Cilla is a side-scrolling shooter with several commendable elements. Unfortunately, it has far more poor elements, making it seem like an amateur effort that needed more development time.

This game makes a considerable point in advertising its narrative. Using words like “compelling,” “complex,” and “gripping” raises expectations that Cilla sadly can’t fulfill. Clarity is a concern, with the writing delivered in ways that often read awkwardly and unnaturally. Was the script generated by AI and then poorly translated by Google?

I could understand if this issue was limited to the titular Cilla alone, as she is a creature, machine, mutant, or weapon, depending on who’s speaking. Even then, I doubt it would make me care much about this “mysterious entity”. And besides not being very engaging, the narrative pops up often. It’s not just a between-level update; even multiple times within a level, the action will stop for the story. These interruptions could’ve been a nice break so long as the writing was better and the levels were intense. Instead, it just negatively impacted the flow of the already slower-paced action. Thankfully, there is an option to skip.

On the subject of levels, there are 10, with a three-star setup to promote replay. However, the criteria determining the level rank can only be called unclear, as replay brought me an extra star with little discernible difference in how I performed. Ally pilots join the missions alongside you, which is nice, though hardly a proper substitute for the lack of two-player support. Their chatter contributes little, and they usually won’t last through the end of a level due to enemy placements and lack of weapons.

To briefly elaborate on both, many enemies are stationary, meaning attacks with your default pea shooter ensure you take damage, too. While options like a shield and spread shot are available, these are temporary and disappear quicker than expected. A lack of cool enemies, patterns, and weapons is a big letdown for a side-scrolling shooter.

What ultimately knocks Cilla down into poor game territory are the apparent bugs. There were multiple instances where I received the “Lost in Combat” message, even with ample amounts of my health bar remaining. The sheer frequency and lack of in-game explanation for these leave me with little choice but to point at glitches.

It’s a shame because, despite its flaws, I initially had fun with Cilla. The concept has potential, and the presentation (pixel art backgrounds and music) is pleasing. But the narrative focus demands good writing, and this game lacks it. The same goes for clever enemies, fun weapon variety, and two-player support. Coupled with frequent glitches, this is one alien invasion few will feel compelled to stop.