Zzap


Super Cycle
By Epyx
Commodore 64

 
Published in Zzap #18

Super Cycle

As the sun slowly rises over the race track it's time, once more, to take up the challenge of the racing circuit. You awake after a hard night of celebration your last success in traditional style, and realise you have but a few minutes to whip over to the garage and pick up your bike. Luckily time allows you to respray your bike - now what shall it be? A subtle green? A shocking pink? A putrid purple?

Whatever colour you choose, you will most certainly need a new set of leathers to match, or clash, which ever suits you best. Once kitted out with your newly resprayed bike and shiny leathers, you can take your place on the track, ready to race.

Having selected one of the three levels of play the countdown begins, the starter waves his flag, and you're off...

Super Cycle

The screen is split between the playing area - which shows your bike, the track and competitors - and an illustration of the dashboard which indicates your speed, rev counter and gear. The gears are represented by three lights in the centre of the dashboard. When a gear has been selected, the light turns from blue to yellow.

The first track is a fairly simple one with its fair share of curves and obstacles. Whizzing round at the maximum speed of 140 mph isn't too difficult and so leads you quickly onto the desert circuit. This track is lined with cacti - colliding with these causes a nasty blow-out and costs valuable time. However, if you do manage to complete this track you have a chance to boost your score on the first bonus track.

The bonus tracks are basically normal tracks, but scattered along them are various flags which flap quite happily in the wind until you run over them, toting up your score as you do so.

Super Cycle

Each track is played against the clock, so no matter how many times you crash it is still possible to win, so long as you finish the circuit in time.

The tracks increase with difficulty as you progress. Oil spillages, puddles, ice and cones cause hazards, especially when on the bridge circuit which spans a river.

RE

There have been a great deal of racing games infiltrating the market lately, and it is good to see one from the top end of the pile. Super Cycle is a fast, exciting and most importantly, enjoyable racing simulation. All the little extras are great fun too - especially being able to have a purple bike with a pink and lime leather jacket. Mmmm, nice! The high score table's good too, as it is possible to save it on the disk and leave little obscene messages for everyone to see... Move over Julian, I wannanother go!

GP

Super Cycle

Epyx have excelled themselves and come up with the most addictive and exhilarating race game yet; I was surprised to find that even Pitstop II is considerably slower in comparison! All three skill levels are highly addictive and challenging - more so than any other race game available - and I've found it difficult to tear myself away. Definitely one for the collection - you would be silly to overlook it.

PS

Me, I'm no biker - give me four wheels and some bodywork around me any day, and you can see why. The times I've ended up base over apex in this game. But for sheer adrenalin pumping, this game takes some beating. After a record breaking run on level 3 (he he he) I come away from the game feeling a physical wreck. As if that wasn't enough, all the little details are beautifully done: the flag at the start, the road obstructions, even the way the back of the bike bounces up and down when riding down the hard shoulder. Go for Revs if you want a simulator, but for sheer exhilaration and excitement, go for Super Cycle - it's unbeatable.

Verdict

Presentation 92%
Concise instructions and many neat options with a huge hi-score table.

Super Cycle

Graphics 93%
The bikers are well defined and clear, and the 3D effect of the track and obstacles is excellent.

Sound 85%
Nice title screen ditty and racy FX.

Hookability 96%
Instantly exhilarating and addictive.

Lastability 94%
Ten race tracks and three skill levels to keep you racing for many months to come.

Value For Money 92%
Plenty of long term challenge for your money.

Overall 95%
An outstanding race game - the best to date.