Wrapped around an intriguing storyline, Xyanide offers standard fare for the SHMUP genre, including almost necessary co-op play. It's obvious influences are spread liberally, and with only a few unique concepts to carry itself, even die-hard fans will have a tough time appreciating this title. Xyanide is a case of coming close without fully realizing its potential.

Presented in multiple viewpoints to keep the game visually interesting, Xyanide uses both analog sticks for combat. The left stick moves, the right stick fires. On top of rapidly passing, nausea-inducing backdrops with nearly zero interaction programmed into it, players take on a unique roster of ships on their quest to deliver a witch to her execution (when of course things go horribly wrong). Boss battles are frequent, and actually require some strategy to pass through unscathed.

Problems become apparent in single player. The games difficulty is near the ridiculous level, even on the easiest setting available. It's not a matter of lack of skill or abusive enemy patterns — It's the amount of damage one player can cause. The first level boss requires an astonishing level of destruction before lighting up in a gorgeous fireball. A timer alerts the player to the hazard, and if it's not destroyed in time, it's an unavoidable death. With a partner, there's no need for the timer. You can take it down in record time.

It's beyond frustrating to deal with cheap deaths, especially when the levels come dangerously close to setting world records for length. With some stages nearing the 20-minute mark, dying and replaying is not a strong prospect for enjoyment. This is especially dull when the environments constantly cycle through more times than you can count on your fingers.

Certain moments in the game offer branching paths, though knowing where these come into play relies more on being in the right place at the right time than any conscious decision. Different areas never really look new or varied aside from enemy patterns or an additional boss fight. As such, the environments have no effect on game play to the average player. The lack of interaction takes away from the title, giving this budget shooter a "pasted on" feel.