Population: One is a battle royale between six squads of three people each. Everything is pretty standard. 18 people land on a small map (relative to the format of the usual royal battles), collect scattered equipment and try to defeat each other, while the playing area inexorably shrinks to a tiny size. The beauty of Population: One comes from two aspects. ease of gameplay and full vertical gameplay.
Gameplay Population: One
Each player is equipped with two abilities: climb walls and glide. Any surface of the map, regardless of its size and material, be it wood, stone, a wall or even a ceiling, allows the player to cling to and move around the entire plane that can be reached or jumped.
Rock climbing pairs perfectly with players’ ability to fly. Pushing off the surface, you can spread your arms to the sides and glide at high speed. You can reach any building or object on the map and climb to any height. Upon discovering a building kit, the player can construct simple square walls that can serve as both cover and additional objects to overcome obstacles.
Due to their ease of use, building, flying and parkour bring incredible dynamics to the game, giving the player the ability to change their direction of movement with lightning speed and evade pursuit.
You may also be interested in reading about Hard Bullet!
Ballistics and weapons in Population: One
The mechanics of handling weapons has undergone a strong simplification. Unlike most VR action games, reloading any weapon takes place in two simple movements. When emptying the magazine, the machine will automatically spit out an empty clip, and a fresh one will be instantly placed next to the right place. All you need is to push it into the groove with one movement, to distort the shutter with another. Interactive elements are conveniently highlighted.
Population: One has simplified ballistics. When gripping with two hands, the spread of bullets naturally narrows, but in especially tense moments, when the player has to hold on to the surface with one hand and fire with the other, shooting will not treacherously take the barrel into the sky due to recoil.
The main highlight in the shooting mechanics is the presence of a permanent “crosshair” of the sight. You can aim through the front sight for greater accuracy while in ambush. However, in the heat of battle, you can safely fire from the hip, accurately aiming it at the target.
Special death mechanics in Population: One
Population: One is one of the few, if not the only, battle royale where there is no concept of death. Upon death, the player turns into a ghost, which can only be seen by members of their party. The speed of movement of the ghost is noticeably reduced, but he has the right to walk where he wants, climb and fly wherever he wants. You or a fallen comrade can be revived at any time, anywhere. To do this, you need to choose a defibrillator, how to rub it and “fuck” the poor fellow.
However, the ghost is useful. Opponents do not see him, and he, in turn, does not see everyone. Therefore, at the moments when they try to surround a friendly detachment, the ghost shows which side the enemy comes from, safely explores the area, and, having found the enemy in ambush, convulsively waves his hands, pointing to the place where the adversaries are sitting.
With its modest 18 people and a small area of the map, the project compensates for the incredible speed of the development of events. A minute after the start of the match and every 30 seconds there is a narrowing of the zone, which cuts off huge pieces of territory. For the so-called “rats” and “moles” who love to sit quietly in a secluded place with a sniper rifle, Population: One will seem like hell. Firstly, the game simply will not allow you to stay in one place for a long time. Secondly, any secluded places are clearly visible from the ground or air, they are remarkably shot through and, if desired, you can get there in the blink of an eye.
Map and equipments
The map itself has a sufficient number of various thematic zones. All the action revolves around the gigantic dimensions of the tower, which they promise to open for hostilities in future seasons (now it is impossible to get inside the tower).
In terms of equipment, players are waiting for 13 types of weapons, one type of grenade, 2 types of first-aid kits, a building kit, ammo, backpacks and shield batteries. Each weapon has a type of quality that affects the amount of damage dealt, accuracy, etc. Each player has a total of 3 item slots. Regardless of what you pick up, a weapon, a first aid kit or a grenade, the items take up one slot in the inventory. You can expand it with backpacks, which will add one slot for each unit you pick up. All manipulations with the inventory are hung on one button. The same applies to the quick alert system spied on Apex Legends.
Population: One has leveling. For each new level, the player receives a weapon skin or character costume. No outlandish forms or models. For an accelerated set of experience, it is proposed to complete everyday tasks. Among them are the banal ones in the style of “deal 100 damage with a shotgun”, as well as quite strange ones like “knock out a door or window 50 times”. After completing the task, a new one will appear in the time window from 4-20 hours. There is no monetization system in the game (however, according to the developers, there isn’t yet), and you won’t be able to speed up the leveling process in any way.
Graphics Population: One
Graphics are the weakest side of the project. On the one hand, it’s amazing how the old Oculus Quest hardware manages to handle such a large map at the same time as the great detailing of weapons and characters. On the other hand, the eyes are burned out by the tricks that the developers went to, squeezing their project into the monstrous framework of portable iron.
Do you want smoke? Get stacked sprites from early PlayStation-era titles. Do you want explosions or fire? All the same “stucco from the 90s.” Rising high into the sky, you can find a three-poly porridge instead of a rock. Moreover, the game squeezes all the juice out of the filling of the first Quest, draining the battery in an hour and a tail. Sometimes you may encounter lags in the first seconds of a match, very long downloads, and an incredible drop in performance when trying to open the system menu. However, the version for Oculus Quest 2, where the game works stably, is deprived of all this. The PC version is no different from the Quest 2 version. No shadows, no effects.
Diagnosis
Population: One is far from the first representative of the royal battles in VR. Moreover, individually, many elements of the mechanics existed in other projects. But this is the first such game in which everything is done at a high-quality level. The first competitive VR product that is newbie-friendly, offering a wide range of tools for hardcore audiences. At the moment, the game needs to quickly enter the game season with normal rewards, tasks and, most importantly, new modes. With proper support, the project can safely carry the title of a game worth buying Oculus Quest for.
Pro:
- Perfectly tuned movement mechanics
- Amazing shooting and weapon feel
- Unique system of posthumous ghosts
- Dynamics that keep you in constant suspense
- Crossplay between all current VR platforms
Contra:
- One mode, one small map
- A modest amount of weapons and a meager set of characters
- Terrifying graphics
Questions about this game:
To jump in Population: One:
- Find a jetpack.
- Locate a jump pad.
- Stand on the jump pad.
- Activate the jump pad.
- Control your descent with the jetpack.
- Land safely in a suitable area.
In the virtual reality game Population: One, running is the default mode of movement. Here’s how to run in the game:
- Use the Thumbstick or Trackpad: On your VR controller, use the thumbstick (found on most VR controllers) or the trackpad (found on some VR controllers) to control your movement. Push the thumbstick or slide your thumb across the trackpad in the direction you want to run.
- Move Your Arms: In Population: One, you can also simulate running by swinging your arms back and forth. This motion is detected by the VR sensors and translated into movement in the game.
- Combine Movement Techniques: You can combine running with other movements like jumping, climbing, or crouching to navigate the game world more effectively. Experiment with different techniques to enhance your gameplay.
Note that the specific controls may vary depending on the VR platform you are playing on (such as Oculus Quest, HTC Vive, or PlayStation VR). It’s recommended to consult the game’s documentation or in-game tutorials for the most accurate and up-to-date information on controls.