Cygni: All Guns Blazing

KeelWork's strikingly opulent shooter dares to do new things with its genre in an effort to unite players of every level. This is what a blockbuster shooter should look like.

Cygni: All Guns Blazing is a rollicking bullet hell-inspired blockbuster that never lets off the gas.

If you’ve been looking for a more modern take on Touhou, Radiant Silvergun, or any of the many other bullet hell shooters on the market, CYGNI: All Guns Blazing ticks the box. It’s fast, it’s frantic, and it looks frankly unbelievable at times. And considering it’s being flogged at half the price of most other modern PS5 titles, it represents relatively reasonable value for money, too.

For a debut effort, KeelWorks should feel proud of CYGNI. It's also a foundation to build on, because there's certainly one in place to make something even better.

Mechanically-engaging and technically impressive when it wants to be, CYGNI: All Guns Blazing goes all in on spectacle with mixed results. Where its core energy-management system is an anxious-but-delightful thing to manage, it's most of what surrounds the gameplay that KeelWorks sadly don't fair as well on. Putting its immediate and dense introduction to one side, its lack of a stand-out musical or artistic identity, while not the end of the world, does mitigate a hefty chunk of how much enjoyment one can find. Particularly in such a visually-busy take on shmups as CYGNI is. Even so, a sufficient level of joy remains via those classically shmup-like moments of holding on to take down a boss or battling through an endless wave of hostiles and still coming out the other side unscathed. Its supposed unique standing doesn't always feel adequate, but CYGNI: All Guns Blazing still presides over an interesting-enough, modern-day take on the genre.

Cygni: All Guns Blazing provides an exhilarating and action-packed shmup experience for hardcore players. The customizable ship options are impressive, the energy allocation mechanic is unique, the visual and sounds are immersive, and the game is sure to keep players on the edge of their seats, bringing its full bullet hell twin stick shooter glory to modern audiences.

CYGNI: All Guns Blazing offers plenty of fun for anyone who wants to play it casually—simply dodging obstacles, destroying enemy missiles, and admiring the visual design. And, of course, it’s also suitable for players who aren’t drawn to shoot ’em ups where a single hit means game over. On the other hand, the game cannot be recommended to anyone who likes to chase perfect runs and the highest possible score. This type of player will likely set CYGNI aside after a few hours.

Cygni All Guns Blazing is really an excellent game. It's definitely the best-looking shoot 'em up I've ever played, surpassing even "Sky Force" in terms of visuals. The game does suffer from a few issues, but these are not things that couldn't be fixed with appropriate updates. Playing it was fun, and I hope the developers will decide to add more content to the game, as there's a lot of potential in it.

It's true that CYGNI: All Guns Blazing can feel somewhat difficult and overwhelming, but remember that that's just how these games are, and it's not to defend them; it is part of its charm. Pushing ourselves and testing ourselves is part of its essence: bringing out our innate skills with the controller and enjoying a good time, alone or in company, is an experience that you should not miss.

CYGNI: All Guns Blazing is an ambitious title that combines exceptional visuals with some innovative gameplay mechanics. However, behind the breathtaking aesthetics, the game suffers from core gameplay issues that can occasionally make the experience frustrating and less engaging than expected.