When comparing Time Rifters vs Surgeon Simulator, 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 Surgeon Simulator is ranked 13th. 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 Rewarding exploration based gameplay
There is not much in the way of hand holding in the game as many situations can be passed more easily once the payer understands the ins and outs of the game. Things like a green serum not being explained that it helps with a patient bleeding will only be discovered through trial and error, which in the end is rewarding to finally learn all of the mechanics of the game.
Pro Purposefully difficult controls create slapstick humor
In the game the player controls the movements, rotation, raised/lowered stated of the surgeons hand as well as each finger separately. It's purposefully difficult to control the movements of the hand well. The difficulty of controlling actions creates lots of opportunities for slapstick.
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 Can get frustrating
While lack of accuracy of the controls is the main draw of the game it can at times get unnecessarily frustrating.