Cyclone

About

Cyclone is a single player casual puzzle game. It was developed by Reep Softworks and was released on June 23, 2022. It received very positive reviews from players.

Cyclone is a puzzling first-person action-platformer from the creator of the hit Portal modification, Blue Portals. Solve a series of perplexing puzzles by placing gravity-bending vortexes in the world. Launch objects, redirect projectiles, and fling yourself across the room to reach the exit!

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 35 reviews

gameplay9 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

The game features a unique twist on familiar Portal mechanics, providing a fun and engaging puzzle experience.
Loading times are minimal, and the game runs smoothly on various hardware, including low-end systems.
The puzzles are well-designed and gradually increase in difficulty, allowing players to learn and adapt without getting stuck.

The game is quite short, with many players completing it in under an hour, leading to a desire for more levels and content.
Some puzzles rely heavily on precise timing, which can be frustrating for players who prefer a more relaxed puzzle-solving experience.
The game lacks a narrative or character presence, which can make the experience feel flat and less engaging compared to the original Portal games.

gameplay
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
56%
11%
The gameplay is characterized by a blend of forgiving puzzle mechanics that gradually introduce new elements, allowing players to experiment with various interactions, particularly through the innovative cyclone mechanic. While some puzzles may lean towards reaction-based challenges, the overall design is praised for its intuitive nature and engaging variety, reminiscent of classic portal experiences. Players appreciate the solid presentation and the potential for unique storytelling, though some express a desire for deeper mechanics and narrative engagement as the game progresses.
- “The puzzles start off pretty forgiving, introducing you to new mechanics as you go, allowing you time to settle in and figure out how the different mechanics can combine to solve each room.”
- “The presentation is solid, the gameplay is intuitive, and the puzzle design is top notch.”
- “This gun can do various things from boosting you, boosting cubes, being able to use it to wall jump or fling yourself across rooms, redirect energy pellets, etc. While it may not sound like much, it brings a lot of variety in gameplay and each chamber utilizes the mechanics to their fullest.”
- “Though the solutions are of course marginally different due to using the cyclone cannon instead, it turns those chambers from puzzlers to just 'oh, this again.' I would have liked an expansion on some of the game's original mechanics, such as wall-jumping, double bounces, etc.”
- “The gameplay is solid, but I don't have much engagement with the setting I'm in because I don't know what to make of it.”
- “It's not a portal clone in terms of the portal device and the overall puzzle-solving mechanics, but in terms of the test chambers, signage, overall tone, etc., it's wearing its inspirations blatantly on its sleeves.”
story
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
43%
The reviews indicate that the game currently lacks a substantial story, with players expressing hope for future narrative development as it is still in early access. While the gameplay mechanics are appreciated, many feel that a compelling storyline is essential for elevating the experience, similar to what was achieved in the Portal series. Overall, the absence of a narrative has left some users disappointed, emphasizing the importance of storytelling in enhancing the game's appeal.
- “I'm also curious if this game will have a story; Portal and Portal 2 had good gameplay, but it was the narrative that really made the games more special.”
- “Great environmental storytelling.”
- “It's apparent that in Portal 1/2 the puzzles are what make it a good game, but the story and voiceovers are what make it *great*.”
- “It doesn't have any story, voiceover, or plot.”
- “Story: this game has absolutely no story to my knowledge.”
- “Maybe in the future a story will get added; this game is in early access, and I'm writing this review based on my experience of buying the game and then playing it.”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The graphics received mixed feedback, with some players praising the gorgeous visuals and fun puzzle mechanics, while others criticized the monotonous white aesthetic and lack of environmental variety. There were also reports of graphical issues on certain integrated GPUs, suggesting that while the visuals have potential, they may need refinement and improvement in future updates. Overall, the game's graphics evoke a nostalgic feel reminiscent of previous titles, but they currently lack depth and variety.
- “Long time fan of blue portals, really pleased with pretty much everything about this; the visuals are gorgeous, the main puzzle mechanic is fun and satisfying, and the puzzles are very fun to solve.”
- “Mechanics were cool, and the graphics look good.”
- “Great visuals reminiscent of blue portals.”
- “After a few levels, I got bored of the monotonous, bland white aesthetic. Some more variety in the environment as you progress would be a nice reward for the player.”
- “The graphics do seem to have issues on integrated Intel UHD 620 GPUs; the screen tends to go completely white at certain angles, but I can't figure out if it's an angle issue or related to a specific object on screen.”
- “I imagine that the visuals would get more refined later on, because I think there are hints of an isolating, haunting environment, but it's not quite there yet.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization has been criticized for only offering a windowed mode, leading to significant performance issues even on high-end hardware like the RX 6800 and Ryzen 5900X, rendering features like FreeSync and G-Sync ineffective.
- “Windowed mode is the only option, with glaring performance issues (RX 6800 and Ryzen 5900X). Obviously, features like FreeSync or G-Sync won't work in this mode, rendering your expensive GPUs and monitors useless.”
- “The game suffers from severe optimization problems, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering, even on high-end hardware.”
- “Despite having a powerful setup, the game runs poorly, indicating a lack of proper optimization for various configurations.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
33%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its faithful recreation of the original Portal's vibe, featuring a cozy and inviting aesthetic enhanced by warm yellow lighting. Players appreciate the blend of familiar elements from the Portal series with a unique twist, creating an engaging and immersive environment.
- “This game completely nails the atmosphere of Portal 1 down to a tee.”
- “Cool game with an atmosphere reminiscent of Portal 1.”
- “Cyclone, like Reepblue's other puzzle chamber games, takes clear inspiration from Valve's Portal, featuring a much warmer atmosphere with everything bathed in comfy yellow lighting.”
- “Cyclone, like Reepblue's other puzzle chamber games, takes a very clear inspiration from Valve's Portal, but with a much warmer atmosphere, featuring everything bathed in a comfy yellow lighting.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is minimal, with users noting a lack of narration and very quiet background music, especially on default settings.
- “There is very little sound, no narration, and the music is quiet, if there is any, on the default settings.”
- “The music is forgettable and fails to enhance the gaming experience.”
- “The soundtrack lacks variety and becomes repetitive quickly.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, users report that the game demonstrates excellent stability, with minimal loading times, a lack of bugs, and no crashes, contributing to a smooth gaming experience.
- “What can I say, it works pretty well. Loading times are almost non-existent, it's not buggy and doesn't crash :)”