Cycle is an exploration-based platformer that follows the story of a young woman who has recently lost her mother to unknown causes. The protagonist sets out on a quest to find out the truth of what happened to her mother and unravels greater mysteries along the way.

The game is a 2D side-scroller with a futuristic theme, similar to games like AM2R and Halo Zero. The game also sports a retro graphics look and feel, featuring a style that's akin to games from the 8-bit and 16-bit era of gaming. It will likely appeal to fans of retro platformers like the Mega Man Zero series.

A narrative-driven game

While Cycle is a puzzle platformer through and through, it does feature a detailed narrative for the player to experience, told through text-based dialogue and exposition.

The story concerns Lana, a 22-year-old woman who has lost her mother and is on a quest to find out what happened. She soon finds herself retracing her mother’s steps to the Tower of the Stars, a structure that provides energy to her country.

Platforming action

The core gameplay of Cycle is quite standard for action platformers. The game is presented in a retro style that is reminiscent of 8-bit and 16-bit era games, such as might be found on the Nintendo Entertainment System or SEGA Genesis. The player will encounter a wide variety of environments, enemies, and obstacles along the way.

An interesting story

While the game doesn’t do anything revolutionary as a platformer, the visuals and story are interesting enough that fans of this type of game should find it enjoyable. There is also a demo available, so players can try the game before buying it if they wish.