Clone Drone in the Hyperdome delivers some of the most satisfying melee combat in VR today. While it may have flown under the radar amidst a packed release schedule, this voxel-based roguelike is a hidden gem that deserves more attention—especially with its latest Skyscrapper update now live.
A Colorful Arena with a Story-Driven Edge
Set in a futuristic gladiator-style arena, Clone Drone in the Hyperdome puts you in the mechanical shoes of Blink, a teleporting robot “looprunner” trapped in a deadly cycle called the Crashloop. The game begins with a helpful tutorial that doubles as a narrative prologue, establishing a decent story foundation.
Your goal? Defeat four brainwashed looprunners to unlock a showdown with the tyrannical overlord known as The Captain. While the story has promise, character development feels underbaked. Conversations with other looprunners are short and somewhat forgettable, leaving the world feeling a little hollow despite its rich concept.
A True Roguelike with No Hand-Holding
Unlike many roguelikes, Clone Drone in the Hyperdome doesn’t offer permanent upgrades or skill trees between runs. Each attempt is a fresh start—success depends entirely on your skill and the weapons you acquire or purchase during the run.
Progression comes in the form of increasing difficulty and narrative development. Interestingly, if you consistently fight certain looprunners first, they’ll begin to dislike you, subtly encouraging players to switch up their strategies.
Satisfying, Skill-Based Combat
Combat is where Clone Drone truly shines. Whether you’re slicing through enemies with a shortsword or wielding absurd weapons like flame daggers or a bladed shield, every blow feels impactful. Enemies react dynamically to damage—cut off a leg, and they’ll limp; sever an arm, and they’ll struggle to wield weapons. This attention to detail enhances immersion and demands a thoughtful, defensive playstyle.
There are three difficulty levels, and while they increase the challenge, they also make you more vulnerable. Lose an arm? You’re stuck without it until you die and restart. Some kind of repair or spare part system would be a welcome addition here.
A Range of Weapons and Abilities to Fit Any Playstyle
Clone Drone supports various combat styles. Prefer quick, one-handed weapons? Pair a shortsword with a shield for fast-paced blocking and counterattacks. Like brute force? Opt for a two-handed katana or double-bladed sword. The game even includes ranged options like bows and arrows, plus quirky power-ups like turbo fists, zombie allies, and throwable shurikens.
As you defeat looprunners, you unlock turbo abilities that can shift the tide of battle—think slow-motion dodging, temporary armor, or crowd-control tools. It’s a clever system that rewards progression without locking players into specific builds.
Skyscrapper Update: Endless Action, Mixed Results
The Skyscrapper update, launching on July 27, adds an endless survival challenge mode unlocked after completing the Crashloop campaign. Here, you ascend an infinite tower of procedurally generated floors packed with enemies, hazards, and new gear.
While this mode does extend the game’s life, it suffers from the same issues found in many endless modes—it can get repetitive. Still, the introduction of buzzsaws, environmental traps, and randomized layouts helps keep it engaging for longer sessions.
What Could Be Improved?
While Clone Drone is an impressive experience overall, there are a few areas that could benefit from improvement:
- Accessibility Options: Sprinting requires swinging your arms, which is immersive but tiring—especially when wielding two-handed weapons. An optional sprint button would help.
- Enemy AI: Occasionally, enemies will stumble into lava or behave erratically, slightly diminishing the challenge.
- Mod Support: Built-in mod tools could significantly extend the game’s lifespan, similar to what we’ve seen in titles like Blade & Sorcery.
Final Verdict
Clone Drone in the Hyperdome is a slick, skill-based VR action roguelike that gets the basics so right. Its voxel visuals are charming, its combat is deeply satisfying, and its mechanics reward precision and smart play. While the story lacks depth and the endless mode doesn’t reinvent the wheel, there’s still a whole lot of fun to be had here.
Verdict:
⭐ Highly Recommended for VR melee fans
⚔️ Combat: 9/10
🎮 Replayability: 7/10
📖 Narrative: 5/10
💡 Innovation: 6/10
