Konami is widely recognized for its popular franchises such as Silent Hill, Metal Gear, Bomberman, and Contra. While the company has faced criticism for its handling of these franchises in recent years, it has shown signs of improvement. Konami is making a comeback by revitalizing its older franchises through collections and new games like Contra: Operation Galuga and Super Bomberman R 2. In addition, the company is also publishing high-quality indie games like Skelattack and Super Crazy Rhythm Castle. Cygni: All Guns Blazing strikes a balance between these initiatives and stands out as Konami’s best game in years.
Cygni marks the debut title from KeelWorks, a Scottish indie studio. This flashy shoot-’em-up game resembles classic Konami sci-fi shooters like Gradius, but with its own unique twist. Unlike the side-scrolling style of Gradius, Cygni offers a top-down perspective similar to Galaga. Players assume the role of an ace pilot supporting Earth’s forces in battling biomechanical aliens awakened on the planet Cygni. While gameplay takes precedence over story, the game explores themes of environmental impact in war and colonization through brief cutscenes between levels.
While Cygni offers an engaging experience regardless of its lore, each level unfolds as a visual story with distinct acts, providing variety to players. This appeals to gamers seeking deeper engagement, while still enjoying the intense shoot-’em-up action on screen. Players can shoot straight or fire missiles, with a limited shield capacity before facing defeat. What sets Cygni apart is the player’s ability to control the direction of their shots.
In addition to adjusting the front-facing fire angles, players can utilize a secondary weapon to shoot downward. This added depth distinguishes Cygni from other top-down shooters, highlighting the beautifully animated backgrounds in each level. The game’s challenging nature requires players to monitor their ship’s position and shield status carefully, rewarding perseverance and skill development.
Cygni represents a modernized take on classic gaming genres for current platforms. This approach aligns with Konami’s current focus on reviving and updating its older franchises. By potentially establishing a new franchise with Cygni, Konami aims to revisit its successful past while innovating for the future. As the company works on upcoming titles like the remake of Silent Hill 2 and Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, Cygni serves as a positive step in this creative direction.
Cygni: All Guns Blazing is currently available on PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PlayStation 5.
