Polybius (2017) · Tastebuds

Polybius is the latest trance-shooter from the creators of Tempest 2000 and TxK, Llamasoft.

Arcade Action abstract art stylePlayStation 4, PlayStation VR, PC (Microsoft Windows)

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Character

Grave, plot-driven, spare and intimate.

gravecomic
character-ledplot-driven
sparerichly built
intimateepic
cooloverwhelming

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From the critics

A few lines from each review; the whole review is on the critic's site. Not part of Tastebuds's numbers.

Hardcore GamerJames CunninghamDec 20184.5/5
Polybius looks like a frenetic shooter that constantly has the player in a state of heightened tension, but the truly amazing thing about it is that it's almost the complete opposite in actual play.
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Metro GameCentralMay 20179/10
A superb distillation of every arcade game Jeff Minter has ever worked on, creating one of the definitive action games of the current generation.
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Push SquareAlex StintonMay 20179/10
Polybius is an excellent trance shooter which deftly delivers just enough sensory overload to thrill but not frustrate. While the lack of clarity about just what's happening on screen makes for a small but intended bump in the road, it's the strong core gameplay – which steadily introduces interesting twists to its formula the longer you play – stellar soundtrack, and excellent PlayStation VR support that'll blow your mind in all the right ways.
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DestructoidJordan DevoreMay 20178/10
Even though it ended on a sour note for me with a few too many elements snowballing into an avalanche of hair-pulling frustration, on the whole, Polybius had me in a trance. I'm happy just thinking about it. PlayStation VR owners, Jeff Minter fans, and arcade enthusiasts need to get in on this.
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Digital ChumpsEric LaymanMay 20178/10
Polybius' tempestuous pace and kaleidoscopic assault indulge its urban legend while its principled operation betrays its sinister infamy. It's a spiraling supersonic tunnel shooter that only seems like it's bulldozing cognitive ability, and parsing its putative chaos tips its scale from pandemonium to precision. By allowing fury to give way to Zen, Polybius lives up to its legend.
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Snippets via OpenCritic, where 100% of critics recommend it.

About the game

Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation VR, PC (Microsoft Windows)
Developer: Llamasoft LTD
Publisher: Llamasoft LTD
Released: May 9, 2017
Modes: Single player
Perspective: Virtual Reality

IGDB rating 7.0/10 from 2 ratings.

Screenshots

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