Blasting into Action with CYGNI: All Guns Blazing

The twin-stick vertical shooter is back, but not as you know it. CYGNI: All Guns Blazing will soon be landing on Xbox to satisfy those itchy trigger fingers. It’s a game that harks back to the height of arcade shooters, but instead of simply echoing them, the talented folks at KeelWorks have added their own signature touches.

The combat takes place across two planes simultaneously. As well as aerial enemies weaving their way towards you in their droves, and huge boss battles to endure, there’s also plenty of scrapping happening down on the ground. As luck would have it, your fighter is equipped with weapons that can strike above and below.

There’s more to CYGNI: All Guns Blazing than simply shooting and dodging, thanks to offensive and defensive options. It’s a good idea to head over to the tutorial before diving straight in, so you get a lay of the land. 

You can take on the challenge alone in CYGNI: All Guns Blazing or get a friend involved if you need support. You may well need them too thanks to the challenge on offer here. You can alter the difficulty, but games like this are always meant to test those reflexes and skills. 

CYGNI: All Guns Blazing promises to stimulate the senses with crisp, vibrant visuals and a fully orchestral score arranged by the studio’s in-house composer. When it’s all put together it’s not just your spaceship that’s being assaulted. For example, the intro into each level is extremely slick and completely takes you out of the genre for a short while.

In terms of first impressions that I took away from my time with the game, it was mainly that CYGNI: All Guns Blazing does exactly that. Assaults the senses. There’s a lot going on which matches the intensity of the scenario and will have you needing to act with precision and timing to avoid being blown to smithereens. 

This is certainly a game aimed at existing fans of the genre, and my PC skills are clearly lacking as I failed to avoid catastrophe several times. I’m looking forward to seeing more of CYGNI: All Guns Blazing however, as its irresistible style has me intrigued.

CYGNI: All Guns Blazing tells a story set against a threat which poses near impossible odds, providing the perfect excuse to blow up stuff. It’s the maiden voyage for KeelWorks, who are looking to bring the humble shooter whooshing into the present.

Check out the opening cinematic for CYGNI: All Guns Blazing below. From there, gather your guns as CYGNI: All Guns Blazing arrives on August 6th 2024 for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and PC, priced at £24.99. A Digital Deluxe Edition (available exclusively through Steam) will set you back £29.99. 

We’ll remind you when that release arrives. But keep those senses sharp to detect the full review, incoming soon. 

Huge thanks go out to Konami for providing us the chance to get hands-on with CYGNI: All Guns Blazing. Hit up the Xbox Store if you’re interested in pre-ordering.