Cyberpulse Review (Steam)

by Jim Smale · Published July 17, 2024 · Updated July 23, 2024

Cyberpulse Review, Slam your way through waves of viruses and hurl your friends through cyberspace in this flashy arcade thrower that combines classic twin-stick action with inventive physics for an electrifying adventure. Master novel mechanics that offer a new take to a classic genre: Instead of shooting bullets, you control cyberkinetic forces to fling, yank, and blast your foes directly into molten firewalls. Use your cybership to hurl an adversary or discharge devastating power-ups and send everything flying!

Cyberpulse Review Pros:

Decent neon bright graphics.
2.56GB Download size.
Steam achievements.
Full controller support.
Graphics settings – resolution, v-sync, fullscreen, and graphics quality preset.
Three controller presets – default, sticks, and inverted.
Mouse sensitivity slider.
Two initial game modes – campaign, and versus.
Versus is up to four local players.
The campaign supports local co-op play.
Four ships – Topaz, Emerald, Amethyst, and Cobalt Falcon. (purely cosmetic)
World map level selected in the campaign mode.
Opening tutorial levels.
Online leaderboards for each level.
Collect bytes from destroyed enemies to build your multiplier.
The gimmick is you have this gravity circle in front of you, hitting enemies with this circle allows you to aim and knock them around and into other enemies.
The dash button gets you around fast and lets you dash through obstacles.
An ever charging up orbs dictate how much you can dash.
Arena-based shooter gameplay.
Has a Mutant Storm Reloaded feel and look to it rather than a Geometry Wars.
Excellent upbeat soundtrack.
You earn one to three energy cells in a level based on your score performance.
Collect power-ups and increase the size of your gravity circle.
The arenas are on a pivot and move around slightly with you.
A true arcade experience.
It’s a game where the more you play the more you learn and you can get a great deal of satisfaction.
During the campaign, you unlock and play different game mode types, and you get to choose your route through the ever-growing Web of levels.
It is a visual treat.
Does a good job of ramping the enemy and difficulty back up after a death.
Fast loading times.
Unlock alternate paths and secret stages on the campaign world map.
Arenas change shape which adds a lot to the variety.
Big clever boss battles that each has a unique gimmick or attack in it.
You fill in a list of enemies encountered and you get a bit of info on them, weak points, and it keeps a tally of how many you have killed.

Cyberpulse Review Cons:

The aiming of ships with your circle takes a lot of getting used to.
Cannot remap the controls.
No online multiplayer or Co-op.
All the flashy neon and explosions can make it really hard to distinguish between enemies, bytes, and enemy fire.
The gravity circle moves with you and isn’t controlled separately which takes some getting used to.
Not all game modes or mechanics are explained well or sometimes not at all.