Cyber Janitor is one of the more unusual projects we had the opportunity to see, mainly because it takes something most of us probably wouldn't expect to see in a video game – mathematical formulas – and turns them into weapons.
The game is set in a world overrun by digital pathogens. Networks are beginning to collapse, infections are spreading, and you take on the role of a cyber janitor whose job is to eliminate them. Instead of taking the traditional approach to hacking, Cyber Janitor opts for a top-down shooting experience with a very unusual addition: mathematical formulas and functions.
When Mathematics Becomes Your Weapon
The basic idea behind the game is fairly simple, but that is exactly what makes it immediately interesting. During gameplay, you use mathematical formulas as part of your arsenal, while deckbuilding elements allow you to create combinations that will help you deal with digital pathogens. And this is the part I find particularly interesting.
If you're good at mathematics, this game could be considerably easier for you.
Of course, it's not enough to simply memorize formulas. You need to understand how they work and how to use them effectively in a given situation. But the fact that your mathematical knowledge can actually help you better understand and use your “weapons” makes Cyber Janitor quite different from most shooters.
Instead of simply shooting at enemies, you also have to think about which mathematical formula you're going to use against them.
Shooting From a Different Perspective
Although the mathematical system is what immediately grabs your attention, Cyber Janitor is first and foremost a shooting game. Its top-down perspective gives it a clear structure, while the roguelike and deckbuilding elements add another layer of planning and customization. This is important because mathematics isn't simply a gimmick placed on top of a conventional game. The idea is for it to become part of the way you fight and progress. If the system is developed properly, Cyber Janitor could create a very interesting combination of action and strategic thinking.
Digital Pathogens That Aren't Just Targets
Another thing that caught my attention is the way the enemies are designed.
Digital pathogens aren't simply generic targets that exist for you to destroy. According to the official description, they can create new strains, consume one another, and even attack members of their own species. That's an interesting idea because it gives the game's digital world its own little ecosystem. If this system is developed enough, encounters could become more than simply clearing the screen of enemies.
A Cyberpunk World With a Comic-Book Style
Visually, Cyber Janitor uses a stylized 2D comic-book look with cyberpunk elements. It's a fitting choice for this kind of premise, allowing the game to stand out visually without trying to present everything as a realistic digital world. The contrast between the serious idea of a digital infection and the somewhat bizarre concept of a cyber janitor also gives the game a certain sense of humor.
The Mathematics Will Be the Key
The biggest question surrounding Cyber Janitor right now isn't whether the idea is interesting. It is. The real question is how deeply the mathematical system will be integrated. If formulas are simply another way of representing conventional attacks, their novelty will probably wear off fairly quickly. But if players genuinely need to understand how functions work and make decisions based on that knowledge during combat, Cyber Janitor could offer an experience we rarely see in games.
And if you were ever good at mathematics, you might finally have a chance to put that knowledge to use for something much more entertaining than solving a test.
Destroying digital viruses.
A Project Worth Keeping an Eye On
Cyber Janitor doesn't have a confirmed release date yet, so it's too early to make any final judgments about the game. What we had the opportunity to see, however, was enough to show that TAKKAN Digital Lab has a very clear and unusual idea in mind. It's not every day that a shooter comes along where mathematical formulas become part of your arsenal. And that's exactly why it will be interesting to follow Cyber Janitor and see how far this idea can go.
If you understand mathematics better than you understand traditional RPG skill trees, you may have just found your new favorite shooter.
