Cybarian: The Time Travelling Warrior

So let me tell you, I'm from the old school. I grew up playing games before there were save states and memory cards. When I turned off the game, I knew for a fact that it wasn't going to remember where I left off. This is how it is in Cybarian: The Time Travelling Warrior, a fun new throwback game that reminds me a lot of 16-bit classics like Rastan and The Legendary Axe. It's a punishingly brutal side-scroller with no save slots, passwords or level selects. That's the kind of thing that won't appeal to everybody, but if you're up for the challenge, you're going to find a lot to like about this charming new action game.

This is one of those games where the name says it all. You play a Conan-type action hero named Cybarian who travels through time in order to battle through a dystopian future controlled by an aggressive authoritarian government. The goofy story fits in perfectly with the throwback visuals, which evoke the look and feel of classic action/adventure games from the 16-bit era. And it's not just the fantasy games that influenced Cybarian, but we also see shades of everything from Streets of Rage to Mega Man popping up.

As action games go, this one is pretty simple. The one thing you have to master at the beginning is the three-hit combo, which requires you to pay close attention to the timing. If you mash those buttons too quickly, you'll leave our hero open to attack. Timing is important here. We'll eventually be able to roll around the screen in order to avoid tougher enemies, as well as throw our sword for a ranged attack. You'll need to master these skills in order to complete all four incredibly tough stages in a single sitting.

That's right; you have to do all this in a single sitting. Like I said, this game is trying to evoke the spirit of those old 16-bit arcade and console games, and that includes giving us only a few lives, limited health and no save slots. None. The good news is that you have unlimited continues, but once you exit the game, you're going to need to start over from the very beginning. That's a hard pill to swallow at first, but the game is extremely short and the difficulty is always fair. You'll begin to memorize and understand each level and boss, making every subsequent playthrough a little easier than the last. It definitely took me a few tries, but I had no problem completing it in a single sitting.

I don't say this about enough throwback games, but Cybarian has a great ending. For a game without much of a story, the developers have managed to find a way to wrap everything up in a fun and creative way that is both satisfying and open for future installments.

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As I mentioned before, the game is short. While that's true to the spirit of the old games and good if you want to beat it without being able to save, it did leave me wishing for more content. There are only four stages, which is short even compared to something like The Legendary Axe or Streets of Rage. This game needs a few more stages and upgrades. And don't forget about the bosses, because those are some of the most exciting parts of the game.

On that topic, I wish the game had more time travelling. When I first heard the name, I thought we might bounce from Ancient Egypt to Rome to the Civil War. I figured there would be a wide variety of time periods and enemies, but that's not really what's going on here. Cybarian does time travels, so at least the name isn't misleading, but he basically sticks around in one time period the entire game. Although I like all four stages and the different obstacles they introduce, I feel like it's a missed opportunity not having our hero experience more time periods.

On a more positive note, I love the look of this game. There's an authenticity here that brings me right back to hanging out in the arcades. I'm a big fan of the different types of enemies and all of the 1980s chic plastered around the four stages. And it's not just the graphics, but also the catchy chiptunes soundtrack. The whole thing is delightful. Also, infuriating, but mostly delightful.