The 2D shmup is alive and kicking, with games like CYGNI: All Guns Blazing adding to the rare-yet-still-breathing mix.

Published by Konami and developed by KeelWorks, the upcoming 2D twin-stick vertical scroller title has a release date worldwide: 6 August for PC, Xbox Series, and PlayStation 5. This was announced via Konami’s release date trailer which focuses on the shmup female pilot for some reason.

Cool Gradius easter egg though.

Moving past that, this shmup’s got it all: seemingly-intuitive controls, next-gen visuals, loads of routes to power-up your 2D shmup ship, and epic boss fights with the appropriate amount of bullet hell (danmaku) to contend with.

Key features, a new trailer with the game’s main pilot dancing & prepping, and 8-minutes of actual gameplay for CYGNI: All Guns Blazing are below. If you are into 2D shmups, this may be a title you may want to pay attention to. Hopefully, the game cost tax (common in Japan imports that made it in SEA) does not hit this game.

• With next-generation visuals, animation, and special effects CYGNI is a new benchmark in cinematic shoot ’em ups.
• Be the lone fighter battling through intensely hostile levels filled with waves of air and ground assaults.
• Choose where to route power on the fly switching between shields (defensive) or weapons systems (offensive).
• Collect energy to power up your ship and energize weaponry from hard-hitting nukes to inescapable vortex bombs.
• Launch air-to-air and air-to-ground attacks as you traverse neon-lit metropolises, moon-like landscapes and even outer space.
• Go one-on-one against gargantuan enemies in cinematically epic boss battles.
• Full orchestral score and immersive sound design.