- DEVELOPER: Metacorp / Vaporware
- PUBLISHER: Movie Games S.A.
- PLATFORMS: PC
- GENRE: Boomer Shooter
- RELEASE DATE: September 12, 2025
- STARTING PRICE: 9,75€
- REVIEWED VERSION: PC
Few indie shooters manage to capture that old-school speed while still feeling unique. Beyond Sunset does it perfectly, mixing the fast, precise action of 90s shooters with the smooth movement and flashy style of modern games. It’s a clear love letter to classic Doom-style chaos, but covered in neon lights, synthwave vibes, and samurai flair.
You play as Lucy, a street samurai who wakes up from cryosleep in Sunset City, a neon-filled world full of crime, corruption, and decay. With no memories and only her fighting skills left, she’s recruited by a mysterious figure named Yuri to take on missions through the city’s dark corners. The story isn’t very deep or full of dialogue, but it gives you just enough reason to keep pushing through the action.
Fast, Fluid, and Unapologetically Violent
At its core, Beyond Sunset is all about momentum. Movement feels fast and smooth: you can dash, slide, double-jump, and wall-run through fights, cutting down or blasting anything in your path. The game’s biggest strength is its melee combat. Lucy’s katana can slice through most enemies with one clean swing, and when you mix that with dashes and jumps, it creates a flow that feels powerful and satisfying.
Guns are there too, but they take a step back compared to melee. You get pistols, shotguns, and plasma rifles, but none of them hit quite as hard as the katana. Still, shooting adds some nice variety, especially when you face enemies that attack from a distance or fly around. There are also light RPG elements as you can upgrade Lucy’s weapons and abilities, unlocking new skills and small bonuses. It’s not deep like Deus Ex, but it gives a nice sense of progress as you play.
The game is split into five main chapters, each with a mix of big open arenas, tight hallways, and tall areas built for fast movement. These levels push you to experiment with speed and flow instead of slowly clearing every room. Some spots hide side paths or secrets for you to find, while others throw you straight into intense action meant to test your reflexes.
Rough Edges
Even with all its style and energy, Beyond Sunset isn’t perfect. The interface and HUD can feel a bit too busy visually, filling the screen with effects that make it hard to see what’s going on during fast fights. Some weapon animations also lack impact, so early combat can feel a little weak until you unlock stronger weapons or upgrades.
There are also a few rough spots with balance and performance. Some bosses have too much health, turning fights into long battles, and a few technical issues still show up even after the 1.0 release. Frame rate drops, strange enemy behavior, and small clipping bugs can break the flow now and then. Beyond Sunset’s pixelated cyberpunk look and heavy neon colors give it a clear identity that sets it apart from most modern retro shooters. The synthwave soundtrack ties it all together, pushing each fight forward with strong bass and nostalgic melodies that perfectly match the game’s fast rhythm.
The story does its job but doesn’t leave much of an impression. It mostly exists to move the action forward, with Lucy kept as a simple, mysterious character. Some players might wish the game explored its world and story a bit more. Overall, there’s nothing groundbreaking here — it works well enough, it’s fun for a while, but it does start to feel repetitive toward the end.
Verdict
Beyond Sunset is a fast-paced shooter that fully embraces chaos and speed. It might not be the most polished or story-heavy game, but it makes up for that with pure momentum, energy, and style. If you enjoyed Dusk, Turbo Overkill, or Ghostrunner, you’ll feel right at home here. It’s a game that rewards fast reflexes, precision, and flow – perfect for anyone who wants to get lost in a neon blur of action and music.
Pros
- Fast & Fluid Movement: Momentum-based dashes, slides, wall-runs, and double-jumps make traversal exhilarating and skill-driven.
- Excellent Melee Combat: The katana-based system feels powerful and satisfying, blending rhythm, timing, and agility.
- Unique Cyberpunk Style: Pixelated neon visuals and samurai-inspired aesthetics create a distinct retro-futuristic identity.
- Immersive Synthwave Soundtrack: Pulsing beats and nostalgic melodies amplify every encounter and movement sequence.
- Dynamic Level Design: Open arenas and vertical layouts encourage experimentation and fast-paced improvisation.
Cons
- Overly Busy HUD: The screen can become cluttered, making it difficult to track action during high-speed combat.
- Uneven Early Combat: Some weapon animations lack weight before upgrades, leading to a slow start.
- Boss Balance Issues: Certain encounters drag on too long due to inflated enemy health and limited variety.
- Performance Hiccups: Occasional frame drops and minor bugs disrupt the otherwise smooth flow.
- Shallow Storytelling: The plot serves mainly as backdrop, leaving the world and characters underdeveloped.
Review copy provided by the publisher
3.8
