Lightfield

 Xbox One
Metascore
65

Mixed or average reviews - based on 4 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. MondoXbox
    Sep 28, 2017
    78
    An original futuristic racer, adding one more layer of depth thanks to its gravity hook mechanic and forcing the player to think differently than in other games in the genre.

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No user score yet- Awaiting 1 more rating

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. Xbox_Alive
    Jan 2, 2018
    6
    Lightfield is one of them classic games that has a very good core concept, but unfortunately it has nothing else. I appreciate the effort theyLightfield is one of them classic games that has a very good core concept, but unfortunately it has nothing else. I appreciate the effort they have put in to make their game feel unique, but you come away from the game feeling bored and at times you don’t really want to return. It’s not all doom and gloom though because the physics and omnidirectional mechanic have been done really well, and it can be fun attaching yourself to various surfaces at the start. Unfortunately though the gameplay does get repetitive quickly, and the lack of content really doesn’t help this. Every game mode in the game feels the same and the lack of variety makes the replay value very low. The tracks in the game are actually very cleverly designed and I like how you can find shortcuts here and there, but unfortunately there are only seven tracks for you to enjoy. The movement in the game can be quite awkward at times and it didn’t feel that the controls always remained responsive, which isn’t great in a game like this. The game can also be quite difficult at times and you never feel like you’re going to catch up because there always seems to be a linear route despite it being open-world. My favourite thing about the game was definitely the presentation. Visually the space and futuristic look can look awesome at times, and it really does do a great job of making the gameplay stand out. I was also a fan of the soundtrack and I think the relaxing music fits the style very well. At the end of the day Lightfield could have been a lot better in my opinion, and it definitely never reaches its full potential. They do have some interesting ideas in play here, but unfortunately the lack of content and the niggling problems it has will be really the only thing you remember. The price of the game is quite steep and I can only recommend the game when it lowers quite a bit in price.… Full Review »
  2. GBG_Jason
    Sep 27, 2017
    5
    Since the glory days of the Atari, developers have released basic racing games to mixed results. Some are good for a few minutes of fun whileSince the glory days of the Atari, developers have released basic racing games to mixed results. Some are good for a few minutes of fun while others are addicting to the point they should be classified as a narcotic. The recent Lightfield falls somewhere in between.

    With a visual style similar to Tron, you’ll pilot a space ship of sorts that cannot only fly, but snaps onto the walls, floor or ceiling of a level and turn into what appears to be a motorcycle. This is a fairly simple mechanic, as any of the face buttons will allow you to attach the vehicle to the floating bits of track. This applies a significant boost to your speed which is needed to keep up with the AI or other players.

    This does pose a bit of an issue when you are faced with the track running into a 90 degree angle, which requires a bit of practice to remove yourself from the track and pull up to hopefully reattach and not slam into the wall, bursting into flames. Additionally, I had issues with running off the track and being propelled into flight mode, which resulted in getting off the beaten track and losing a pretty substantial amount of time. While you can fly around the level as you please, you have absolutely no chance of winning or even keeping up with the other racers in this mode.

    The game also features a time attack mode which is essentially an endless run where you can repeat laps on one of the games tracks, with AI included, to see where you stack up on the leaderboard as well as earn experience, which will unlock additional tracks. Earning experience is a bit of a grind, as you receive this in small increments for picking up crystals that are grouped throughout the level as well as completing races and passing checkpoints. With only a single track open at the start of the game, you will have to run more than 10 laps on the same small track to earn enough to unlock the next level. This adds up when trying to unlock all seven of the game’s tracks available at launch.

    Each track I explored does feature a number of shortcuts as well as alternate paths that you or other racers can unlock by hitting floating cubes on the track. While you can’t shoot turtle shells out of the rear of the vehicle, it is a satisfying way to take down other racers in the event you are in the lead.

    Sadly, vehicle customization or options are lacking, as everyone uses the same means of transportation around the level, only with different colors. Each leaves a trail of the vehicles color which will allow you to follow a particular racer if you are looking for an opportune moment to take them out.

    The game does currently feature an online mode, but as of the time of this writing, it’s exclusive to player matches without a matchmaking option. The delveoper has confirmed that this will be added in a future update. In addition to the online offering, up to 4 players can race split screen locally, which is buried within the menus.

    While it’s not the worst racing game offered on the Xbox One, Lightfield is light on content and becomes repetitive quickly. The only saving grace is the accessible controls and split screen option, which is lacking from most of the console’s other racing games.    … Full Review »
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