Play Cyvern (US) Online

Cyvern is a 1998 vertical shooter from Kaneko, playable on MAME 0.243. It came out during a time when the arcade scene was crowded with shooters trying to stand out, and it does so with a distinct mechanical dragon theme rather than the usual spaceships. The game doesn't reinvent the genre, but it offers a solid, focused experience that feels very much of its era.

You pilot a dragon mech through waves of enemy crafts and elaborate bosses. The main goal is survival, clearing each stage by destroying everything in your path. Your primary weapon is a forward cannon that grows in power as you collect items, but the real standout is the lock-on missile system; holding the shot button targets multiple enemies, and releasing unleashes a volley of homing attacks. This creates a constant rhythm between clearing smaller foes with targeted bursts and focusing your main gun on larger threats. The pacing is aggressive, with bullet patterns that demand careful positioning without feeling utterly overwhelming. It feels tactical, forcing you to manage two weapon systems at once while navigating tight spaces.