Steam launch: Cyberpunk-themed Doom-inspired shooter launches to "Very Positive" reviews
After years of development (and a brief stint in early access), Beyond Sunset is out now on Steam, with a frenetic mix of retro-inspired gunplay, katana duels, and a neon atmosphere. Built by indie studio Metacorp and published by Movie Games, the title takes the DNA of classic ’90s shooters and splices it with cyberpunk role-playing. The result is a game that feels both familiar and new.
You play as Lucy, a cybernetically augmented fighter who wakes without her past and is thrown into a city pulsing with corruption, gangs, and warring corporations. The narrative is deliberately fragmented at first, asking players to piece together who she is while carving through enemies with a combination of high-caliber firearms and an energy blade.
As expected, the combat is very key to the whole experience. Shotguns, chainguns, and plasma-style weapons take care of the explosive side of battles, while the katana creates a rhythm which is rarely seen in this genre. Attacks can chain into dashes and parries, which forces players to constantly move, dodge, and look for openings. It’s a solid hybrid of classic boomer shooter design and modern mobility-heavy combat.
Unlike many retro-style shooters that have straightforward campaigns, Beyond Sunset has more of an RPG structure. Alongside side quests and dialogue choices, upgrade paths allow Lucy to unlock new cyber enhancements, so you can also experiment with different playstyles. The branching elements don’t really overwhelm the action, but they should add a sense of progression beyond simply blasting through levels.
Visually, the game has a lo-fi pixel aesthetic drenched in neon, rightfully complimented by heavy synthwave music. The music (by Karl Casey and other artists) does just as much work as the visuals, going by the reviews so far.
Beyond Sunset is priced at $7.49 on Steam post a 25% launch discount.
