Survivors of Xcalibur is hitting the virtual shelves today, launching in early access on the Quest platform. Drawing inspiration from the popular Vampire Survivors, this new VR title by Something Random, the creators of Toy Trains, plunges you into an intense bullet-heaven experience. You’ll step into the boots of the Last Knight of Xcalibur, where your mission is to rescue the world from the sinister league of cyber wizards. With Merlin nowhere to be found and King Arthur MIA, it’s up to you to fend off waves of menacing foes, all while controlling the Knight like a 3D action figure and surveying the action from a third-person vantage point.
I had the chance to dive into the game just ahead of its release, and while it wears its Vampire Survivors influences proudly, I’d liken it to a tower defense game. You’ve got the chance to respawn if you fall, which is a nice touch. As the noble Knight, your duty is to safeguard the ‘Holy Spear of Purification’ smack dab in the map’s center, armed with an arsenal ranging from rifles and turrets to thunder strikes and swords. It feels like maneuvering a toy through an epic battlefield as you guide every movement.
At first, the game doesn’t overwhelm you with options. Survivors of Xcalibur allows you to temporarily upgrade your weapons mid-battle, opting for perks like increased fire-rate or extra damage. This system strikes a good balance in each skirmish. However, once you start a new bout, those upgrades vanish, resetting your progress.
I’ve only cleared the first mission thus far, which posed a decent challenge due to the sheer volume of enemies and a notably tough boss. Leveling up within the game’s progression system doesn’t demand much effort; unlocking new weapons, expanding weapon slots during combat, and boosting health or damage stats come relatively easily. The variety to tailor your gameplay is a great touch, but it seems a bit too easy as I’ve already reached level 12 after one lost mission followed by a successful run.
Before its full release, I’d love to see a couple of tweaks. Occasionally, the resolution feels a bit fuzzy on the Quest 3, and I encountered some performance lags when facing larger enemy crowds. Nonetheless, the game has a solid foundation, and I’m excited about its future path.
Survivors of Xcalibur is currently available on the Meta Quest platform for just $5, with promises of expanding to other platforms soon. To sweeten the deal, there’s also a free 20-minute demo for newcomers to test the waters.
