Cyberia is one of the best PC games to come out of the mid-90's and unfortunately, it's also one of the most forgotten.
The gameplay in Cyberia is actually varied quite a bit. There are two main portions to the gameplay; those of puzzle-solving and exploration, and those of action and combat. The exploration in the game involves controlling Zak through various environments solving puzzles, evading hazards, and shooting the occasional enemy grunt. Enemies are placed sparingly and utilize some basic A.I. (which was impressive for the time) which keeps the confrontations feeling fresh and exciting. The puzzles in the game also present a solid level of challenge whether you're disarming a bomb or trying to unlock a door. The action sequences of the game, on the other hand, usually take place behind the cock-pit of a plane or some other vehicle. These sequences are a bit more tense and combative than the bulk of the game and are a great way to forget about puzzles for a while and just shoot stuff. Likewise, just as you start to get tired of these sequences, the gameplay shifts back to the on-foot quest and the story starts getting serious. There's also a handful of instances where the exploration is rather open-ended, allowing you to choose which way you want to go. Some great subtle touches present themselves as well, such as optional videos to watch on computer displays and interactive objects in soldier's quarters. Cyberia is a fairly lengthy adventure and should take at least twelve hours to complete the first time through. Ultimately, the gameplay is a lot of fun with plenty of variety and challenging moments.
Reviewing Cyberia's graphics is a bit difficult. The graphics were really impressive for the time, sporting very clean and colorful prerendered visuals. However, the game is scarcely twelve years old, so don't expect to be blown away by the visuals any more. However, with that said, Cyberia is a great insight into the evolution of graphics. The environments and character models looked really impressive upon the game's release and despite the aging of the visuals, the atmosphere remains completely intact.
Despite the aging of the graphics, the sound design remains very impressive even to this day. In an age when video games got bottom-of-the-barrel voice actors, Cyberia stood out from that stereotype and sported quality voice acting by a skillful cast. Zak and his superior, Devlin are particularly well produced. The music in Cyberia was exceptionally done and fit the context of the action with praise-worthy accuracy. Even the sequences without music were filled with excellent atmospheric sound design leaving you immersed in the action. Cyberia's sound, music, and voice acting are damn-near impeccable, especially for the time.
Unfortunately, Cyberia never really enjoyed an appropriate amount of time in the limelight. Despite its underwhelming popularity, Cyberia retains a wonderful blend of action, puzzle-solving, and story even today. While it's unlikely that Zak will be coming out of retirement for a new entry in the franchise, we can still play the original and look back on where modern adventures come from.