cross-posted from: https://lemmy.zip/post/61531915
I was watching some random YouTube video that was listing arcade games for some reason (I honestly don’t even remember what the video was) and they mentioned a game called Cyber-Lip. I’d never heard of it before but it looked cyberpunk to me so I had to dig deeper. Apparently it’s a Neo-Geo arcade game made by SNK in 1990. It’s basically a mix between Contra and Metal Slug, except Metal Slug came out in 1996 (also made by SNK). So I guess this game must’ve been SNK trying out the Metal Slug formula.
Anyway, I have no idea what “Cyber-Lip” means, and I’m not entirely sure this game is cyberpunk beyond the first level. Except the main character is definitely a 90’s cyberpunk:
But this game got me thinking… what other cyberpunk arcade games are there? As obsessed as I am with cyberpunk, I can only think of a couple titles that are close. There’s the Tron and Discs of Tron games, although those are mostly cyberpunk-by-proxy due to their relation to the movie. But what else is there? The Aerosmith rail-shooter Revolution X?? There’s a shoot-em-up called Last Resort whose first level looks cyberpunk to me but I don’t think the rest of the game is. And that’s all I can come up with! That’s crazy to me.
Cyberpunk was in its peak of popularity while arcade games were still popular and yet I’m not aware of any other cyberpunk arcade games. I’m obviously thinking more of the “retro” arcade games here but even if I include modern arcade games, nothing comes to mind.
So help me out, what arcade games can you remember that even might be cyberpunk?
Rather than answer your question, I’m going to tell a story that’s almost relevant (as is tradition on the internet).
The Syndicate series of games started in 1993. They were squad-based, isometric, real-time strategy games. And then EA released this game in 2012 and called it “Syndicate” since they owned the rights to that franchise. But this new game was a FPS and had nothing to do with anyone previously associated with the series.
The lead developer of the Syndicate series was so annoyed by this game that he ran a kickstarter to make his own spiritual successor to Syndicate (since he didn’t own the rights). That game is called Satellite Reign and it’s fantastic.
Again, this has almost nothing to do with the game you’re looking for. I just always like it when someone continues their work out of sheer spite.