Hope you’re ready for a tough “shoot-em-up”…or “shmup,” rather. Because, boy, does CYGNI: All Guns Blazing deliver.
The new release by Konami and KeelWorks is blisteringly tough, working with a complex but awesome control system. And it throws everything at you, including bosses that put up an unbelievable fight. In fact, the levels as a whole are record length, as they take about 15 minutes to beat. And that’s just with the first playthrough.
It’s a testing experience to be sure. And, yes, you will die. There’s no question. But there’s brilliance in the control scheme, once you get the hang of things. You’ll also likely be glued to your TV as the ravishing presentation unfolds. This one puts on a show on the level of AAA development. Boy, does it.
CYGNI does come to an end all too soon; and the story isn’t as deep as expected. Regardless, it’s the journey, not the destination – and this delivers one hell of a journey. Just be prepared for all-out war.
Examining CYGNI: All Guns Blazing’s Innovative Gameplay
Let’s talk about the gameplay.
There’s a traditional set-up for shoot-em-up action at first. The left stick controlling your ship and the right your direction of fire (front-ish only). You can also press a button to widen your general fire, and fire heat-seeking missiles for an extra punch. Oh, and you can attack enemies on the ground, with the help of a sweet targeting system. (Be careful not to leave yourself high and dry in the air, though.)
Where the complexity enters is with balance. As you shoot down enemies (and there’s a ton), you’ll pick up energy blocks. You can actually choose whether to replenish your heat-seeking missiles or boost your shield. With a neat little system around your ship, you can weigh between the two. It really depends on your situation.
I highly recommend keeping your shield intact. You’re going to get hit often, so it comes in handy. However, it doesn’t hurt to have extra missiles in tow, especially with the bosses. Even the first planet-like encounter hurls thousands of rocks at you.
So, yeah, it’s hard. It’s almost on the same level as Treasure’s Radiant Silvergun, with a technical control scheme to complement the difficult gameplay. But CYGNI works just as well. There’s an addictive feel of completing each level. And when you bring down a massive boss, it’s an amazing feeling.
Check out the tutorial to get a rundown of what you need. But after a couple of tries on the first level, you should understand what the gameplay brings. And it’s rad, especially if you’re a fan of the genre. Newcomers, however, should tread carefully.
A Shmup Presentation Like No Other
I honestly think CYGNI could find success from the gameplay alone. But KeelWorks goes all out with the visuals, and it shows.
The in-game graphics are absolutely spectacular. It moves at a ferocious clip, even as dozens of enemies pile the screen. The explosions are impressive too; and the weapon effects are nothing short of exquisite. There are hints of slowdown, but nothing to be truly concerned about – unless you have a low-end PC, maybe. (Even then, it still plays well.)
CYGNI also features some great cinemas, but the story is a bit on the weak side. That’s not to say it isn’t worth checking out, but I expected something of epic scale. Fans may still like what they find here, though.
As for the music, it’s good. It is a little jarring at times with its orchestral approach. But when it hits alongside the eye-popping visuals, it works really well. The sound effects are top notch as well; and the voice acting, while brief, does the trick.
One thing – I do wish there were more levels. While CYGNI brings an unbelievable challenge, it also ends too soon. You get a handful of stages, and, well, that’s about it. Still, good luck beating everything. (At the very least, you can always shoot for a higher score in each level. Gotta work on them skills!)
Get Those Guns A-Blazing
Though a bit on the short side and lacking an in-depth story, CYGNI: All Guns Blazing is a force in the “shmup” genre. The gameplay is really something once you get the hang of it; and the stages included here are really cool. Not to mention the presentation, which also goes as “epic” as it gets in this genre.
Hopefully we’ll see more things added to the game in the future, including a “rookie” mode so more folks can experience this. But as it stands, CYGNI is a solid addition to the genre, and a must-play for those seeking something new.
Not to mention an enormous challenge. Hope you packed a lunch.
GAMERHUB RATING: 4 (out of 5) STARS
Many thanks to Konami for the review code! You can get the game now for Steam, Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5!
