Tyrian 2000

While the game is good, it permanently spams the right key on some systems. 1/5.

good

Tyrian 2000 is okay, I guess. I has it's merits and flaws, but is otherwise quite generic in most regards. The most interesting feature is Campaign Mode, where the normal arcade style shoot-em up is adjusted so that instead of gathering power-ups during the level, you collect credits which are used to improve your ship. This provides a more linear progression of power, rather than requiring the memorization and/or luck Arcade style seems to feature. However, Campaign Mode does have a few flaws, which makes it hard to play. The first of these is that while there is some choice on how to progress through the levels within each episode, this is quite limited. It is also easily overridden by finding a secret level, which doesn't just provide an extra choice of what level to play after the next one, but actually forces you to play the secret level, even if the level is actually harder then the level it replaces (and it normally is). With no way to go back to earlier levels, unless you are highly skilled or have a powerful ship - which isn't always the case - this can actually get in the way of a decent game, and force backtracking to an earlier save point - assuming you have one. Another flaw is that the game doesn't allow you to keep any of your progress, even if you fail a level, so you can't just brute force your way through each level. While this increases the difficulty level of the game, it renders any attempt which you die pointless, and some of the levels can be quite long, where a single mistake on the boss could make the whole endevour a waste of time. Secondly, it means that you can't just keep playing a level you are having difficulty with just to improve your ship, in the hopes of making future runs easier - so if you find you don't have the skill, power, or credits to complete a level, the entire game can be over. It's not quite a phyrric victory - completing a level never depletes your credits, but it is certainly possible to end up without the funds needed for a weapon or ship required for the next level, because of this factor. Hardcore shoot-em up fans will probably enjoy this, whatever mode they prefer. Others may find it's either too generic, or that the flaws get too tedious - but at least it is free, so many will give this a go at some point.

This entire game: Hold down your left mouse button. Make slight mouse adjustments to move around the screen. And that's the next 2 hours of your life, depending on how long you last before you give up bored. There's a little variety in that between levels, you can invest your winnings into upgrading your ship. The end result is you shoot blue dots instead of red dots. Yay. On and On, Level after level. Just... shooting anything that moves. Or more accurately, watching anything that moves get shot, because holding down a button can hardly be described as "shooting." I'm at a loss to explain how this game has such high reviews. Order a pizza. Watch a movie. Play Tic Tac To with yourself. Go do something better with your life.

It was FREE, & yet I feel gyped out'a the time I spent downloading, installing, & playing it... Controller response is terrible considering I'm using a monster gaming rig that's less then a year old, the graphics are bad, in any rez, AND the worst part is it's geared towards being "unfun", what do I mean by that? I mean the design of the ships size, speed, movement, & projectiles they shoot at You, coupled with Our' slow movement speed means You're gonna take hits, & feel cheated most'a the time it happens if You play A LOT of top scrolling games like this (as I have since they were the 1942's etc. in the arcades in the 80's)... You will watch Your' "shield" slowly be pecked away by CHEAP unavoidable hits, & if You're a fan of the genre, or just plain smart, You'll rage quit, & uninstall before Your' 1st death. There's about 1,000 better games in the genre, no doubt some are even on GOG too.