Cyberia
- May 17, 2017
- Xatrix
In the year 2027 the world is controlled by two rival super-powers, the western-bloc Free World Alliance and the east-bloc Cartel. Transmissions from an FWA spy reveal the location of a secret multi-national labratory deep within Siberia, the ''Cyberia Complex'', where a mysterious weapon is being developed. FWA leader Devlin frees a cyber-hacker named Zak from prison and sends him to infiltrate t…
Reviews
- Cyberia features stunning visuals that were ahead of its time and still hold up reasonably well today.
- The game combines various gameplay styles, including adventure, puzzle-solving, and rail-shooting, creating a unique and dynamic experience.
- It offers a nostalgic trip down memory lane for those who played it in the 90s, with enjoyable sound design and memorable moments.
- The game suffers from poor aging, with laughable graphics and clunky controls outside of the rail-shooting sequences.
- The story is basic and lacks depth, with confusing dialogues and minimal character development.
- Gameplay can be frustrating due to its difficulty and lack of clear directions, requiring players to die multiple times to progress.
- graphics9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are often described as groundbreaking for its time, showcasing stunning visuals and innovative use of computer animation and Hollywood techniques. While some elements may appear cringeworthy or laughable by today's standards, the overall aesthetic was a significant technological achievement that captivated players in 1994. The combination of impressive visuals and engaging cut-scenes contributes to a unique atmosphere, despite criticisms of weak storytelling.
“Was one of my first experiences with PC gaming and I think the visuals for this game were ahead of its time.”
“Back in 1994, Cyberia just blew everybody’s mind with its stunning visuals.”
“Its purely computer-generated aesthetic served as a testament to technological progress and the wildest futuristic dreams coming true.”
“Some of the game's aesthetics are so cringeworthy it's worth a few laughs.”
“Graphics are laughable; controls (barring the rail shooter scenes) are vicious at best.”
“There are dozens of cut-scenes in this game, most of which haven’t meant to give you any sort of information, but were placed here for mere spectacle: explosions and a wide variety of the main character’s deaths have been put under a constant cinematographic spotlight.”
- story7 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The story, set in a futuristic world divided by rival factions, follows Zak, a hacker forced to retrieve a superweapon from a secret facility. While it features some intriguing elements and a wholesome twist, the plot remains basic and underdeveloped, prioritizing action over character and world-building. Despite its shortcomings in storytelling, the game compensates with appealing visuals and sound design that enhance the overall atmosphere.
“Futuristic cosmopolitan world divided between rivalrous factions serves as a setting for the story of Zak, a professional hacker/outlaw fallen in debt to one of those factions’ leaders and had been sent to a secret science facility in the middle of Siberia to seize some sort of superweapon being developed there under the codename of Project Cyberia.”
“Although the plot has some surprises and even a wholesome twist at the end, it remains fairly basic at best.”
“Rushing through the story, Cyberia offers a minimum amount of character and world-building and prefers to stick with the action.”
“Nice visuals and pretty enjoyable sound design create a unique atmosphere, which fills the void created by weak storytelling.”
- gameplay5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Cyberia is noted for its originality, combining distinct styles such as third-person adventuring, classic puzzle-solving, and first-person rail-shooting, all set to an excellent soundtrack. While the rail-shooting mode is highlighted as the most polished aspect, some players find the interface challenging to navigate. The game maintains a dynamic pace, often surprising players with sudden shifts in gameplay and unexpected character deaths.
“It is very original in what it does, the different gameplay styles it combines, and has an excellent soundtrack.”
“The game moves at a dynamic pace, frequently catching you off-guard with either a shift in the gameplay or with some surprising and challenging ways to kill the main character.”
“Especially the Cyberia complex gameplay.”
“Cyberia’s gameplay is strictly divided into three distinct parts: third-person adventuring, classic puzzle-solving, and first-person rail-shooting.”
“The game moves at a dynamic pace, frequently catching you off-guard with either shifts in gameplay or with some surprisingly nasty ways to kill the main character.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Users report that the game's optimization is lacking, leading to performance issues and a lack of smooth gameplay, suggesting that the code does not effectively utilize the game's potential.
“The code is clearly not optimized for what the game has to offer.”
“Performance issues are rampant, making the game feel sluggish and unresponsive.”
“The lack of optimization leads to frequent frame drops and long loading times.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its dark comedic elements, particularly in the amusing dialogue and the frequent, often absurd death scenes that players encounter. Many find the necessity of repeated failures to be a source of laughter, adding to the overall comedic experience.
“It's hilarious how much you have to die to get it down.”
“I remember how hilarious some of the dialogue and death scenes were.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by a basic yet surprising plot that culminates in a wholesome twist, particularly in the rail-shooting mode, which is considered the most engaging part of the gameplay. However, players find the interface somewhat confusing, which detracts from the overall emotional experience.
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by impressive visuals and enjoyable sound design, which effectively compensate for its lackluster storytelling. Many reviewers appreciate the nostalgic experience it offers, highlighting its revolutionary impact since its release in 1994.
“Nice visuals and pretty enjoyable sound design create a unique atmosphere, which fills the void created by weak storytelling.”
“Great atmosphere, wonderful sound design; this was a revolutionary game in 1994, and it's a welcome trip down memory lane.”
- music1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for its originality and excellent soundtrack, effectively complementing the diverse gameplay styles it incorporates.
“It is very original in what it does, the different gameplay styles it combines, and has an excellent soundtrack.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game has minimal replay value, with users indicating that there is little incentive to play it again after the initial experience.
“Next to no replay value.”
“The game feels repetitive after the first playthrough.”
“Once you finish the story, there's little incentive to play again.”