CyberCorp Review: A Fast-Paced Co-op Looter Shooter with High Replayability

Overview: A Unique Cyberpunk Experience

“CyberCorp” is a fast-paced, isometric co-op loot-shooter set in a dystopian cyberpunk world in the 25th century. Developed with a nod to popular looter-shooters like The Division 1/2 and Ruiner, CyberCorp carves its niche by combining the addictive elements of loot-grinding, rapid movement, and engaging action gameplay—all within a top-down perspective. This blend of action, exploration, and character progression provides a fresh take on the genre, delivering a surprisingly smooth and enjoyable experience, even on platforms like the Steam Deck.

Story and Setting: Corporate Warfare in the Cyberpunk World

The game thrusts players into a bleak cyberpunk future where CyberCorp, a massive corporation, has mastered the ability to temporarily transfer human minds into artificial combat constructs known as Synths. Players assume the role of corporate agents tasked with maintaining order, retrieving valuable resources, and combating rival factions. This premise delivers a strong thematic drive to the gameplay and offers ample opportunities for lore-driven missions, all while painting a grim picture of a world controlled by powerful corporations.

Gameplay: Fluid Action and Replayable Co-op Missions

The core of CyberCorp’s appeal lies in its fast-paced, aggressive gameplay loop. The movement is fluid, the action is relentless, and the combat encourages a push-forward playstyle that requires players to adapt quickly to changing battle conditions. The isometric perspective provides a clear view of the chaotic battlefield, allowing for strategic maneuvering and quick reactions to enemy attacks. With various missions available, ranging from defending objectives to hacking security systems, the game manages to keep the experience fresh through varied objectives and environments.

The game also emphasizes equipment-based combos and diverse combat styles. Whether you prefer close-quarters combat, special skill usage, or sniping from a distance, CyberCorp supports an array of playstyles through its flexible progression and card-based weapon and armor enhancements. This customization allows for experimentation, encouraging players to find the builds that work best for their preferred strategies.

Multiplayer and Replayability: Play with Friends or Go Solo

CyberCorp is built to be enjoyed with friends. The game offers multiplayer missions, making it easy to team up with others to tackle challenges together or create tactical combos. The high replayability factor is another strong suit; with procedural level generation, every playthrough features randomized maps, enemies, loot, encounters, weather conditions, bosses, and rewards. This ensures that no two runs are ever quite the same, keeping the excitement alive for longer play sessions or quick, intense bursts of gameplay.

Combat and Controls: A Mixed Bag with Room for Improvement

The combat in CyberCorp is intense and fast-paced, but not without its flaws. While the gunplay is generally well-balanced, with satisfying feedback from both ranged and skill-based attacks, melee combat feels somewhat lacking. The melee weapons currently available do not quite capture the visceral, impactful feeling of a skilled street samurai. There’s potential for improvement here, and given the developer’s active presence and responsiveness in the game’s early access stage, it’s likely that melee combat will receive the attention it needs to reach the quality level of other top-down action games.

On the bright side, the game’s control scheme is straightforward and responsive, even on handheld devices like the Steam Deck. Movements are smooth, and the shooting mechanics translate well to various control styles, making it accessible for players of all skill levels.

Visuals and Atmosphere: A Dystopian City of the Future

CyberCorp does a commendable job in capturing the essence of its cyberpunk setting. Players get to explore diverse environments, from the gritty slums and industrial factories to high-tech laboratories and elite residential complexes. The cyberpunk aesthetic permeates the game’s visual design, with neon-lit streets, moody atmospheric effects, and detailed character models. The combination of dark tones and bright neon colors helps create an immersive experience that fits well within the genre’s expectations.

Progression and Customization: Card-Based Enhancements and Builds

The game features a card-based progression system that allows players to upgrade their Synth’s equipment—whether it’s weapons or armor enhancements. These cards serve as a means to customize and tailor a player’s build to their preferred playstyle, adding a layer of strategic depth to how players approach each mission. This flexibility makes it easier for players to adapt to different scenarios and challenges, especially when replaying missions on higher difficulties for better rewards.

Early Access: Potential for Growth and Development

It’s important to note that CyberCorp is currently in early access, which means it’s actively being developed and improved based on community feedback. The developer’s transparent communication and active engagement with the player base indicate a commitment to refining the game’s mechanics, introducing new content, and addressing any balance or gameplay issues as they arise. The game’s foundation is already solid, with great potential for growth and enhancement in areas like melee combat and mission variety.

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The Good (High-Octane Fun and Smooth Playability)

• Smooth Movement and Combat: The game’s top-down perspective delivers an engaging and fluid action experience, with responsive controls and fast-paced gameplay.
• High Replayability: Procedural level generation keeps each playthrough fresh and challenging, with randomized maps, enemies, and loot.
• Flexible Progression and Customization: The card-based upgrade system allows players to tailor their builds to match their preferred playstyles, adding depth and strategy to combat.
• Great Performance Across Devices: The game performs well on both PC and handheld devices like the Steam Deck, making it suitable for both long and short play sessions.

The Not-So-Good (Melee Combat and Room for Improvement)

• Underwhelming Melee Combat: The melee system feels lacking in impact and excitement compared to other cyberpunk titles, making hand-to-hand combat less enjoyable.
• Limited Content in Early Access: While the game is fun to play, some aspects like mission variety and enemy diversity can feel limited, though updates are likely on the horizon.
• Balancing Challenges: As with many looter-shooters, maintaining balanced gameplay between different weapon types and abilities can be tricky, requiring ongoing tweaking by the developers.