“Survivors of Xcalibur” is making its debut today on Quest as a VR bullet-heaven game, drawing heavy inspiration from the hit “Vampire Survivors.” Developed by Something Random, known for “Toy Trains,” this game places you in the armor of the Last Knight of Xcalibur. Your mission? To defend a world under siege by a cunning league of cyber wizards. Imagine controlling your knight like a dynamic 3D action figure, battling swarms of foes from a third-person viewpoint. With the legendary Merlin gone and King Arthur missing, it’s up to you to fend off these relentlessly charging enemies.
Before its official launch, I had the chance for a quick hands-on session. Though its “Vampire Survivors” roots are quite evident, I’d argue the game leans more into the tower defense genre since you have the ability to respawn after dying. As the Last Knight, your objective is to protect the ‘Holy Spear of Purification’ situated at the heart of the map. The game equips you with a variety of weapons, including rifles, turrets, thunder strikes, and swords, creating an experience where you maneuver your knight like a strategic avatar across the field of battle.
In the beginning, your weapon choices are fairly limited, but as you progress through each run in “Survivors of Xcalibur,” you can temporarily upgrade them. You can opt for enhancements like increased fire rates or heightened damage, providing a carefully balanced progression system. However, these enhancements vanish when you start a fresh run, resetting you back to the starting point.
So far, I’ve managed to complete the first mission, which offered a fair challenge due to the sheer volume of enemies and a particularly resilient boss. Long-term character development seems refreshingly straightforward; the game allows permanent acquisitions of new weapons, expanded weapon slots, and boosts in health or damage. This flexibility in build customization is enjoyable, though achieving new levels may be less demanding than expected. After navigating just one failed and one successful mission, I’ve already reached level 12.
While the game lays a solid foundation, a few tweaks could enhance its pre-launch experience. On Quest 3, the resolution sometimes feels a bit blurry, and performance stutters when tackling larger enemy hordes need attention. Nevertheless, the game’s potential is promising, and I’m eager to see how “Survivors of Xcalibur” evolves.
Currently, “Survivors of Xcalibur” can be snagged from the Meta Quest platform for the affordable price of $5, with plans to expand to more platforms in the future. If you’re curious to try before you buy, there’s also a free 20-minute demo available.
