IndieGameStand Deal Review: Super Cyborg - October 6-10, 2014

Digital distribution site IndieGameStand is part store, part sale curation with their original line of pay-what-you-want deals on a specific highlighted game. For its next sale, going from October 6 to 10, the classic-inspired Super Cyborg will become available for a tiny sum. We’ve been given an advance copy so that we could show you what the game is like. In particular, we’ll highlight the difficulty, since it’s themed after the NES era of hard arcade shooters. We’ll be lucky if we can fill you in on details up to the second level. Can we make it? Watch the gameplay commentary below to find out.

For those wanting to read words, instead of seeing pictures move, here’s a short description: Super Cyborg is essentially Contra with spinning jumps, flying upgrade balls and all. Characters move and point firearms on an eight-pointed circle with the same control scheme. Enemies rush in from all sides of the screen and one tiny hit or even a misstep costs a life, which is depleted sooner than expected.

While it does certainly shamelessly lift its entire blueprint from old classics, it does at least do so properly. Difficulty is high, as is activity. Visuals are sharp and clear to facilitate the level of action required. Music has a similar traditional feel, without becoming too grating. Boss fights are intensely challenging and ramp up the weird factor.

As with the original NES shooters, Super Cyborg lends itself more to two players to cover all sides of the screen, though singleplayer is possible, but increasingly more difficult. It’s possible to play the game with a controller or by using a keyboard. Given the few inputs required, a keyboard scheme is still doable when paired to the challenge rating.

If you’re interested in what you’re seeing, then you can get Super Cyborg on IndieGameStand here.

 

Daav Valentaten, NoobFeed (@Daavpuke)