Bow To Blood Review

Bow to Blood puts you in command of a mighty airship complete with shields, weapons, sensors, and of course guns. It puts a unique spin on the usual space shooter simulator by placing you inside of a game show, battling for the title of “Champion of the Arena”.

Bow to Blood: Last Captain Standing is truly one of the most interesting and original titles I’ve played in VR in quite some time. Borrowing and blending arcade ship combat ideas from Assassin’s Creed with the tactical mechanics of Star Trek Bridge Crew then tossing in some Borderlands-style graphics, you really do get something special. I probably could have done without the overlying reality game show premise, but even that thin narrative layer offer a bit of entertainment value.The basic setup is that you are captain of your own flying sky barge – not unlike Jabba the Hutt’s – where you operate all the major flight controls, weapons, and defenses of the ship with the aid of two AI-controlled crew members that you can assign to any of four control stations on the deck. These stations include Shields, Engines, Sensors, and Drone controls, and having a person actually operating these will give you additional boosts for that aspect of gameplay. So if you are in a non-combat exploration mode you would want someone on Sensors to help find hidden loot, or if you need to make a quick escape, having a guy on Engines will let you overdrive the engines for extra speed. Switching assignments is as easy as pointing to a station and a crew member.From your command chair you have access to the main guns, mining lasers, and a nifty control panel where you can switch around power modules to customize your ship’s abilities to the situation or your playstyle.

There is even a sidearm you can remove from its holster to defend against enemy drones and boarding parties. You’ll also be in direct control of steering the ship, which moves with a sluggishness that mirrors commanding a large naval vessel, but you do need to keep moving to avoid enemy locks as well as positioning your ship for effective weapon use such as the powerful cannons running down each side of the ship.Bow to Blood consists of seven dynamically generated events that will keep things fresh each time you play the game. There is a mix of arena battles interspersed with exploration areas where you can mine for resources, seek out treasure and engage in more casual combat. The slow moving nature of your large ship keeps things from getting too crazy making this a comfortable fit for VR, although I suspect this game would be just as much fun without it. I did enjoy the added level of immersion in being able to quickly look about and target enemies separately from ship movement. The simple yet charming Borderlands-style graphics kept the graphics crisp and the framerate smooth throughout.

Controls were simple and perfectly suited for the Oculus Touch.There was a surprising layer of strategy to the game made possible through some micromanagement systems; mostly assigning your two crewmates to effective stations but also in swapping around those power modules while maintaining a watchful eye on your ship’s shields and armor plating levels. Perhaps the most effective tactical element were the social relationships you build with the NPC opponents in the game. It’s just like Survivor where you build alliances with other players and hope they don’t betray you in the end.

In the non-arena parts of the game you will often be put in situations to offer aid to another NPC. This can build favor with them but potentially lose favor with others.

Deus ex machina meaning. There is this whole underlying balancing act of diplomacy that carries over to the arena matches where the two lowest scoring players get voted off by the rest of the group. This relationship dynamic with the rest of the players is perfectly integrated into what would otherwise have been a simple ship combat game. It also makes you consider each and every interaction you have and the potential outcomes later in the game.I had hours of fun with Bow to Blood: Last Captain Standing, and since every game is randomly created it’s easy to keep coming back for more.

While my review was based purely on the Oculus Rift store version, the game is also available on Steam for added Vive support and there is also a PSVR version as well. If you are looking for something truly original then Bow to Blood has that perfect mix of arcade, strategy, and VR immersion that sets it apart from anything I’ve played in VR this year.

Definitely worth a look.

Become the captain of an airship in a reality show. You and the other captains will vote at the end of each match to decide who is eliminated, until only the champion remains. You’re in command: Fly your ship, forge alliances, plot betrayals, task your crew, manage resources, and become champion!Bow to Blood: Last Captain Standing takes place in a fantastical sci-fi world, a massive gas giant with mist-soaked floating islands and continents at the heart of a declining empire.

Experience harrowing high-speed races, deadly battles with swarming assault ships, encounters with aerial beasts, mind-bending challenges, and more.Show More. Features. CAPTAIN A MIGHTY AIRSHIP - pilot the ship, task your crew, aim weapons, route power – and even pull your trusty sidearm when things get up close and personal. FORGE ALLIANCES AND PLOT BETRAYALS- Your AI rivals in Bow to Blood have their own motivations, objectives, and personalities.

You'll need to manipulate the competition to survive the vote!. EVERY PLAYTHROUGH IS UNIQUE - Randomized encounters, environments, and a rotating cast ensure no two experiences will be the same. EARN SPONSORSHIPS – Win over the adoration of fans and sponsors to earn rewards to expand the capabilities of your ship. CAPTAINS QUARTERS – a place to form alliances, plot future betrayals. Or admiring the rewards and memorabilia you’ve collected throughout your time as a Captain.

Submitted on 4/4/2019 Review title of PeneGuillermoSo this is how Cecil felt captaining the Redwings.Thank you for bringing this game to XBox! This is a fantastic and unique experience, and a clear labor of love.

The art style is sublime! The soundtrack reminds me of Waterworld, it is atmospheric, rythmic, and pulse pounding. The combat is white knuckle action, tactical and really gets you sweating.

The interactions with the competitors is unique and a very original idea. The captain's quarters is a great trophy room and growth indicator. I read your AMA on Reddit and hearing the bravery of taking a chance on this game, coupled with the fact this is the ONLY airship game on XBL I had to back you. My only suggestion would be to add a customizable airship, and as much as I hate Battle Royale.this game needs it. I know that isn't in your current plans, but guys, pretty please, a battle royale with this incredible engine and gameplay would be huge. I'm very happy with this purchase, and I suggest anyone who is a fan of airships, naval combat, or reality game shows try it.