Cygnus Enterprises

[h3]RANKING:[/h3] [table] [tr] [td] [h3][b]AVOID[/b] | [strike]FLAWED | MAYBE | WORTHWHILE | COMPELLING | UNMISSABLE [/strike] [/h3] [/td] [/tr] [/table] [h3]SYNOPSIS:[/h3] [table] [tr] [th][b]ASSESSMENT:[/b][/th] [/tr] [tr] [td] Cygnus is a strange one. Its lite, unconventional mish-mash of The Sims(tm) with Helldivers style combat is conceptually great, delivering at times a captivating experience. A lack of optimisation and random CTD causing bugs make it a struggle to finish. The Avataresque setting proves a great foil for the tongue-in-cheek, sci-fi themed story. An expansive game loop starts off pleasant, but becomes somewhat unwieldy despite automation options. Character customisation provides interesting abilities for combat. Which is a blast due to a variety of weapons and their alt. fire modes. Story missions are as substantive as the action gets. Repetitive filler missions are over too quickly. Much of base management feels on-rails by being linked to the story. Difficult to enjoy, with perseverance it can be rewarding. Its a real shame but with all of its problems, sadly it would be best to [b]AVOID[/b]. [/td] [/tr] [/table] [table] [tr] [td][b]STATUS:[/b][/td] [td]Rushed to release. Playable, but unoptimised. Now abandoned [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td][b]APPEAL:[/b][/td] [td]Despite its merits, only fans who can look past its many faults and have the determination to struggle past its issues may enjoy it [/td] [/tr] [tr] [td][b]VALUE:[/b][/td] [td]No longer available on the Steam store [/td] [/tr] [/table] [quote=]Key provided by the developer through curator [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/32732116-IndieGems/][b]INDIEGEMS[/b][/url] | Click to follow for more reviews like this one. Video reviews are on our [url=https://www.youtube.com/@IndieGems2][b]YOUTUBE CHANNEL[/b][/url][/quote] [i]More info below....[/i] https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3453252752 [h3]CONTENT:[/h3] 🟡 The solitary GAME MODE consists of a CAMPAIGN of story-led missions on a WORLD MAP with a select few minor side-missions. This is buffed by a never-ending*, everchanging set of filler missions used to level-up, gain resources and a little extra inventory. 🟡 Mission LEVELS are a mix prefab maps and scripted story. They tend to be linear, but provide a little scope for exploration and avoiding non-essential areas. 🟡 Of the x3 MISSION types; story and filler combat missions are the only ones fleshed out. Objective driven and extraction looter in format. Objectives lack variety, and combat makes them feel overly repetitive. Some have timed elements. Level requisites ensure missions beyond the character's equipped inventory and capabilities are not taken on. [h3]ATMOSPHERE:[/h3] 🟡 The STORY is completely linear full of scripted combat missions with extensive cutscenes. Every element does a very good job of immersing the player in the character's predicament. The final act seems indicative of being cobbled together for a rushed release. 🟡 The alien planet provides an interesting GAMEWORLD only experienced in combat missions. Partitioned across a number of varied biomes that are unlocked through story progression. The last of which when unlocked is full of environmental hazards that give it a life above the previous three. [h3]EXPERIENCE:[/h3] 🟢 Full CHARACTER CUSTOMISATION is limited to the main character. Skill investment in x6 masteries defines the class which determines what passives, abilities and inventory become accessible. Player preference in these comes from the distinct bonuses they offer. Weapon masteries are open and levelled simply by using a weapon from the x6 types: pistol, assault weapon, precision rifle, heavy weapon or launcher. 🟢 The Helldivers style COMBAT is enjoyable. Enough tactical abilities allows players to define their preferred playstyle. A mix of impressive offensive attacks or supporting buffs such as shields or healing. Of the numerous weapons some are tremendous fun to use, especially the alt. fire modes. The final two biomes provide a bonafide set of environmental obstacles that harry the player. Possible combat states include: crits, poison, slow, vulnerable or weaken, to put the player (and AI) off-balance. 🟡 BASE BUILDING is without complexity. Every building is necessary to the overall management of the colony which is limited to: inventory crafting & production, base power, visitor demands, resource production & collection. Since there are no alt. building strategies it kind of feels on-rails. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3453252196 [h3]MECHANICS:[/h3] 🟡 NPCS can be invited to the resort and recruited as EMPLOYEES to man buildings to boost their output. While they cannot be added to the character's party and taken on missions, they can be assigned to hands-off EXPEDITIONS instead. 🔴 Aspects of VISITOR HAPPINESS are not fully fleshed out, as preferences never rise to include endgame inventory or recipes. Too few buildings included to affect this beyond a basic level. 🟢 The range of INVENTORY is cool and the need to change happens organically. Across the x5 weapon categories an auto-seeking rocket launcher, laser cutter and miniguns are the most impressive. Some alt. fire modes devastatingly fun. Armour is class dependent. 🟢 Being able to RESPECC skill point investment or craft EXTRA LIVES by spending resources in the cloning facility is v. useful. 🟢 The FISHING minigame is remindful of the one in Torchlight. [h3]CHALLENGE:[/h3] 🟢 ENEMIES are beasties and technological. Both possess a raft of abilities and attacks. Though organic foes are reskins with similar abilities across biomes. Technological foes ability to disappear and teleport is particularly impressive. 🟡 The AI works on a simple premise, go on all out attack when within sight of its target. Foes with distinct abilities use them well. It works in a herd mentality. [h3]COMPLEXITY:[/h3] 🟡 DIFFICULTY - Initially its trivial due to the on-rails nature of the first act. By around mid-game some combat encounters become tricky, especially story ones. Final missions require the best equipment and a high level character. 🟡 BALANCE - Depends on the character's equipment level and the region missions are being undertaken. 🟡 PACE - Action limits per day ensure the player doesn't get too bogged down doing too much per game day. The more intensive aspects of base mgmt can be also be automated to a degree. Short missions ensures a fast tempo. 🟢 SCALING - Is organic as regions are unlocked with requisite equipment. Base-building is scripted and feels heavy at the start, lulls in the middle and picks up in the final act. The availability of new facilities is hardwired into the story. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3453536650 [h3]PRODUCTION:[/h3] 🔴 QUALITY - Many bugs at release. Numerous remain and spoil the experience to different levels. Incorrect item descriptions. Some achievements trigger too early. Several achievements appear glitchy. Much of the game has some polish but more QoL is needed. 🔴 OPTIMISATION - Though my specs are supported fps was between 1 and 46. It needs every byte of the 8GB RAM and some gamers with better specs have complained about optimisation. 🟡 STABILITY - Experienced a dozen or so crashes. Linked to scripted story missions. Progressing a game day and trying the same mission again seemed to rectify the problems. Never closed down properly. [table][tr] [td]Click for:[/td] [td][h1][url=https://steamcommunity.com/groups/TheIrregularGamer/discussions/0/592892850991110436/]Full Review[/url][/h1][/td] [/tr][/table] [table] [tr] [td][b]REVIEWED WITH:[/b][/td] [td]Build v1.00.20 INTEL i5 6600 3.3GHz, 8GB RAM, GTX970 4GB @ 1920x1080 fullscreen, EVO850 SSD [/td] [/tr] [/table] [quote=]Thank you for reading | Click to follow my curator[url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/40556040-The-Irregular-Gamer/] THE IRREGULAR GAMER[/url][/quote]