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Syder Arcade

83%Game Brain Score
graphics, music
stability, grinding
83% User Score Based on 403 reviews

Platforms

LinuxPCTabletAndroidMac OSPhoneiPadSteam DeckMobile PlatformiPhoneWindows

About

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.

Syder Arcade screenshot
Syder Arcade screenshot
Syder Arcade screenshot
Syder Arcade screenshot
Syder Arcade screenshot
Syder Arcade screenshot
Syder Arcade screenshot
Syder Arcade screenshot
Syder Arcade screenshot
Syder Arcade screenshot
Syder Arcade screenshot
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83%
Audience ScoreBased on 403 reviews
graphics91 positive mentions
stability6 negative mentions

  • Syder Arcade offers a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic shooters like Gradius and R-Type, with modern graphics and engaging gameplay.
  • The game features a unique mechanic allowing players to flip their ship and attack enemies from both sides, adding depth to the gameplay.
  • With various retro graphic filters and a solid soundtrack, the game successfully captures the essence of old-school arcade shooters while providing a fresh experience.
  • The campaign is relatively short, consisting of only six levels, which may leave players wanting more content.
  • There are reports of bugs, particularly in survival mode, where levels may not end properly or achievements may not unlock as intended.
  • Some players have experienced issues with controller setup and responsiveness, which can detract from the overall gameplay experience.
  • graphics
    159 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics in "Syder Arcade" are widely praised for their vibrant and detailed presentation, offering both modern 3D visuals and a variety of retro filters that evoke nostalgia for classic gaming systems like the Amiga and Commodore 64. Players appreciate the smooth animations and the ability to customize the visual style, although some have noted issues with performance and clarity in certain graphical settings. Overall, the game successfully combines appealing aesthetics with engaging gameplay, making it a standout in the shoot-'em-up genre.

    • “The graphics are beautiful, the soundtrack is great, enemies are fun to shoot.”
    • “Syder arcade is a holy matrimony of old-school arcade aesthetics bursting with modern bullet-hell flare.”
    • “The graphics are quite good for a shmup, being slightly 3D, and it also has a pretty good music track.”
    • “Unplayable, I have a pretty performing PC but the game has a weird visual stutter, no matter the graphic settings. I tried them all; I even changed the refresh rate of the monitor, but no joy. It 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.”
    • “Unfortunately, it seems the developers have no idea how graphics or visuals convey information to the player.”
  • music
    95 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many reviewers praising its nostalgic, retro-inspired sound that evokes the classic Amiga and chiptune eras. Players appreciate the upbeat and engaging soundtrack, which enhances the gameplay experience and keeps the action intense. While some mention average sound design, the overall consensus is that the music is a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “The music is amazing!”
    • “Amazing gameplay and great soundtrack to get you in the mood!”
    • “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.”
    • “The music is pumping and keeps you hyped when attacking and shooting stuff down :) I say give this a try!”
    • “From too many sounds overlapping and overdriving, to the music cutting out in an obvious loop restart.”
    • “No elements of the game really stand out... the mechanics, graphics, music, story are all passable.”
  • gameplay
    89 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its tight mechanics, classic arcade vibes, and unique features like the ability to flip the ship's direction, which adds depth to the traditional shmup formula. However, others criticize it for being derivative and lacking innovation, with repetitive elements and a short campaign that may not fully engage players. Overall, while the game offers enjoyable and addictive gameplay for fans of the genre, it may not stand out significantly against its competition.

    • “The gameplay is tight and exciting, showcasing great potential with its classic arcade vibes and smooth mechanics.”
    • “A good, solid shmup with the additional mechanics of free movement on an extended map and being able to flip the direction of travel.”
    • “The gameplay itself feels super fluid and natural.”
    • “Unfortunately, I found the gameplay to be a bit drab and tedious.”
    • “Gameplay is mediocre.”
    • “They constantly play the old-school card, but it's really not so much of that and a lot more repetitive gameplay and bad menus with boring player ships and enemies.”
  • story
    70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is generally considered weak, with many reviewers noting a lack of depth, character development, and engaging world-building. While the campaign consists of six missions with basic objectives, the dialogue is often criticized for being poorly written and distracting during gameplay. Overall, the narrative serves merely as a backdrop for the action, with players expressing indifference towards the plot and focusing more on the gameplay experience.

    • “The plot is quite decent!”
    • “Fun arcade bullet-hell with several ships to play and a story with missions and objectives.”
    • “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.”
    • “There is no story, characters, or world-building that is noteworthy.”
    • “The actual storytelling (dialogue) is poorly written; characters don't match their roles in the world.”
    • “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
    22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game boasts high replayability due to its challenging gameplay, multiple ships with unique attributes, and a survival mode that offers endless waves of enemies. While the main campaign is relatively short, players find value in replaying with different ships and difficulty levels, ensuring a satisfying experience that justifies its price. The combination of great graphics and engaging mechanics further enhances its replay value, making it a worthwhile investment for fans of the genre.

    • “It has fantastic replay value.”
    • “The main single player campaign could be longer at 6 stages, but it has good variety and there are multiple ships, each with their own weapons and attributes, to add good replay value.”
    • “Graphics are great and the choice of 4 starships gives it replayability, especially for the survival mode.”
    • “While some reviewers note the shortness of the campaign, the survival mode makes up for it in replayability.”
    • “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.”
  • humor
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate its retro charm and find the enemies amusing, others feel that the attempts at humor fall flat. Overall, the game is described as enjoyable and funny, particularly in its gameplay and design, but opinions vary on the effectiveness of its comedic elements.

    • “The devs put in a lot of work to give this game a retro/arcade/funny feel.”
    • “This is a wonderful side-scrolling shooter, one of the best I've ever played, with gorgeous graphics, funny enemies, and old-school difficulty.”
    • “Very funny and playable.”
  • stability
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players report a relatively bug-free experience, others encounter significant issues such as visual glitches, random freezes, and gameplay-affecting bugs, particularly in survival mode. Despite these problems, some users have enjoyed long sessions without any glitches, indicating that experiences may vary widely.

    • “The game is relatively bug-free, though I have experienced some comical glitches, like the storm on the last level sometimes having a mind of its own and even going through the warp gate with you.”
    • “The stability of the game is impressive, allowing for a smooth and enjoyable experience without frequent crashes or major issues.”
    • “I appreciate how stable the game runs; it rarely crashes and maintains a consistent frame rate throughout.”
    • “Until I started encountering visual glitches that required starting the level over.”
    • “Game freezes randomly when killed during the final boss; not worth playing.”
    • “The one thing I have to warn about: currently, survival is quite buggy.”
  • grinding
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews indicate that while some achievements are easily attainable, certain aspects of the gameplay can feel grindy and tedious, particularly during the final boss encounter. In contrast, other players appreciate the absence of grinding in the game, highlighting its old-school shooter style that focuses on straightforward gameplay without upgrades or unlockables.

    • “Unfortunately, I found the gameplay to be a bit drab and tedious.”
    • “The final boss is fiddly, tedious, and feels out of place.”
    • “Especially the final level is just tedious and slow.”
  • character development
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews indicate a significant lack of character development, with players noting that it is particularly challenging to achieve in this genre. Overall, the consensus is that the game fails to provide meaningful growth or depth to its characters.

    • “Zero character development.”
    • “I realize that character development in these types of games may be difficult to achieve.”
  • atmosphere
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is characterized as a visually engaging old-school space shooter that incorporates innovative elements, creating a nostalgic yet fresh experience for players.

    • “Visual atmospheric old school space shooter with a hint of innovation.”
    • “The game's atmosphere immerses you in a beautifully crafted world that feels both nostalgic and fresh.”
    • “Every detail contributes to a captivating ambiance that keeps you engaged and on the edge of your seat.”
  • optimization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game is noted for its distinct visual styles and performance characteristics, which vary across different elements, including armor levels. This diversity contributes to a unique gameplay experience, though it may also lead to varying performance outcomes for players.

    • “Each character has its distinct look, performance characteristics, and differing armor levels, allowing for a highly personalized gameplay experience.”
    • “The optimization of the game mechanics ensures that every player's strategy can shine, making each session feel unique and engaging.”
    • “With a focus on optimization, the game runs smoothly across various platforms, providing an enjoyable experience for all players.”
    • “The game suffers from severe optimization issues, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
    • “Despite the beautiful graphics, the optimization is lacking, causing long loading times and crashes on lower-end systems.”
    • “I was disappointed to find that even on high-end hardware, the game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate.”
  • emotional
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players express that Syder Arcade evokes a strong sense of nostalgia, making them feel youthful and reminiscent of their childhood experiences.

    • “Syder Arcade made me feel like a kid again!”
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8h Median play time
11h Average play time
4-30h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs
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