Sisyphus Paradox

About

In "Sisyphus Paradox," an ordinary person must fight their way back to Earth after being flung across the galaxy, with the help of a mysterious voice in their head. This side-scrolling shoot 'em up game features procedurally generated star maps, persistent bonuses, and multiple builds to try, with 56 unique items and two playable ships. This DRM-free version offers a challenging and replayable experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

100%

Audience ScoreBased on 42 reviews

music12 positive mentions

Fast-paced and addictive gameplay with a nostalgic arcade feel, enhanced by RPG elements and a variety of weapons and upgrades.
Unique hand-drawn graphics and an epic soundtrack that grows on you, contributing to an engaging atmosphere.
The game features a light story and procedural elements that keep each run fresh and exciting, with permanent progression and customization options.

The UI/UX design could use improvement, and some sound effects feel like placeholders, detracting from the overall experience.
Combat can be chaotic, making it difficult to see incoming bullets, which can lead to frustrating moments during gameplay.
Limited backtracking options can hinder quest completion, and some upgrades feel barely noticeable, impacting long-term progression.

music
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
17%
17%
The music in the game is widely praised for its epic and catchy quality, with many reviewers highlighting its addictive nature and how it complements the vibrant visuals and fast-paced gameplay. The synthwave soundtrack is particularly noted for enhancing the old-school arcade feel, making it a standout feature despite some minor critiques of the sound effects. Overall, the music significantly contributes to the game's immersive experience.
- “The music is catchy and the visuals are vibrant with very nice details on the big boss enemy ships.”
- “The music is fantastic, the gameplay is smooth and has a unique art style that works very well.”
- “I really like the old-school arcade-y feel with rogue-like elements... the music is superb!”
- “The sound effects could be improved, as they detract from the overall music experience.”
- “While the music is catchy, it sometimes feels repetitive and lacks variety.”
- “The music doesn't quite match the game's theme, making it feel out of place.”
story
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
56%
19%
The game's story is described as light yet engaging, with an overarching narrative that connects various elements, complemented by appealing artwork. Players appreciate the inclusion of a side story and the addictive nature of the gameplay, although some express concerns about quest completion due to the lack of backtracking. Overall, the story adds depth to the enjoyable space shooter experience, with hopes for further development in future updates.
- “I really liked the story and the artwork!”
- “Fun, addictive, and has an interesting story so far (not yet completed).”
- “Very enjoyable space shooter with a variety of enemies, bosses, equippable items, random encounters, and an interesting storyline.”
- “Compared to most similar games, there’s a light story connecting everything together.”
- “Sure, I get the whole 'on the run' trope, but by not allowing backtracking, some quests might not be possible to complete.”
- “The is also a side story which helps when you end a stage tired.”
gameplay
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
36%
21%
The gameplay is fast-paced and addictive, with a rewarding loop that improves as players become more familiar with the mechanics. It successfully blends nostalgic shoot 'em up elements with modern roguelike features, offering a variety of loot and build options. However, as the game is still in early access, players hope for enhancements in procedural map generation and unique encounters to further enrich the experience.
- “Fast-paced and addictive gameplay; the loop gets better the more familiar you become with the game.”
- “The gameplay loop can be addictive, and there is enough variety in the loot and builds you can make to keep you entertained.”
- “Gameplay-wise, as the game is in early access, I would like to see two improvements.”
- “The core gameplay has that nostalgic feel of some arcade space shooters I played when I was younger.”
- “An infectious mix of nostalgic shoot 'em up gameplay and classic graphical style, as well as more modern, updated elements in procedural map generation, unique encounters that modify your run in significant ways, and nuanced, compelling narrative.”
graphics
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
43%
14%
The graphics are characterized by a unique hand-drawn style that some players find appealing, though opinions vary, with some not being particularly fond of them. While not overly flashy, the visuals are vibrant and detailed, especially in boss designs, complementing the game's nostalgic and modern elements. Overall, the art style effectively enhances the gameplay experience, despite mixed feelings among players.
- “The music is catchy and the visuals are vibrant with very nice details on the big boss enemy ships.”
- “An infectious mix of nostalgic shoot 'em up gameplay and classic graphical style, as well as more modern, updated elements in procedural map generation, unique encounters that modify your run in significant ways, and nuanced, compelling narrative.”
- “Not a huge fan of the graphics but they are very unique.”
- “The music is fantastic, the gameplay is smooth and has a unique art style that works very well.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game offers strong replayability, characterized by its classic roguelite elements, making it an engaging side-scrolling shooter that encourages multiple playthroughs.
- “Excellent side-scrolling shooter with classic roguelite replay value.”