Cygni: All Guns Blazing

Developer: KeelWorks
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: Windows (Reviewed), Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5
Release Date: 6 August 2024
Price: USD $29.99 / AUD $59.95 – Available Here (Steam) Available Here (PlayStation 5)

Overview

Cygni is a vertical-scrolling, twin-stick shoot-’em-up that aims to deliver a “cinematic” bullet-hell experience. Using the latest visual technologies and featuring an orchestral soundtrack, the people at Keelworks surely tried their hardest to deliver a product that appeals to casual and hardcore players alike. If such a thing is even possible, I have no idea. But, at the very least, Cygni delivers a fun shooter that will melt your eyes in more ways than one.

Story

After spending centuries researching ways to exploit their home and kill each other, humans are now on the brink of extinction. With Earth in shambles, they decide to take to the skies to try and find a new place to conquer. They finally land on a planet they dub Cygni. There, husks of giant insect-looking creatures lay as if dead for a very long time. With no time to waste, humans start studying these creatures, making one technological breakthrough after another. As it happens, our insect friends weren’t actually dead, and they’re not too happy seeing their home desecrated by another species. You control Ava, a young female pilot who is part of the air force assigned to put the insect menace back to sleep for good.

Most stages begin and end with a brief cutscene. The introduction is colourful, showing Ava in all her Pixar glory listening to an upbeat song as she prepares to deploy. In some story segments, Ava narrates the events from her perspective, giving the player an overall idea of whatever humans are up against. As the game progresses, these cutscenes become increasingly short and cryptic. It feels a bit jarring, but it fits the mood as the battle becomes more and more desperate.

Gameplay

Cygni borrows elements of traditional shmups while paying homage to old-school classics. At its core, the gameplay feels like a hybrid between a twin-stick shooter and a more traditional shmup. All seven stages are reasonably varied, featuring interesting set pieces and impressive giant bosses. 

The game offers three difficulty levels. The default is medium, but that might prove too much for players unfamiliar with shmups. As an alternative, the game can be played on easy mode first to get used to Cygni’s systems and game flow. Points accumulated on easy can be spent to unlock permanent upgrades that remain available on higher difficulties making the experience much more manageable.

Enemies drop energy icons that fuel all your ship systems. These resources must be managed on the fly by either allocating them to your shield or weapons. Doing so efficiently is actually more important than avoiding bullets since your shield can take quite a number of hits. That reminds me of R-Type where you need to constantly reallocate your drone and switch shot patterns as needed. However, Cygni doesn’t demand such precision from the player. Even then, those brave enough to attempt a hard or arcade playthrough will need to up their game considerably.

Cygni is certainly one of the most chaotic shmups I have ever played. Right on the first stage, players are assaulted by a flood of sensory stimuli. Enemies and bullets come from all sides, relentlessly. Explosions make the screen shake constantly, and while that contributes to making the action feel more impactful, it also adds to the overall visual pollution. Furthermore, stages can take between 10 to 20 minutes to be completed which makes the overall experience rather tiresome. Is this a deal breaker? Your mileage will vary, but personally, I had my fun during my 30 hours of playtime. I’ll certainly need another bottle of eye drops, and I might also need a break from shmups. All in all, it was a fun ride.

Visuals

The presentation in Cygni is impressive. The artwork is top-notch, with densely populated backdrops even on the ground. You can often see allied troops advancing, occasionally providing assistance. Some bosses are so big they can reach Ava in the sky just by standing. Performance flows well, even with so much happening at the same time. That said, the game is sorely lacking in enemy variety. Also, the camera work could be more dynamic, given the possibilities a 3D environment offers.

Audio

The sound design is excellent. I’ve always loved how dynamic an orchestral soundtrack can be in films, and Cygni captures that essence. While some sections sound like generic “Star Wars” music, there are moments of true brilliance in the compositions. The soundtrack might not be as catchy as the best shmup soundtracks, but it has its share of soulful passages. The sound effects are impactful with a nice bass. Bigger explosions cause a very cool distortion effect, amplifying the players’ immersion.

Overall

Cygni is a standout title in a market where shmups rarely get the next-gen treatment. It doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel, but it successfully leaves its mark in the shmup niche with its blend of high-octane action, stunning visuals, and an immersive soundtrack. Despite its flaws, it offers a polished and exhilarating experience. There’s a lot of replayability here for more resilient players who decide to engage in harder difficulties.

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