Syder Arcade

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Syder Arcade is a fast-paced, old-school shoot 'em up game that pays homage to Amiga games of the 90s. It offers a challenging and uncompromised experience with no coins or grinding, focusing on player skill and dodging a barrage of enemy fire. With its fierce action and classic design, Syder Arcade provides a nostalgic trip back in time for seasoned players and a benchmark for newcomers to the genre.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 519 reviews

graphics110 positive mentions

stability12 negative mentions

Stunning graphics and a nostalgic soundtrack reminiscent of classic Amiga games.
Engaging gameplay with multiple ships to choose from, each offering unique strengths and weaknesses.
High replayability with a survival mode and a scoring system that encourages competition among friends.

The campaign is very short, consisting of only six levels, which may leave players wanting more content.
Several bugs and glitches, including issues with the final boss and visual stuttering, can detract from the experience.
Lack of multiplayer options and some frustrating design choices, such as having to restart from the main menu after losing all lives.

graphics
218 mentions
50 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their beauty and detail, with many reviewers highlighting the smooth 3D visuals and vibrant space backgrounds. Players appreciate the option to switch between modern graphics and various retro filters that evoke nostalgia for classic gaming systems like the Amiga and C64. However, some users report issues with performance, including visual stutters and choppy graphics on certain setups, which can detract from the overall experience.
- “The graphics still hold up quite well to this day and it runs good even on a sub par computer because of its age!”
- “Immediately upon launching the game, you will notice the graphics, which can only be described as stunning.”
- “The graphics really shine through during the fighting; if you can manage to tear your eyes off of the seemingly unavoidable shots being fired at you for even a second, you will be able to appreciate the asteroid belts in the background and even the amount of effort and detail that has gone into the mines.”
- “Unplayable, I have a pretty performing PC but the game has a weird visual stutter, no matter the graphic settings. I tried them all; tried to change the refresh rate of the monitor too, no joy; makes you sick.”
- “I appreciate the optional graphic filters that make the game look like various old computer systems, but the game's visual design wasn't built for it. The reduced colors, pixelation filter, and clashing smoothness of the actual game make them terrible for actual gameplay; they are essentially useless other than giving players a nostalgia trip - the CGA filters reminded me of my childhood Tandy PC that only had 4 colors in games.”
- “Unfortunately, it seems the developers have no idea how graphics or visuals convey information to the player.”
music
140 mentions
67 % positive mentions
31 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its nostalgic chiptune and retro vibes reminiscent of classic Amiga and 16-bit soundtracks. Players find the upbeat and engaging soundtrack enhances the gameplay experience, making it a significant highlight of the game. Overall, the music is described as fitting, high-quality, and a key element that adds to the game's charm and addictive nature.
- “The smooth 3D graphics readily evoke the slick, technical pixel art of the 16-bit days, while the music is pure Amiga scene goodness, well deserving a soundtrack DLC or album release.”
- “An amazing soundtrack that is a huge homage to 'chip tunes' and really drills into your ears; you might catch yourself keeping the game running just to have the music playing.”
- “This game has a truly classic arcade style with great graphics, excellent music, and extremely addictive gameplay.”
- “From too many sounds overlapping and overdriving, to the music cutting out in an obvious loop restart.”
- “The retro throw-back music does its job well, not interesting enough to be listenable on its own, but not bad enough to be a distraction.”
- “It's an old school free moving shmup, 4 different ships, special attacks... music is ok.”
gameplay
100 mentions
26 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a classic arcade style, featuring fast-paced, horizontal-scrolling shoot-'em-up mechanics reminiscent of old-school titles like Defender and Uridium. Players appreciate the fluid controls, diverse ship options, and the ability to reverse direction, although some find the overall experience can become repetitive and the campaign too short. While the game excels in graphics and sound, there are calls for deeper power-up mechanics and additional content to enhance replayability.
- “The gameplay itself feels superfluid and natural.”
- “This game has a truly classic arcade style with great graphics, excellent music and extremely addictive gameplay.”
- “The controls are tight, and there are several types of ships that change gameplay quite significantly.”
- “Unfortunately, I found the gameplay to be a bit drab and tedious.”
- “Gameplay is mediocre.”
- “The backgrounds also quite often get in the way of the gameplay when bloom hides enemy bullets.”
story
87 mentions
14 % positive mentions
83 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as simple and minimal, serving primarily to provide context for the gameplay rather than being a focal point. With only six short missions, the narrative involves basic objectives like destroying enemies and escorting ships, which some players find engaging while others consider it irrelevant or overly simplistic. Overall, the story is seen as a light addition that doesn't detract from the fast-paced arcade action, appealing to those who prefer straightforward gameplay without complex narratives.
- “Just enough story to give it a purpose without all the weirdness that comes with a lot of Japanese shmups (don't get me wrong, I love them too).”
- “These six missions are delivered to you in sequence in the form of a simple yet endearing storyline, and after a good ten minutes of flying around space with a level of skill that you can look back and be proud of, you can compare your scores to all the other pilots out there.”
- “The story is easy to understand, about pirates, aliens, and a secret weapon.”
- “My only complaint is that it has a very short campaign of six missions.”
- “Storyline is pointless and gets in the way of the action.”
- “The 'story mode' is a pretty short and simple affair - only a handful of levels with a plot that leaves huge gaps between levels.”
replayability
32 mentions
63 % positive mentions
28 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability, primarily due to its survival mode and the variety of ships, each with unique weapons and attributes. While the main campaign is relatively short, players can enhance their experience by replaying with different ships and adjusting difficulty levels, ensuring that the game remains engaging over time. Overall, it offers excellent value for players seeking to improve their skills and explore different gameplay styles.
- “It has fantastic replay value.”
- “There are four separate ships to try, each with different weapons, and several difficulty options as well, so replay value is there regardless of the short campaign.”
- “This kind of hurts Syder Arcade's replayability, because if it's anything I love about a shoot 'em up, it's a good survival mode to improve my scores on.”
- “To tell you the truth, I was a little disappointed at first; the game seemed relatively easy, but then I tried a different ship and that is where this game has a high replay value.”
- “While some reviewers note the shortness of the campaign, the survival mode makes up for it in replayability.”
stability
14 mentions
21 % positive mentions
-7 % neutral mentions
86 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with some players encountering significant visual glitches that disrupt gameplay, while others report a relatively bug-free experience after extended play. Overall, it is described as fun but buggy, particularly in survival mode, suggesting potential players should be cautious and possibly wait for a sale.
- “The game is relatively bug-free, providing a smooth experience overall.”
- “I have encountered a few comical glitches, like the storm on the last level sometimes having a mind of its own and even going through the warp gate with me.”
- “Overall, the stability of the game is impressive, allowing for an enjoyable gaming experience.”
- “Until I started encountering visual glitches that required starting the level over.”
- “Oh, and it's buggy.”
- “The one thing I have to warn about: currently, survival is quite buggy.”
humor
12 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is hit or miss; while some players find it genuinely funny, others feel it falls flat. Overall, the game features amusing enemies and a lighthearted tone that enhances the enjoyable gameplay experience, particularly for fans of classic side-scrolling shooters.
- “This is a wonderful side-scrolling shooter, one of the best I've ever played, with gorgeous graphics, funny enemies, and old-school difficulty.”
- “Short game but a lot of funny moments.”
- “This scrolling shoot 'em up game is really cool and funny to play.”
grinding
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and lacking excitement, with some describing the gameplay as drab and the final boss encounter as particularly frustrating and out of place.
- “Unfortunately, I found the gameplay to be a bit drab and tedious.”
- “The final boss is fiddly, tedious, and feels out of place.”
- “Unfortunately, I found the gameplay to be a bit drab and tedious.”
character development
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate a consensus that the game features minimal to no character development, acknowledging the inherent challenges of implementing such growth in this genre.
- “Zero character development.”
- “I realize that character development in these types of games may be difficult to do.”
optimization
2 mentions
150 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is noted for its varied performance characteristics and distinct visual styles across different elements, which contribute to a unique gameplay experience. However, the differing armor levels may impact overall performance consistency.
- “Each character has its distinct look, performance characteristics, and differing armor levels, allowing for a highly personalized optimization experience.”
- “The game offers a variety of optimization options, ensuring that players can tailor their gameplay to suit their individual styles and preferences.”
- “With unique performance traits and armor levels, the optimization system enhances the strategic depth of character customization.”
emotional
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express that Syder Arcade evokes a strong sense of nostalgia, making them feel like children once more, highlighting its emotional impact and connection to their past gaming experiences.
- “Syder Arcade made me feel like a kid again!”