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Retro Monday – Cybernator

Cybernator is a 2D platformer/shooter released on the SNES in 1992 and was known in Japan as Assault Suits Valken. The game has some great visual effects and detailed sprites both in the foreground and background which have a cool retro futuristic look which was popular at the time in other games and anime and the soundtrack has some cool and catchy synth rock sounding tunes.

Unfortunately for me actually playing it isn’t a great experience. It isn’t objectively broken but I feel that using the D-Pad to move back and forth as well as aim the gun at targets coming from all directions is a bit of a pain. I understand why it’s like it due to the SNES controller layout but it’s just awkward, especially from the second stage onwards when you control all those things as well as vertical movement.

While I personally couldn’t get on with the controls I would say you should try it yourself, even if just to experience it’s interesting concepts and movement/combat mechanics. This game would be greatly improved with a modern control scheme; if you had a dual analogue stick set up where one controls movement and the other controls shooting it would be much more engaging.

Verdict: Neutral.