When comparing Time Rifters vs Vector 36, the Slant community recommends Time Rifters for most people. In the question“What are the best Oculus Rift games?” Time Rifters is ranked 9th while Vector 36 is ranked 46th. The most important reason people chose Time Rifters is:
Each level is played through multiple times with every new playthrough adding previous playthroughs alongside current one. This is done 4 times trying to complete as much of the level as possible. It essentially creates a solo co-op experience and allows for lots of strategical planning forward.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Rarely seen gameplay mechanic that combines multiple playthroughs
Each level is played through multiple times with every new playthrough adding previous playthroughs alongside current one. This is done 4 times trying to complete as much of the level as possible. It essentially creates a solo co-op experience and allows for lots of strategical planning forward.
Pro Vibrant aesthetic
The game has simple, clear, blocky levels and uses bright colors. There's an Iron Man inspired hud, but that can mostly be ignored unless you want to check out the score. Important information such as enemy count is displayed on the walls of levels and there's no need to keep track of health or ammo.
Pro Good weapon variety
The game has 6 different weapons that each has a progression system associated with 5 upgrade categories - Spread, Focus, Rapid, Punch and Acid. It adds another level of strategical depth as weapon upgrades have to be planned for.
Pro Level editor and Steam Workshop support
You can create your own levels to challenge yourself and your creativity. It feels really cool playing through levels you made, although you know what to expect.
Pro Very satisfying feeling of control and speed
The driving behavior is completely physics-based, each change in components placement or input leads to the expected behavior. Skimming close to the surface gives you more lift, so you can afford to lean the ship forward for bigger acceleration. Angling your thrust vector smoothly while high speed drifting around corners is challenging and rewarding at the same time.
Pro Immersive VR cockpit
All important information is integrated into the physical cockpit, which closes around you at the start of each race. You can even get out of the cockpit and walk around your ship on the surface of Mars while waiting for repairs in VR roomscale just to get back in when it is ready to continue the race.
Pro Great Drum 'n' Bass soundtrack
Cons
Con Abandoned support
Currently the game does not work with the retail version of the Rift, a DK2 (beta Rift model) and older drivers will be necessary to play the game. There has been no word from the developer if this will be fixed.
Con Short
While there's definitely potential for multiple playthroughs to try and get a better score, the base game has just about 2 hours of gameplay.
Con Clunky garage interface in VR
To finetune parts, like the flight controller, you have to move your head up/down or to the side, because otherwise the menu elements overlap.
Con No multiplayer yet
There is an online leader board, and ghost ships will come soon. But Multiplayer will only be added by the developer, when enough people are playing the game.