CYGNI: All Guns Blazing – The Big Budget Vertical Shoot ‘Em Up

CYGNI: The New Benchmark for Retro Shoot-‘Em-Ups?

The shoot-’em-up genre has seen its fair share of “redefining” titles over the past four decades, with classics like Galaga, 1942, Radiant Silvergun, Rez, and Ikaruga often regarded as the pinnacle of the genre. While I wouldn’t discount any of these, I’d argue there are countless other gems that deserve recognition. The genre has continually evolved, but one of the challenges in defining its greatest achievements lies in the vast differences in style and mechanics, which often vary significantly depending on the country or region where the game was developed.

So, does CYGNI: All Guns Blazing truly redefine the genre while simultaneously pushing it forward?

Well, Rule Number One In Game Design – How To Do A Tutorial…

Before diving into the review, let me explain why it took me over six months to write this. Initially, I hated the game. Hard to believe for such a bold and ambitious title, right? The problem was the tutorial—it felt overly complicated, dragged on too long, and completely failed to engage me. All I wanted was to jump in and play.

Too many games fall into this trap, relying on standalone tutorials instead of integrating them into the gameplay. I finished the tutorial thinking, “Alright, I’ll try to remember all this,” but once I started playing, I became frustrated when the mechanics didn’t click. I gave up quickly, not realizing the tutorial was explaining upgrades and features I wouldn’t even access until much later.

Six Months Later, The Annoyance Of The Tutorial Has Long Faded From My Memory…

Earlier this week, I decided to revisit the game and dive straight in—no tutorials, just a clean start with an “insert coin” mentality and playing it the way the genre was meant to be experienced back in the day.

The first few attempts were frustrating, as I struggled to understand why the game was so difficult (even on easy mode). But I stuck with it, replaying the first level repeatedly until I figured out the mechanics.

Once the gameplay “clicked,” I got completely hooked, to the point where I couldn’t put it down. Ironically, I was still replaying the first stage at this point.

I ended up learning the game the way it should be—by actually playing it. In hindsight, the tutorial would have been better if it had been broken down into smaller, optional segments unlocked at different stages of the game.

The Game, Upgrading Weapons And Keeping Control…

Once I started getting the hang of the game, I turned my attention to upgrading my weapons. However, the menu system for upgrades is far from ideal—I could probably rant about it, but I’ll leave it at that. If you can’t upgrade, there are two likely reasons: either you don’t have enough upgrade points (check the top left), or you haven’t progressed far enough in the game yet.

Earning upgrade points is straightforward—triangle-shaped items drop frequently when you defeat enemies. However, there’s a catch: if you lose a life, all the points you’ve accumulated in that stage are lost, with no way to recover them, even if you have remaining lives.

Reaching maximum weaponry quickly became an early goal for me, and I ended up replaying the first few levels repeatedly to collect enough points for the upgrades.

The game entices players with promises of customizable weapons and twin-stick shooter mechanics. While full weapon customization (such as creating presets) seems to only unlock after completing the game (?), you can still upgrade your bullet spread pattern during regular gameplay by spending upgrade points. These upgrades make a difference, but they felt more useful to me after finishing the game, especially when chasing higher scores or refining my play style.

The twin-stick mechanics are more straightforward. You can control your weapon fire within a limited range (about 15 degrees) to adjust your bullet trajectory slightly. Ground attacks, on the other hand, are fully guided with the right stick, allowing precise targeting anywhere on the screen—a fantastic feature that adds depth to the gameplay.

Impressive And Top-notch Presentation Throughout The Game..

Once I put the frustrations of the upgrade system and tutorial behind me, I finally started to appreciate the game for what it truly is—an absolutely stunning visual masterpiece with a captivating soundtrack, all wrapped up in a stylish and cohesive package, unlike anything I’ve experienced before.

CYGNI: All Guns Blazing is, to put it mildly, a very grey-toned game. The videos, backgrounds, bosses, and much of the aesthetic lean heavily into various shades of grey. However, the vibrant colors of lasers, bullets, and shields stand out brilliantly against this muted palette. It might sound unusual, but the result is absolutely stunning. I found myself constantly exclaiming “OMG,” “OMFG,” “WOW,” “FANTASTIC,” and more throughout the entire experience.

I’ve honestly never encountered such breathtaking graphics in a game like this. The background animations are mesmerizing—so much so that I often pause just to admire them. Yet, they never distract from the gameplay or crowd the screen, at least not for someone like me, a seasoned fan of this genre.

The boss fights are nothing short of incredible, unlike anything I’ve seen before. Each of the seven bosses is so impressively designed that they alone justify the game’s price.

Is This The Best Euroshooter Ever?

CYGNI: All Guns Blazing follows many of the typical design conventions of a Euroshooter, but much like the Sky Force series, it masks them with an incredibly polished presentation. That said, fans of bullet hell games who prefer eastern shooters like Danmaku might find CYGNI a bit too easy, especially once you’ve upgraded your weapons.

Completing CYGNI on Easy takes about an hour and a half. For seasoned fans of the genre, it’s not a particularly challenging game, but it’s definitely a lot of fun. Once you finish a level, you can replay it as often as you like, and this also applies after beating the entire game. Even better, you can revisit levels with upgraded weapons, adding to the replay value.

The real test begins when you dive into Arcade mode or attempt the story on higher difficulty levels. Fortunately, both modes support 2-player couch co-op, and it works seamlessly with the playSHARE feature, allowing you to share the game with a friend and play online using only one copy.

The Verdict…

CYGNI: All Guns Blazing is a bit tricky to rate. While I absolutely love the game now and thoroughly enjoyed playing through it, I can’t ignore the rough start I had six months ago. Tutorials shouldn’t push players away, and for a game in this genre, such a tutorial feels unnecessary in the first place. A few adjustments, as suggested earlier, could make this a much better experience for everyone.

Music plays a big role in games for me, and the original soundtrack here truly stands out. It complements the stunning visuals and cohesive art style perfectly, enhancing the overall experience. Will CYGNI achieve cult status or become a genre-defining game-changer? Only time will tell. However, one thing is certain: this game has set a new benchmark for graphics in the vertical shooter genre.

Should you buy it or wait? The retail price of around £29.99 might feel a bit steep unless you plan on replaying the seven stages extensively. That said, there are far worse ways to spend your money—this game is worth considering.

SPOILER ALERT: After planning to include the launch trailer for the game here I noticed how it managed to spoil several key points in the game, I strongly advice all players to skip that trailer.  I added a small vid here that I recorded myself, with no spoilers, enjoy.