You tired of new FPS games trying to steal all your money, dumping 1000s of god awful cringy skins that don’t fit the game’s vibe? Tired of FOMO driven weekly garbage manipulation tactics? Just want a fun, polished, fast-paced, badass motherf**ing game? Then look no further...Beyond Sunset has what you want in this dystopian era of gaming. 

From the first mission you can already tell this game respects your time and your wallet. No battle passes, no overpriced cosmetics, no filler. Just pure neon soaked cyberpunk action built on old-school shooter DNA with a slick modern edge. 

The game drops you in as Lucy, a street samurai who wakes up from a strange pod with her memories wiped. Your first steps are inside a corporate building, cold and clinical, with labs and offices, flickering lights, and guarded hallways not the rain soaked street you might expect. Even in this confined setting, the tension is high. From Mission 1, you can feel how much Lucy is outmatched, thrust into danger with barely more than her instincts, a katana, and a low power pistol she finds early on. The opening mission does more than teach the basics; it shows what Lucy is up against, begins peeling back layers of mystery, and proves that all those upgrades and weapons are more than just trinkets, they are tools for survival. It is enough to make you want to push through and see what comes next.

Gameplay in Beyond Sunset is fast, fluid, and deeply satisfying. Lucy’s mobility sets the pace. A forward dash, usable in any direction with WASD, lets you evade attacks, reposition, or close the gap with precision. The dash is balanced by a cooldown meter, which makes timing important. Combat blends ranged and melee in clever ways. Her katana is more than a sword. It generates energy for a devastating SLASH attack (press F) that lunges at enemies and can hit multiple foes in close quarters. Mastering the katana’s defensive mechanics is equally rewarding. Right click to block bullets, and if timed correctly, projectiles are deflected back at enemies, often dropping health orbs and money. This system creates a dynamic combat loop where aggressive melee, strategic defence, and movement all feed into survival and resource management. 

The weapons themselves add even more variety. The pistol you pick up early has infinite ammo and a weak standard shot, but its secondary fire charges into a powerful blast that can shatter riot shields and leave enemies open. The shotgun hits like a truck, though limited ammo makes careful use essential unless upgraded. The machine gun, inspired by the Aliens pulse rifle, tears through enemies with a blistering fire rate. None of the weapons require reloads, keeping the pace relentless and empowering you to pump out as much firepower as possible. 

Enemy variety complements these mechanics. Opponents range from nimble cybernetic thugs to heavier, dangerous foes with unique attack patterns, keeping each encounter fresh and challenging. The pulsing synthwave soundtrack and sharp sound design, from alarms and machinery hum to the clang of katana strikes, make the gameplay an immersive, adrenaline fuelled experience from start to finish. 

While Beyond Sunset excels in combat and atmosphere, it does have some frustrations. The UI scale for pickup messages is off, making them hard to read at times. Backtracking is frequent, which fits the genre, but the map system is poorly designed. The map consists of outlined mini lines, and the player icon is a barely visible green line that often blends into the environment. Whether you use the map screen or the overlay option, navigation can still be confusing. Room layouts can feel repetitive, and returning to cleared areas often triggers waves of enemies with locked doors, leading to chaotic encounters. On the first level alone, the final mission spawned over 600 enemies, which can feel overwhelming. Combined with environments that sometimes look very similar, it’s easy to get lost or feel disoriented.

Overall, Beyond Sunset delivers a thrilling cyberpunk experience that rewards skill, exploration, and strategic thinking. Its fast paced combat, deep mechanics, and immersive atmosphere make it a standout in the indie FPS scene. While navigation and enemy density can occasionally frustrate, these issues are minor compared to the adrenaline fueled fun the game consistently provides. For anyone craving a polished, stylish, and intense shooter without the corporate nonsense, Beyond Sunset is a must play.

Rating: 8 Kiwi’s out of 11