CYGNI: All Guns Blazing Reviews
Cygni: All Guns Blazing is a hair-pulling experience which will enrage many people, if they are not used to how intense (and often unfair) old-school bullet hell shooters can be. Its level of difficulty is borderline insane at times. With that being said, it’s also one of the most engaging, beautiful and immersive bullet hell shooters I’ve ever played.
Cygni: All Guns Blazing is an awesome shmup that goes a bit light on the innovation but goes hard on visual quality. That’s not to say that the game isn’t good, but it doesn’t introduce mechanics or systems that revolutionize the genre. For some, switching resources between shields and weapons while in the middle of everything may be a bit too much, but when you add the weapon direction presets on top of that, you’ve got another thing going. Despite its layers of systems, the game is mostly fair and manageable, and Cygni impresses with fantastic visuals and a responsive shooter that is a good and reasonable recommendation for fans of the genre. While gaming on a portable device works, Cygni is best played on current-gen consoles and a capable PC that can show off its stunning visual flair.
KeelWorks did a great job bringing vertical-scrolling shmups up to speed with modern trends. Despite its pacing issues and overall visual clutter, Cygni delivers an intense shoot-'em-up experience.
Cygni: All Guns Blazing is a SHMUP with some seriously high production values behind it. For a genre that is usually quite niche, seeing something that pitches higher like this is impressive. It’s not always perfect – the budget spent on the cut scenes was a noble idea that ultimately misfired – but once you’re into the thick of the swirling maelstrom of activity, it’s hard to be disappointed with what the developers have achieved.
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.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Cygni: All Guns Blazing might not entirely reinvent the idea of what a vertically scrolling twin-stick shooter can be, but it does do an excellent job of offering genre fans something slightly different by playing with depth, shield/gun prioritisation, and some seriously punishing, yet rewarding, sections. Yes, you’ll likely be done with the story in just a few short hours, and the narrative largely comes off as melodramatic, but Cygni: All Guns Blazing still sits comfortably as an impressive visual treat compared to its peers and one of the most cinematic genre entries I’ve played in recent years.
A fantastic 2D shooter, that despite being the developer's first game shows they understand the genre perfectly – but perhaps not the needs of those that are less familiar with its traditions.
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.
If already in the preview the feelings in front of Cygni: All Guns Blazing had been positive, the long-distance review confirms how well the small KeelWorks team did with this spectacular and intense mix of shoot'em-up, bullet-hell and twin-stick-shooter.
Review in Italian | Read full review
If you're not into shmups, or you're curious about the genre, you're going to find things you're going to like at CYGNI. Its gameplay is addictive, its staging impeccable (despite the occasional slowdowns) and if you're going to get stung by the rankings and scores, here you have to be hooked for a long time, despite being a "short" game.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
CYGNI: All Guns Blazing is a spectacular shoot'em up, fun and with a unique twist to the typical gameplay of the genre.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
CYGNI: All Guns Blazing is an assault on the senses in the best way possible, with thrilling combat and some gorgeous visuals.
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.
CYGNI: All Guns Blazing aims to be a vertical-scrolling shoot'em up tied to the old traditions of the genre, taking advantage of what hardware has made possible over the last four decades. It has hit the mark, including everything that is to be expected in works of this type, without wanting to add anything else. The result is the closest thing to a coin-op we could find in a parallel universe in which arcades have not known oblivion. Fast-paced, colorful, pyrotechnic, punishing, and capable of making everyone realize that shmups can still provide a lot of fun.
Review in Italian | Read full review
If you're willing to practice and learn its ins and outs, CYGNI: All Guns Blazing becomes an absolutely thrilling shoot 'em up that will stay with you for a very long time. It may be divisive now but let me assure you, genre fans will eventually hold this gem in high regard. 💥
All in all CYGNI: All Guns Blazing is a terrific title for shoot ‘em up fans. It has everything they need, such as a twisting take on the gameplay, the rudimentary plot of kicking alien butt, an RPG system to make your ship your own custom weapon, and even a mandatory co-op mode for your partner or friend to enjoy the game as well. It just requires some tweaks here in there, especially in the graphics department, to be enjoyed thoroughly, but still plays and feels like any other arcade shoot ’em up.
CYGNI: All Guns Blazing is a very surprising release. These kind of games usually aren’t done well enough to garner attention from today’s gamers, but Konami really hit it out of the park with this one.
CYGNI: All Guns Blazing followed the shoot 'em up genre's traditional standards and absolutely nailed it. It creates a fantastic gameplay cycle that demonstrates how less is frequently more, staying true to the simplicity of vintage arcade shooters and bringing back all the feelings we had for these games.
CYGNI: All Guns Blazing attempts to modernize shoot 'em up games with modern visuals, but the overall formula is basic, turning an initially exciting journey into something generic – but still welcome.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review