PROJECT TACHYON – Best New Roguelike Bullet Hell Run-and-Gun Shooter!
0Project Tachyon is a new visually stunning, action-packed roguelike set in a dystopian sci-fi world that blends futuristic aesthetics with Roman-inspired decadence. With great art, immersive sound design, solid voice acting, and an intriguing storyline, the game sets a captivating stage for its fast-paced gameplay. While it has a lot going for it, the game’s depth, balance, and progression mechanics could use some fine-tuning to elevate the experience.
The game's design is a standout feature. From the opulent, Roman-esque Senate structures to the modern outfits and Sigma’s sleek, futuristic look, Project Tachyon nails its sci-fi vibe. Enemies are impressively alien, adding a layer of unease and excitement to combat encounters.
The atmosphere is enhanced by fantastic sound design and immersive voice acting, making it clear that a lot of care went into the presentation. At its core, the combat in Project Tachyon is engaging and fun. The core loop of battling enemies and bosses is tight and satisfying, with fluid controls and a variety of attack mechanics. Bosses come with unique and challenging mechanics, encouraging mastery of the game’s systems.
The game’s difficulty spikes are notable; early bosses may feel overwhelming, but with practice, you’ll gradually become stronger and more capable, leading to satisfying victories. However, for those using a controller, it’s advisable to remap the controls for a more intuitive experience. For instance, swapping the primary fire button to the RT, charge shot to RB, and melee to X can make combat flow more smoothly. The challenge comes from learning the mechanics, as each death feels like a step toward mastery rather than frustration.
The game’s weaponry starts strong with the Pulse Rifle, a reliable starter that serves well throughout the early stages. However, the balance between weapons needs improvement. Many alternative weapons feel niche or gimmicky, and compared to the Pulse Rifle, they often underperform in terms of damage and utility. This imbalance means players may find themselves gravitating toward the Pulse Rifle for its superior DPS, leading to a lack of meaningful weapon diversity. In terms of progression,
Project Tachyon introduces roguelike elements, with players unlocking new upgrades and weapons as they progress. While this idea is solid, the game stumbles with its weapon and upgrade system. Unlocking new abilities and weapons can be a grind, and the difficulty of acquiring permanent upgrades is high. The initial stages often feel slow, with many abilities locked behind a significant amount of playtime. By the time players unlock the Research Center and start getting upgrades, they may feel like the early stages were unnecessarily drawn out.
The random modifiers that shape each run can be a source of frustration. Some negative modifiers are avoidable, but others create situations where the game feels unfair. For instance, I once received a modifier requiring me to complete two battles in 180 seconds, only to face a boss that would take much longer to defeat with my build. These kinds of mismatched challenges can be aggravating, and there’s a sense of randomness that sometimes feels more punishing than strategic. Additionally, the game’s roguelike systems, such as the random gene modifiers, can sometimes feel like a game of luck rather than skill. Malignant genes—debuffs that need to be dealt with—are a significant challenge, but their effects are hard to counter, and the lack of consistent power-ups can make progress feel more frustrating than rewarding.
While the gameplay itself is engaging, Project Tachyon has issues with its controls and UI. For example, on a controller, the viewpoint movement is directly linked to character movement, making it difficult to attack while standing still or retreating. This can be particularly troublesome when trying to eliminate incoming enemy projectiles with melee attacks. Additionally, the auto-aim feature isn’t always reliable in these situations, adding to the frustration. The game’s difficulty curve could also use some fine-tuning. Even in “Agent Mode” (easy mode), the challenge remains steep, and there’s a lack of consistent progression that would allow new players to feel like they are getting stronger with each death. Some players have reported that they feel like they’re restarting from scratch after each death, which can lead to a loss of motivation, especially when early stages offer minimal rewards for progression.
PROJECT TACHYON - 1.0 Launched on February 13, 2025!
Platform: PC (Steam) Price: $17.99 USD
Link:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2905790/PROJECT_TACHYON/
Project Tachyon is an action-packed sci-fi roguelike with a lot of promise.