Birdcage Nails the PS1 Arcade Feel — A ’90s‑Inspired Shoot‑’Em‑Up Love Letter to Metal Gear Solid

The space combat matches Ikaruga’s intensity: waves of foes, a storm of enemy fire and little room for error. You’ll face overwhelming odds, but your ship is no pushover. Instead of Ikaruga’s color‑swap defensive system, Birdcage gives you another elegant solution — your ship wields a sword, and timing your blocks and strikes is central to survival.

Even the main menu telegraphs the Metal Gear Solid influence — down to retro-leaning control conventions that feel like a PS1 import come to life. The cutscenes and menu-inspired backgrounds give the whole package a lived-in cinematic quality. There are also optional codec‑style calls if you want to pause the action and catch your breath.

Birdcage is being made by Polygon Bird, the studio founded by comic artist Giannis Milonogiannis and composer Barry Topping (best known for the soundtrack to Paradise Killer). From the time I spent with the demo, I’m genuinely excited for the full release, which is slated for November 18.

As Steam Next Fest draws to a close, Valve has published a roundup of the event’s most‑played demos — from chaotic cooperative party games to brutal, Braveheart‑inspired roguelikes.