Sentry City

I really wanted to like Sentry City, but you can't force yourself to like it. And.. It just gets.. tedious and frustrating to the point that I simply had to walk away from it. The pixel art and soundtrack are fantastically done, and the story is decently told throughout the game as well. The level design is punishing, and I wouldn't really consider the game a precision platformer. There are just so many times the game gets absolutely crazy difficult due to the placement of enemies and required jumps. Combat is fine for the most part, but the enemies all have an advantage over you. Your main enemies can shoot at angles, which is something you can't do. That's just an example. I made it to level 12 and just couldn't keep trying as I was taking breaks between the levels due to finding the level design frustrating. Ultimately the game ended up not being for me, but if you like difficult platformers this might be for you.

I still give a positive review for encouragement, because some of the issues seem easy to fix, and they really should be. But I'll start with the positive. It's a pretty decent run'n'gun, with cover-shooting mechanics which work surprisingly well. I think the levels could use those a bit more, but the level design is overall varied and sometimes interesting in other ways. It can even be puzzle-like at times, thanks to enemies being able to shoot each other. Some levels have atrocious enemy placement though, especially considering the insta-death and lack of checkpoints in later levels. This is mainly due to the fact our character can only shoot forwards, while everything else can shoot you diagonally, and at greater distance. It feels like this doesn't really fit the cover-shooting gameplay. Speaking of enemies, they can shoot as soon as they appear on the screen, or even from outside the screen, which causes unavoidable deaths. They can also appear on your character, or next to you and immediately attack which kills you anyway. The visibility isn't that great in that regard. Similarly, sometimes you can't see what's beneath you, so you jump into a pit. There are plenty of deaths…

I really like this game. It's difficult in an old-fashioned, headbangy, trial and error sort of way but feels very consistent and fair. If you enjoy that sort of challenge, I recommend it

Just played it, I really liked the game. Beat the first Boss. I think it plays well, looks good and is challenging.

The challenge this game gives you makes it so nostalgic and fun for me. Between the shooting, ammo control, timing, jumping, and different enemies/bosses, it'll have you hooked on overcoming the odds and getting to the next checkpoint. But even the minute details seem purposefully for more interesting gameplay, such as not being able to move while reloading. On first play-through, I love that you can't just blaze through it and shoot everything in sight and advance like an unstoppable god. The art in this game is obviously a strong-point. The lighting, cyberpunk pixel art, and the "cut-scenes" are sick. Even going from one level to the next (that motorcycle scene is worthy to be stared at repeatedly). Deffo recommend. Now get out there and destroy those AI rustbuckets. Feels great on steamdeck too :)

Sentry City, developed and published by Crashable Studios, is a tightly structured side-scrolling action game that blends classic platforming sensibilities with modern design touches, all wrapped in a neon-drenched cyberpunk setting. It presents itself as a deliberate throwback to older arcade-style experiences, where precision, timing, and persistence are more important than expansive systems or narrative depth. From the outset, the game makes it clear that it is less about exploration and more about overcoming carefully constructed challenges through repeated attempts and gradual mastery. The gameplay revolves around navigating a series of compact, segmented levels that function almost like individual puzzle rooms. Each section introduces a specific arrangement of enemies, hazards, and environmental elements that must be understood and executed with precision. Movement and combat are closely intertwined, requiring players to carefully position themselves while reacting to threats in real time. The controls are responsive, supporting the kind of exact inputs needed for this style of gameplay, but the margin for error is often narrow, making each mistake feel immediate and consequ…