Tyrian 2000

it crashes my PC. Well it is an old game, running under DOSBox, so that can be expected, but still sad :/

I'll keep this brief. The music is fantastically 90's, and the game itself remains visually relevant. Not to mention that it's two games in one. <u>Don't forget to type DESTRUCT at the title screen.</u> There are other "cheats" available as well. I spent a lot of time on this arcade game, and it never hurts to have a player two with you on this one. Only one computer needed, if you like getting close.

one of my favorites :)

Though I'm not a huge aficionado of the genre, this is easily one best Scrolling Shooters I've ever played. The music ranges from good to excellent, and really gets your blood pumping when it wants to. The visuals are pretty good; it's very obviously a relic of the VGA era, but manages to be colorful enough throughout. The game actually has a story, and it has a few interesting spins on science fiction, and even video games in general. The actual writing is top-notch; there are a lot of good jokes in the data cubes that you read. The best, though, is the gameplay. There are a ton of different weapons available: front weapons, back weapons, left and right weapons, and even new fighter models, engines, and shield generators. You don't lose your weapons when you die - or even your progress, really; you have multiple save files and there is no lives system - and can upgrade them so long as you have the cash. Just buy something you really hate? No problem; you can exchange it in for a FULL refund! The game gives you the freedom to experiment with different options and layouts, and has a ton of choices to make that meaningful. The actual stages vary in degree of difficulty, but a lot of it is shield management. Your shield regenerates depending upon your engine power, but each ship also has armor, which takes permanent damage if your shield is out. This leads to some strategic gameplay, where sometimes, taking a shot is the best option. If you enjoy, or even just don't hate Vertically-Scrolling Shooters, you owe it to yourself to give this a try; it's a dream come true!

I know other people say this isn't configured well on GOG, and personally I hate playing this on a mouse and keyboard. It was meant for an aracade cabinet, but the fact that GOG is giving this to you for free is pretty cool. Despite growing up in the 90s and early 2000s I was lucky enough to be exposed to some classic arcades where I was growing up and I love top-down shooters. They're simultaneously mindless since you get to just lean on the fire button and leave it there, but also strategic and intuitive. If you're a fan of the genre, be thankful this is free to play. Enjoy!