It's the future! Humanity is, predictably, under attack by extraterrestrial forces and our only shot at survival is a ship that's never actually flown and a pilot (or two) foolhardy enough to take to the skies! Fight your way through five shoot-em-up stages full of an increasingly-ridiculous number of enemies (or, as we like to call them, "potential explosions"). Switch between your weapons on the fly to either cover a lot of space with death-dealing bullets or concentrate all of your damage on those hard-to-reach areas with a locking, twisting beam! Choose between three difficulty levels and multiple game modes (from the start-at-any-level normal mode up to "I have but one life to give for my planet" survival mode). Play alone or play local co-op with a friend (or even a complete stranger that you're willing to invite into your home, if you'd like). Play with mouse/keyboard or with an XInput-compatible controller!
August is shaping up to be a nice month for shmup fans. Another solid release for lazer junkies, Procyon's value more then exceeds its budget price point.
Presentation is top notch, with polish oozing from the seams. Sharp and clean looking stages serve as a well matched backdrop to the nicely designed variety of enemy craft. Explosions, lazers and bullets are all easy to track despite the eye-catching scenery. The menu structure and interface also stand out as high quality. Briefing between stages is well done, and adds a touch of humor to the otherwise dire "alien threat to humanity" scenario.
Above all else though, the gameplay is FUN. The shield/powerup mechanic adds an interesting wrinkle to engagements with the waves of enemies you'll be encountering between climactic boss battles. I was unable to try the two player mode (which offers unique mechanics to promote teamwork) though several modes, difficulty levels and local leaderboards fill out the feature set nicely. The primary fault I can come up with is a couple of stages are a bit long, which may lead you to take the occasional break after losing your last life at the proverbial finish line.
I've been playing this game since before it was released. It is a VERY solid SHMUP with tight controls, smart level designs and a brilliant orchestral score.
Also, EPIC BENDY LAZORS!
Definitely check it out!
I played the demo. A really nice and polished game I have to say, and the difficulty is just right. I wish it had 2 levels, though. ;)