Cyborg Arena - Early Access Watcher -
0Disclosure: This game copy was bought by the reviewer.
Cyborgs are attacking your base and need to be dealt with. You’re unable to reach the main base and have to retrieve batteries to power the communication device. Along the way, you will shoot cyborgs with four weapons and use grenades to clear the way for your vehicle. Once you find the batteries, you make your way back to place the call. That sums it up.
There is also two arena maps with one being a rehash of the developer’s previous game that requires the player to last as long as possible with plenty of power ups to aid in the struggle. It might sound decent on paper, but given the way enemies tend to crawl over terrain and have the ability to shoot through what could be seen as a solid structure it becomes a frustrating borefest. The enemy types are boiled down to grunts and the bullet sponge bosses that all fire one of the available weapons from clear across the screen as you absorb bullets in a bid just to reach them. You also better hope you get out of your vehicle fast enough to avoid fire.
The adventure mode feels more like an endurance run as you pray to every possible deity for your vehicle not to get stuck or that the position you are hiding behind provides cover. It doesn’t help that there is the risk of crashes, which happened when I changed the resolution and right after I managed to get the fourth battery in my playthrough following this video. I can’t recommend it mainly for these technical flaws and for the bland combat system. Thankfully there are some better alternatives in the free-to-play section that don't narrow the view on the screen and have satisfying shooting mechanics.