## Review: Cybergames By Cyberpunk Developments

### By: Jason Compton

Anybody remember Barbarian? It was a C-64 game that involved two players hacking, slashing, and cutting off each other's head.

Barbarian, meet the 90s. Cybergames is a battle-duel type game of the Barbarian/Mortal Kombat/etc. etc. genre, two players on a two-dimensional profile field beating the hell out of each other.

Important to note is that now it's the 90s and you can't really expect to get through the whole game with the same weapon, as you might have years ago in Barbarian. Now, the object is to beat the hell out of your opponent, preferably with fairly difficult moves like kicks and body cuts, to earn money to buy better weaponry and...body parts.

Yes, the "Cyber" in Cybergames means you're in a William Gibsonish future world in which body parts are readily exchanged for cybernetic improvements. If all goes well, you'll go from a guy in a loincloth with a wimpy sword to a chrome monster with an electric field mace-ish thing by the end of the game.

Because the Cybergames are a long series of duels in which you try to become the champion by beating the hell out of a few dozen computer opponents (you can also duel against a friend indefinately). Each opponent comes with a picture (that looks to be in the obscure PCHG format, but don't quote me) and a little blurb, like "Kill..." to tune you in to their "personality".

Unfortunately, you see an awful lot of totally robotic opponents with only "Silent" to say, and pretty much everyone fights the same, other than having different weaponry and body parts.

Falling objects like pools of fire and proximity mines, as well as a set of climbing bars overhead from which you can kick your opponent, give the old format enough of a boost to keep the concept fresh, as do the missile weapons you can buy and fire at your opponent.

It's a pity that the control system is so unpredictable-combinations of moves are certainly possible, but the program seems to have a difficult time reconciling a held fire button, leaving you to click away in frustration as you get your head cut off for failing to finish off the other guy.

The graphics are colorful enough for ECS, but the animation leaves a bit to be desired in the "fluid" category. These guys don't really walk like people do.

I have a lot on my wish list for Cybergames. As it stands, it is an excellent sucessor to the Barbarian line, and while only having the stock finishing move of the severed head (which, by the way, is quite entertaining) might even attract a dedicated fan of the Mortal Kombat line.

Cybergames is "PAL and sort of NTSC", meaning that for the full screen display you should really use PAL, but NTSC is acceptable for playing.

Cybergames is pretty much a shareware steal at $15, and a demo is available from Aminet, in game/misc.