Play Tyrian Online

Tyrian is a top-down scrolling shooter released in 1995 for MS-DOS. Developed by Eclipse Software and published by Epic MegaGames, the game is set in a science fiction universe and belongs to the arcade shoot 'em up genre. Players control a spaceship pilot named Trent, who is engaged in a conflict against the corporate entity MicroSol.

The player pilots a spacecraft through horizontally scrolling levels, engaging enemy ships and structures in combat. The primary objective is to progress through the story by completing missions, which often involve returning to previously visited locations with altered level layouts. A central gameplay system is the extensive ship customization, where players can acquire new hulls, select and upgrade separate front and rear weapons, and purchase enhanced shields and generators. The game also allows for the attachment of auxiliary craft called "sidekicks." With access to more than a dozen ship types and over one hundred different weapons, players can tailor their vessel to various combat situations. The structure involves navigating through waves of enemies, confronting boss characters, and managing resources collected during stages.

Tyrian includes a two-player cooperative arcade mode, which can be played locally or via network, modem, or serial connection. The narrative follows Trent's efforts to thwart MicroSol's galactic ambitions, a journey marked by confrontations and shifting allegiances. Progression is mission-based, with the player advancing through a series of interconnected stages that contribute to the overarching goal of confronting the corporate threat.