Disclosure – I was given a review copy by Eclipse Games.
Tachyon Project is a dual-stick shooter with many different enemy types as well as many ship upgrades.
Graphics
The graphics are very colorful and vibrant. Each enemy type has a distinct look. There are various particle effects when you fire your ship’s weapons and when when enemies explode. The backgrounds and menus also look great.
Audio
The sound is quite good. The ship and enemies and your weapons have different sounds depending on what you’re using. Also the music can be quite relaxing. The music ramps up during the more intense parts of the game. The electronic music soundtrack fits well with the game and sounds great.
Gameplay
Tachyon project is a very solid dual-stick shooter. The game features full controller support and the controls are very responsive. The game is also playable using a keyboard and mouse but I would recommend using a controller. I played using a wired Xbox 360 controller. The game is split into two modes, a story mode and a challenge mode. In story mode you complete waves in each chapter resulting in a final wave. The waves in each chapter leading up to the final introduce new enemies. Each wave has a goal that must be achieved before moving on. These goals range from defeating a certain amount of a particular enemy type to surviving for a set amount of time. There are also cut-scenes in the game featuring a graphic novel feel with very good artwork.
Throughout the game you can unlock different upgrades for your ship. These include new weapons, increased speed, increased health and so on. I like that mines are one of the possible upgrades. The proximity mine is especially fun to use. Drop one near a large group of enemies to wipe out a ton of them with one attack.
The challenge mode is fun as well. These challenges include a limitless mode where you try to survive for as long as possible, a stealth mode as well as a timed challenge. Online leaderboards are also included.
Overall
Overall Tachyon is a very solid and competently made dual-stick shooter. Whether you want to play a quick challenge or dive into the story there is something here for everyone. The game works for both short and extended gaming sessions. A great addition to the dual-stick genre.
Tachyon project is available for Xbox One and PC through Steam.