Pistol Whip

Pistol Whip is a VR rhythm game, a simple version of shooter. Here you need to shoot the bad guys in a sort of shooting range, but if you do it off the beat, your score will suffer. Move your hands to the beat! Download Pistol Whip for Windows PC and kill it!

Graphics 5/5

It’s become commonplace to compare Pistol Whip to John Wick series, but the visuals rather remind of Throneor The Lawnmower Man – obsolete now, but enchantingly naïve virtual reality representations. The colors are too poisonous and bright, the beat is loud, and visuals pulsate to the rhythm like club lights. You have tracers instead of lasers, and the colors wink to you from some acid trip.  

Gameplay 5/5

It’s kept as simple as can be. Shoot the enemies that appear in front of you as you move through the acid-colored mayhem. You need to do it to the beat, until the current track is over. And that’s the idea, inspired by Beat Saber as well as by action movies.

Select one or two guns (if you want it the dual wield way). Do your best to imitate the way you shoot. The sensors on your hands will interpret the signals in no time. It looks like a shooting range, a killer simulator. In fact, you’re rather a drummer with very special sticks, or a DJ that controls the beat. Instead of killing it, though, you’re killing them. 

The tracks are electronic, good for most clubs, and they really rock; so sound matters. The energy feel remains through various difficulty levels. Scenes are inspired by cult movies, including Equilibrium, Oldboy, and the aforementioned John Wick.

Controls 5/5

The game is compatible with various headsets (Oculus Quest/Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index, and Windows VR headsets) that also track your arms moving. You will have to get used to it a bit, even if you are a VR fan. To practice, you can select either unarmed foes or no obstruction mode. Still, clean up enough space in the middle of your room to play it.

Replay Value 5/5

If released for desktop or mobile platform, this game wouldn’t have been so addictive. But there are few VR games that make so much use of its potential. In addition, the rhythm is really fascinating, and the environment makes you feel somewhere between a disco club and a shooting range. This feeling is like listening to megahits over and over, loud and proud. 

The Bottom Line

A great combination of a shooter and a rhythm game, Pistol Whip is a great rival to Beat Saber. It comes for $25 and provides rather short gameplay (if you are talented enough to spend as much as one attempt for each level). Still, it’s the chase that’s better than the catch, so, even when you’re through, you’ll return.

If you like to feel the rhythm and do your everything to it, download Pistol Whip, put your headset on, and get ready to enjoy.

• Graphics 5
• Gameplay 5
• Controls 5
• Replay Value 5

Pros

One of the most spectacular and immersive VR games so far;
Its atmosphere is wicked. John Wicked.;
Compatible with most mainstream VR headsets;
Got modifiers that help beginners to get used to it;
It may get you hooked in minutes (if you love the feel).

Cons

The game is quite expensive (but if you could afford a good headset…);
Only a few songs are now available;
It may get you bored in minutes (unless you love the feel).