CyberHeroes Arena DX | PS4 Review

What makes "Vampire Saviors" so addictive, and attractive to gamers? That's what I've wondered since that game's inception on Microsoft's consoles/platforms. Unfortunately, until now, neither Sony nor Nintendo has released their own trending take on this new genre. Thankfully though with "CyberHeroes Arena DX" Ratalaika Games remedies this. We finally get to experience what all the hype was about with these roguelike auto-battlers, and while it may not be as good as "Vampire Saviors", graphically, it still manages to hit that dopamine craving just the same through it's given features. 

Without a plot, and with distinct characters that can be unlocked, "CyberHeroes Arena DX" delivers on it's namesake. Pitting you, an armed robot, against a cybernetic army in a timed wave after wave battle for survival within an arena. The only thing keeping you alive being your ability to dodge enemy impact through careful movement, your health points, and the ability to use coin to purchase the skills, and stat boosts needed to deliver the screen clearing blow. Each wave you face growing more intense, and the rewards for efforts rendered more profitable. Simultaneously upping the cost for upgrades with each reroll as you make it further and further into the playthrough.

In the beginning, when you boot up 'CyberHeroes Arena DX', you'll be tasked with choosing a robot from a selection of unlockable robots. The only difference outside of cosmetic changes being their base trio of stats. Something that can be improved upon with coin and survival later on. As the robot hero/heroine you start off by buying, with your limited coin, a couple of starter cards. These cards include automated skills, and stats/performance boosts. Improving upon your arsenal with skills that can have bonus effects, and upgrading stats like speed, critical hits, and health regen to increase survivability potential. Stuff that can be stacked the longer you survive, and in between timed waves.

The catch to gameplay, or it's gimmick, is that you do not control your robot's usage of skills, but instead control it's movement. Your robot is placed in a static arena wherein spawning enemies attempt to swarm or shoot it. Dealing damage to the robot's limited health points upon contact or shot. As the robot you must dodge these threats to a ticking timer while allowing the auto-battler system to do it's thing, and clear paths for you amidst the hordes of enemies. Enemies, as the main threat, do vary in type and size, and will increase in aggressiveness as well as number the further you make it. Adjusting the challenge in sync with your increasingly powerful robot.

Rewards for surviving the waves, and the threats therein include coins that can be spent on the previously mentioned cards which contain skills and stat boosts. leaving the unlockable robots as a bonus objective for mission objectives reached. That and the PSN trophies for successful milestones met. Alternatively coins can also be earned by completing missions that are outlined in the game's shop hub via a listing of their own. Things like the numbers of enemies killed, and waves survived will reward you with bonus coins on top of your base earnings. With some cards that are bought you can even increase profitability. Ultimately increasing the amount of coins rewarded after each successfully survived wave. A must if you hope to afford further card rerolls which increase in cost with each reroll.

The Verdict ...

Having not played "Vampire Saviors", but having experienced "CyberHeroes Arena DX" which is basically the same thing I've found myself not as addicted as I thought I'd be. The game is based on mindless fun, and longevity, but sacrifices design variety in the process. Feeding, lightly so, into the dopamine reward system in which we feel satisfaction for achieving the seemingly impossible while being overpowered for the feat. Continuously feeding us empowering perks that increase our ability to stay in the game, and continually having us gambling for the rerolls we need to go even further. In essence perpetuating an endless cycle of risk and reward that only stops when the player reaches the final wave.

Despite the hook of it all I felt the gameplay in 'CyberHeroes Arena DX' was repetitive, a grind, and not really as rewarding as it was meant to be. It lacked infinite replay value, and a proper survival mode. Looking back critically I think there are ways this genre, and this game could be improved to that end though. It includes (as bad as I hate to say it) a character gacha system with new characters constantly being released, the perfect graphical and soundtrack choices, a scoring system with leaderboards, an infinite survival mode, more expansive skill sets, and boss battles with their own unique gimmicks. Above all else variety is king, and the greater the variety of features the longer player investment will be sustained. 

Visit my YouTube channel for some gameplay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fBO0TGvdEo