Vyros Review

Computers calculate and operate at light speed, so it's a bit distressing when it's up to a slow, inelegant human to save the world from an AI rampage. Nevertheless, that's where we are with Vyros, a unique puzzle/shooting game from Sugar Devil Studios.

Sound out the name of Vyros to get a hint about the nature of its story. The "Vyros AI" has spread throughout the world's computer networks and subsequently gained control. Players need to destroy each replicated vyros the clean out the world's networks and give humanity back its access to its programs, research, and naughty pictures.

Appropriately, each puzzle (that is, each "vyros") is a complicated, multi-tiered object that looks like a cell gone out of control. Layers of steely mesh criss-crosses a nucleus that must be destroyed - but it can't be gotten rid of until its protective layers are peeled away.

The layers are covered by colored nodes. Players select same-colored projectiles and blast away the shielding. It's far harder than it sounds, since the entire vyros is constantly rotating. Players can also rotate the structure but drawing a bead on the nodes takes patience and skill, not unlike slowly creeping after a prey animal. Anyone that gets really good at Vyros can play some crazy user-made levels - though the tutorial alone is certainly challenge enough, especially since it offers the choice of a time limit.

Vyros feels good to play. Slowly zeroing in on a node and then destroying it with a heavy "poof!" while watching layers peel away is satisfying. It does have one major issue, however: players need to have one finger on the screen while shooting projectiles at nodes. Otherwise, the gun won't fire. It's weird and a bit awkward, though practice does make perfect after a while.

Be prepared to figure things out alone, though: Vyros' tutorial isn't the world's greatest (watching the instructional video located in-game is definitely advised).

Vyros is sleek, challenging, compelling, and pretty gosh darn tricky. It's a free download that supplies a lengthy tutorial and a challenge stage. There's definitely enough content on tap for players to decide if they want to make a full purchase - which they well might, once they get the hang of things.