive amount of variety in objectives and settings too, with some levels requiring precision (like protecting a hostage or targeting a specific enemy) and others focusing more on survival and dodging enemy fire. There are some more distinct missions that offer unique mechanics too, including an insane skydiving sequence and a pitch-black level where enemies are only visible through sound cues. They help keep the experience intriguing and unpredictable, and whilst it won’t take players too long to beat all of the missions on offer, they each offer something special that’ll keep you coming back for more.

“Vendetta Forever is a glorious blend of action-packed showdowns and puzzling that feels fantastic to play in virtual reality.”

That same level of excitement extends to Vendetta Forever’s weaponry. You’ve got your standard array of firearms including pistols, assault rifles, shotguns, and so forth, but you’ll quickly find yourself wielding the likes of shurikens, katanas, bottles, and – of course – a pencil. I don’t want to call the game a John Wick simulator because it feels a bit cliché to say, but you will 100% feel JUST like John Wick when playing. The abundance of weapon types (over 50 in total) consistently keeps players tinkering with something new, with each new weapon not only allowing players to take a different approach but also adding a destructive sense of flair to each mission. It’s bloody brilliant.

The LO-KILL-MOTION mechanic creates an exciting and satisfying challenge for players, but it isn’t without its drawbacks. Since your movement depends on killing targets and grabbing their weapon, a few missions can become a little tedious if you can’t quite hit that flow of kills effectively or find yourself without a target. Your adrenaline will be pumping when playing, so hitting a standstill because you messed up always feels a little underwhelming (even IF it is technically your own fault).

Fortunately, Vendetta Forever includes a handy rewind mechanic that allows you to go back to a previous location if you do make a mistake, ensuring players get a chance to take a different approach without completely restarting the mission. It helps mitigate some of the frustration of failing, all whilst keeping players focused on refining their approach to ensure they eventually find success. Whilst I’ll admit I never LIKED rewinding (it was always more satisfying to nail a mission on the first try), it did ensure that the jaw-dropping momentum of Vendetta Forever doesn’t slow down too much.

Check out some screenshots down below:

As mentioned, Vendetta Forever isn’t an especially long game, but there’s plenty here to keep players coming back for more. The online leaderboards will give players an incentive to try and rack up those high scores, whilst there’s a hidden video tape for completionists to find across each mission too. And if you want to spice up the experience a little? There are modifiers that can be used to change up the difficulty, with each affecting the score multiplier in negative and positive ways. It’s a good way to give yourself an easier time if you’re struggling (Vendetta Forever can be tough), but for the most part, they’ll be used by players who want a tougher test to rack up those higher scores.

Visually, Vendetta Forever opts for a minimalist art style that still manages to be slick and flashy. I’ve always been a fan of aesthetics like this in virtual reality, whilst the variety of locations you’ll venture through on missions keeps things interesting – you’ve got the likes of the Wild West, a pirate ship, a subway train, and a convenience store to battle though, with Vendetta Forever offering plenty of locales that keeps everything feeling fresh. And, of course, there’s blood spurting everywhere, which doesn’t only make your kills feel more impactful but also looks cool in virtual reality.

Developer: Meatspace Interactive
Publisher: nDreams
Platform(s): Meta Quest 3 (Reviewed), Meta Quest 2, PlayStation VR
Website: https://www.meta.com/en-gb/experiences/vendetta-forever/9177531962317371/