Comments

Super Cycle is one of the first games I ever played on my Atari ST. Seeing it again after so many years really brought back some great memories. I used to play this a lot with my little sister. I remember never being able to beat it. Now, almost 15 years later, I finished it in 20 minutes on the "easy" level.


This simulation was created by Epyx, a software company that has a history in sport simulations. They were responsible for hits like "Winter Games", "Summer Games" and of course "California Games".


Gameplay

This game is dated, no doubt about it. But hey, if you wanted great graphics, you wouldn't be reading this review in the first place. It's all fun to look at. This is where it all started. The graphics aren't bad, but there isn't much variation. We get some different backgrounds, some changing obstacles...and that's about it. Remember that this game was originally created for the Commodore 64!


Sound

Nothing special on the audio part. We get the usual engine sound effects and some screeching tires. But what do you expect from a game that's 15 years old? The intro soundtrack is something that stays in your head for a while...


Gameplay

First of, you can pick the color and style of your bike and your leather jacket. Then you may choose the level of difficulty. Finally you're ready to race! Depending on the chosen level, you get less time to complete a race. But on the other hand, the higher the level number, the more points you can earn.


This is an arcade game. There isn't much realism going on. No real life tracks, no tight curves. You just have to make sure you finish in time. Every lap has a time limit and the better you did in the last race, the more time you get in the next one.


Later on in levels, the tracks get flooded with obstacles like oil spots, ice - all guaranteed to make your life miserable. Every 5 races you get a bonus round. On this particular course you have to hit as many flags as possible. The more you hit, the higher your score. These flags are placed all over the track.


Controls are smooth. You don't really have the feeling of riding a bike. Just turn left and right to avoid the obstacles and stay on the road!


Conclusion


What can I say? This is a guilty pleasure. There are much better cycle sims on the ST. If you want a really fast and realistic motor cycle simulation, check out "No Second Prize" from Thalion. If you want some quick mindless fun, "Super Cycle" will do just fine. And because it so easy to play, this game is even great for the little ones!