We played Beyond Sunset, a game that can be described as DOOM on steroids, mixed with cyberpunk and Deus Ex elements. The result is a fun first-person shooter (FPS), with RPG elements, where the action never stops for a second (except in cutscenes, which cannot be skipped). For someone who grew up on DOOM, Medal of Honor, Wolfenstein, and similar FPS games, this game is a true retro refresh among games with modern graphics. Someone who has never played DOOM or older Wolfenstein games might even be unprepared for this chaotic, fast-paced world with a bit of pixelation, but a lot of action. The developers are Metacorp / Vaporware, whose only success is Beyond Sunset. It was released in early access back in 2023, but now it has come out in full and final glory. The producers listened to or read the comments of players at the time, and they have polished some things in the meantime.
The main character of this game is Lucy (you will learn everything about her, whether you want to or not, due to the inability to skip cutscenes). She is an enhanced street samurai who loses all her memories and, through battles with yakuza, robots, ninjas, and zombies, tries to regain those memories. To discover the ending and whether she succeeds, you will need about 8 hours of gameplay. The setting is Sunset City. It is impressive and huge, especially for this type of game. Some areas may seem overly simplistic, but everything is combined in a fun way and connected by vibrant colors that easily catch the eye, and the game never visually becomes boring. We can say that the world is semi-open-world, where we can move relatively freely, but we know what our mission is and what needs to be done, so there is some linearity that always guides us.
The playability is very good, but sometimes aiming with weapons can be quite awkward. Using the pistol is rather clumsy, aiming doesn’t always work right away, but at least we can "charge" it, meaning we can charge it for a few moments, and when we release the button, we can destroy the shields of opponents. Personally, I found it more fun to fight with a machete, as long as you can, because the opponents gradually become stronger and stronger. The best thing about using the machete is that you can deflect bullets with it. The fights are mostly in the style of arena battles, where opponents appear (a line and line and line of opponents), and you generally cannot go anywhere until you deal with every last one of them. Taking down one opponent at a time is easy, but when dozens of opponents appear, you need to move and tackle them tactically. Blood trails on the walls remain even when you later return to the same area, which is another interesting and well-thought-out detail. The "boss" battles are interesting and quite challenging, and the path to the "bosses" is never direct – you need to solve puzzles and gradually reach them. The music is excellent, futuristic, and for me, the biggest connection to the game Cyberpunk 2077, as it irresistibly reminds me of the music from that game. At least the industrial, techno part of the Cyberpunk soundtrack.
The game is made in the GZDoom engine, which is a heavily modified version of the original DOOM engine, designed for more modern games of that type, but in the style of the old DOOM. It is quite impressive to see DOOM mechanics with a slightly more modern color contrast and more content to explore. DOOM is a very linear game, while in Beyond Sunset there is exploration and some wandering in a semi-open world. In conclusion, the developers Metacorp / Vaporware have managed to create a fun game that we played with a dose of nostalgia. It is proof that for something fun and full of action, modern graphics and a lot of pixels are not necessary. Do you agree with that, and have the producers of this game succeeded in their intention to create a modern DOOM? Find out for yourself as the game is available on Steam.
A copy of the game for review purposes was provided by the publisher Movie Games S.A.
