Clone Drone in the Danger Zone Review Summary

Well-received story, diverse gameplay, and praised combat shine in co-op, but microtransactions and flawed multiplayer drag it down.

Story mode well-received: The story mode is frequently highlighted as well-rounded, entertaining, and engaging, with a deeper message and good replayability across difficulties. Reviewers find it flows well and is excellent overall.

Gameplay unique and diverse: Many reviewers note the gameplay is interesting, varied, and unique, with distinctive quirks and challenges that keep it dynamic. The game is seen as offering a fun and highly enjoyable experience.

Overall positive reception: A broad set of feedback describes the game as incredibly cool, awesome, and amazing, with reviewers calling it top-tier and legendary. The general sentiment is that the game is very good and fun.

Combat is highly praised: Players consistently praise the combat as fluid, satisfying, and addictive, with many noting the voxel-based mechanics are deeper than expected. The fast-paced action is described as clear, direct, and not clunky, making it a standout feature.

Great with friends and co-op: Players emphasize the game is highly enjoyable when played with friends, with co-op mode being particularly fun. Playing alone or with others is both satisfying, and co-op is seen as a key strength.

Microtransactions added to game: Players heavily criticize the addition of microtransactions to an 8-year-old, buy-to-play single-player game after 2+ years without updates. The monetization feels greedy and money-hungry, especially since paid cosmetics and currency cannot be earned in-game.

Multiplayer has numerous issues: Multiplayer mode suffers from bugs, high ping, empty servers, and poor implementation, making it unplayable or tacked on. Players also note that low ping gives a teleporting advantage and deathmatch has no respawn, creating unfair or frustrating experiences.

Game difficulty is punishing: Numerous players find the game extremely difficult and punishing, with challenges being too hard and requiring excessive effort. Insanity mode and certain trials are particularly harsh, leading to frustration.

Repetitive gameplay over time: Many players report that the game becomes repetitive and monotonous after extended play, especially during grinding challenges or endless mode. The combat loop may lose its appeal over time, leading to boredom.

Bugs and technical issues: General bugs exist across the game, including in story mode, with invisible enemies that remain active after death, and crashes when acquiring mounts. These issues negatively impact the overall experience.

Multiple game modes available: The game offers a variety of modes including story, endless, challenge, trials, and multiplayer options. Players can enjoy both single-player and co-op experiences across different modes.

Co-op and multiplayer support: Players can engage in co-op play with friends, as well as online multiplayer including PvP and PvE modes. The game supports both local and online multiplayer, offering team battles and competitive play.

Robot sword-fighting combat: The core gameplay involves controlling a robot in gladiator-style arena combat, fighting other robots with swords and light weapons. The game features robot enemies and chaotic, fast-paced battles.

Weapon and upgrade system: The game includes a variety of weapons such as swords, hammers, bows, and spears, each with multiple upgrades. Players can choose from a range of upgrades, abilities, and passive bonuses to enhance their combat effectiveness.

Level editor and workshop: Players can create their own levels using the in-game level editor and share them via the Steam Workshop. This supports user-generated content and enhances replayability.

Good performance is common: A repeated theme is that the game has no freezes or lag on various configurations, from older systems to newer ones. This includes a 2005-spec PC and a Windows 10 machine with a GTX 1660.

Optimization is considered good: Players frequently mention that the game is well optimized, has solid performance, and is less demanding than similar titles like CS:GO. Some also note minimal system requirements and low hardware demands.

Netcode causes high ping: Netcode issues are blamed for high ping and lag, even on servers in the player's own region, and in specific regions like EUEAST.

Mounts cause crashes: Mounting animals like the raptor or bike can cause the game to freeze or crash, including in multiplayer and at upgrade robots.

Graphics and performance fine: Some reviews state that graphics are fine and overall performance is solid, with no major visual or technical complaints.

Highly recommended overall: Many reviewers strongly endorse the game, suggesting it is worth buying and recommending it to a wide audience. This sentiment is widespread across multiple clusters.

Buy on sale or discount: Several reviewers recommend waiting for a sale or buying the game at a discount, indicating that the full price may not be justified for some. This includes suggestions to purchase during Steam sales or when discounted.

Best with friends or co-op: Reviewers frequently mention that the game is more enjoyable when played with friends in co-op or multiplayer modes. This enhances the experience and is a key selling point for many.

Ideal for specific audiences: The game is recommended for various niche groups, such as fans of sword and bow combat, pixel art, roguelikes, arena combat, and those who enjoy challenging experiences similar to Dark Souls.

Personal preferences matter: Recommendations vary based on personal preferences, such as enjoyment of pixel art, sci-fi themes, or preference for games without gore. This highlights the subjective nature of the game's appeal.

Community fair range: $5.00 - $10.00.

Game completion: 60.0h.

Story completion: 2.5h.

The game is widely reported as fun from the start, with positive feedback on combat, physics, and overall gameplay. A minority of players mention an initial learning curve, but the general consensus is immediate enjoyment.

Friction: learning curve for controls; multiplayer netcode issues.

Unlock drivers: mastering controls.

Completionist Grinder: Methodical, repetition on high difficulties, goal-oriented progression. Motivation: To achieve 100% completion and master all challenges. Stance: sale.

Casual Fun-Seeker: Casual, experimental, short sessions, enjoys physics and humor. Motivation: To unwind and have quick, satisfying play sessions. Stance: buy.

Competitive Multiplayer Enthusiast: Aggressive, strategic, seeks fair fights, uses meta weapons/builds. Motivation: To compete against other players and improve in PvP. Stance: sale.

Performance is positive for lower-spec hardware with minor issues, but high VRAM systems face severe online lag.

Windows <8GB VRAM / <16GB RAM: positive. Game runs smoothly at 60 FPS on laptops with low VRAM and RAM.

Windows <8GB VRAM / 16-31GB RAM: positive. Game is recommended despite some crashes when purchasing mounts and noticeable lag.

Windows 12-15GB VRAM: negative. Severe server lag makes the online experience unplayable.

Steam Deck: The game is severely compromised on Steam Deck due to a lack of controller support, frequent crashes during mounting and multiplayer, and broken Steam connectivity on Linux. While some users report a flawless experience, the majority of feedback indicates critical technical barriers.

Monetization: The reviews reveal that the developer introduced a premium currency microtransaction system for cosmetics years after launch, widely condemned as a greedy cash grab. The system used obfuscated currency to hide true costs, but after community backlash the developer pivoted to direct DLC packs, which many reviewers consider a fairer approach. While the monetization is cosmetic-only and not pay-to-win, the initial predatory tactics and late-stage addition still earn a score of 65, placing it in the aggressive range.

Microtransactions added post-launch: A new update introduced microtransactions for skins, with paid cosmetics and an optional payment system. This monetization was added years after the game's release, which frustrated some players.

Game receives ongoing updates: The game has been continuously updated and improved over many years, with developers regularly adding features and content. This ongoing support contributes to the game's longevity.

Steam Workshop community content: Steam Workshop support provides a large amount of community-created content, and the community actively develops new levels. This extends the game's replayability significantly.

Large content volume: The game contains a large amount of content, with estimates of up to 50 hours of playtime. However, some players feel the Workshop content may be limited without community contributions.

Available on multiple platforms: The game is available on Xbox Game Pass, Xbox, and PC, expanding its reach across different gaming platforms. This accessibility helps attract a broad player base.