LocoCycle
- February 14, 2014
- Twisted Pixel Games
- 3h median play time
LocoCycle is a comedic hack and slash game with both single-player and multi-player modes. The story follows I.R.I.S., a martial-arts wielding motorcycle who has gained self-awareness and is on a cross-continent escape to freedom, with her engineer Pablo as her only ally. Hunted by enemies and with long odds against them, I.R.I.S. and Pablo's journey is filled with humor and action.
Reviews
- LocoCycle is a fun and absurd game that combines various gameplay styles, including shooting, quick-time events, and melee combat, all wrapped in a humorous and over-the-top narrative.
- The live-action cutscenes and voice acting add a unique charm to the game, making it feel like a B-movie experience that is both entertaining and nostalgic.
- Despite its simplicity and short length, the game offers a good amount of unlockable content and behind-the-scenes features that showcase the effort put into its creation.
- The gameplay can become repetitive and lacks depth, with many mechanics feeling shallow and overly reliant on button mashing and quick-time events.
- The controls are poorly optimized for keyboard and mouse, making it nearly unplayable without a gamepad, which can frustrate players who prefer traditional controls.
- The humor and absurdity may not resonate with everyone, leading to a mixed reception regarding its comedic elements and overall appeal.
- gameplay66 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, characterized by shallow and repetitive mechanics primarily involving button mashing and quick-time events, which some players found tedious. However, the constant introduction of new enemy types, upgrades, and absurd humor, along with engaging cutscenes, helps to elevate the experience, making it entertaining despite its flaws. Overall, while the gameplay may not be the main draw, the quirky narrative and zany aesthetics provide a unique charm that keeps players engaged.
“While the combat is fairly shallow and repetitive button mashing, this matters not because there's a generous and steady drip feed of upgrades, new enemy types, and new mechanics being introduced constantly.”
“The gameplay is simple, but good enough for the few hours it takes to complete the game.”
“In spite of how derivative the gameplay is and how hit-and-miss the humor can be, the game deserves to be played on the merits of its aesthetics and sheer absurdity.”
“The gameplay itself is very dull and easy (only QTEs and button mashing), but the whole idea for the game, the battles, animations, and FMV cutscenes are totally absurd and hilarious.”
“From the very start to the very end, the gameplay does not change or challenge you that much.”
“The main problem is that the last time new elements are introduced into the gameplay is about halfway through the game and from there on it stops being challenging.”
- humor49 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- -4 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized as absurd, silly, and often cringeworthy, with many players appreciating its over-the-top scenarios, such as a sentient motorcycle piloting a helicopter and evil scientists in giant hamster balls. While the gameplay may be simplistic, the live-action cutscenes and quirky dialogue provide a consistent source of laughter, making it a fun experience for those who enjoy a blend of dark humor and ridiculousness. However, some reviewers noted that the humor can be hit-or-miss, with certain jokes feeling stretched or repetitive.
“If you appreciate the kind of humor where a sentient motorcycle can pilot a helicopter, you will enjoy this.”
“The gameplay itself is very dull and easy, but the whole idea for the game, the battles, animations, and FMV cutscenes are totally absurd and hilarious.”
“Great action combat game with a fantastic sense of humor.”
“The humor in this game falls flat and feels forced, making it more awkward than funny.”
“I expected some clever jokes, but most of the humor is just juvenile and unoriginal.”
“The attempts at humor often miss the mark, leaving me more confused than amused.”
- story39 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story of Lococycle is characterized by its absurdity and intentional ridiculousness, often described as a "bad it's good" experience that features over-the-top characters and bizarre plot twists. While some players appreciate the comedic elements and voice acting, others find the narrative convoluted and the cutscenes excessively long, detracting from the gameplay. Overall, the game's narrative is a mix of chaotic humor and schlocky charm, appealing to those who enjoy a lighthearted, if nonsensical, storyline.
“I fell in love with the story, the game universe flowing in jokes and absurdity at its finest - creating the feeling of going along with the joke and having fun.”
“This game is fantastic, it's short, has ridiculous cutscenes (directed by James Gunn), the story is as ridiculous as you can find and I couldn't put it down till I finished it.”
“An epic story of legendary proportions awaits all those who step forth to take on the daring gauntlet through the levels of Lococycle.”
“Do you want to watch a whole terrible film that over-explains a pointless storyline?”
“The story seems to be trying really hard to be funny, but it never made me laugh so much as groan or wish I was playing something else.”
“Lococycle's silly and pointless story idea would've been half sold if the game was fun to play, but unfortunately it is not.”
- graphics21 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the modern visuals and smooth performance, while others criticize them as outdated and reminiscent of earlier console generations. Many users note a campy art style and enjoyable aesthetics, despite acknowledging glitches and inconsistencies in quality. Overall, while the graphics may not be groundbreaking, they contribute positively to the game's fun and engaging atmosphere.
“Endless galleries and genuinely interesting behind-the-scenes content, graphics and effects that still do their job, and constant action make for a definite recommendation - if you don't play this in one go, that is.”
“Great smooth graphics and some stunning visuals sprinkled about.”
“The only differences between that one and this PC version are the smoother FPS and nicer graphics, making this version look even more beautiful than its XBLA counterpart.”
“The overall graphics are outdated, there's no doubt about that, as Lococycle looks like a 2005 game at its best, but the problems with its visuals don't stop there.”
“It's short (took me about 3-4 hours to do everything), it's not particularly difficult or complicated, and it isn't built to amaze with fancy graphics or high production values (which might also be part of the problem - it was an Xbox One launch title).”
“Anyway, I played half an hour and was put off by the cringeworthy videos and surprisingly poor graphics (there are some good character models but the general scenery is reminiscent of a PS2-era title).”
- music8 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as cinematic and features a well-produced orchestral soundtrack, with some reviewers praising its quality and intensity, particularly noting the involvement of the Prague Orchestra. However, opinions vary, as some feel the soundtrack doesn't align with the game's cartoonish style, while others find it to be a highlight amidst the overall experience. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, though it may not be the primary focus for all players.
“It's cinematic with a beautiful orchestral soundtrack, but the story is completely insane.”
“Good production values, music, graphics, sound effects, hilarious dialogue peppered through the whole thing, and fast-paced action that never lets up.”
“The music is boss level, done by the Prague orchestra; this game doesn't mess around, everything is hardcore!”
“The soundtrack... it's this grim 80s action movie orchestral thing, does not fit the cartoonish gameplay at all.”
“Music is pretty fine too, but nothing special.”
- grinding5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game can be tedious and repetitive, with some players finding the combat and mini-games particularly frustrating. However, the game's relatively short length of 4.5 hours helps prevent it from becoming overly monotonous. Overall, while some elements are enjoyable, the grinding experience detracts from the overall engagement.
“It makes the gameplay tedious and quite frankly uninteresting.”
“The overall design is repetitive, the environments are tedious and the character design is just decent at best; there's nothing really memorable about Pablo or I.R.I.”
“The control scheme (especially in the many tedious mini games) quickly became annoying and in some parts even unplayable.”
- stability4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's stability is mixed, with some players experiencing significant bugs and visual glitches, while others report smooth performance without any issues. Overall, the presence of glitches detracts from the experience for some users, but others find it runs well on their systems.
“It is more fun than I expected and runs great on my system with no slowdown or graphics glitches that I could see.”
“On my machine, Lococycle is pretty darn buggy or triggers bugs in drivers, or who knows what.”
“There's also the countless number of visual glitches that are impossible to ignore, as some objects will show up inside of other objects.”
“The game offers some nice graphics; however, there are some ugly glitches here and there that detract from the experience.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be deeply impactful, with behind-the-scenes content adding a wholesome touch. Many express that the game evokes stronger feelings than personal interactions, highlighting its touching narrative and overall emotional resonance.
“The behind-the-scenes unlocks are incredibly wholesome.”
“I learned about this game's existence today, and 6 hours later, I am convinced this might be the best piece of media ever. This game made me feel more than most people I interact with.”
“It's actually kind of touching, in its own way.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, "Lococycle" is well-optimized, delivering a smooth gameplay experience with a stable frame rate and minimal bugs. While some players reported occasional stuttering, it may be attributed to individual hardware rather than the game itself. The audio quality, enhanced by the Prague Symphony Orchestra, adds to the overall positive experience.
“On the bright side, Lococycle runs smoothly, with a constant frame rate and no game-breaking bugs. If you're up for a continuous loop of the same events, you might want to give this game a try.”
“The game suffers from severe optimization issues, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering, even on high-end hardware.”
“Despite having a powerful setup, the game runs poorly, with noticeable lag and inconsistent performance.”
“Optimization seems to be an afterthought, as the game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate during intense scenes.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game has limited replayability due to its reliance on running gags, particularly the humor derived from i.r.i.s. misinterpreting Pablo's cries for help, which may feel stretched after the first playthrough. Players seeking a deeper, more varied experience may find this aspect lacking.
“The dialogues are funny and well-delivered, but the running gags (mainly i.r.i.s. misinterpreting Pablo's cries for help) are stretched as far as they'll go, which affects the overall replayability of the game.”
“If you're looking for a deep, replayable game, this one may not meet your expectations.”
“Limited replayability.”
“So if you're looking for a deep, replayable game, it's not here.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is criticized for being lackluster, with repetitive design and environments that fail to leave a lasting impression. The characters, such as Pablo and I.R.I., are described as decent but ultimately forgettable, lacking depth and memorability.
“The overall design is repetitive, the environments are tedious, and the character design is just decent at best. There's nothing really memorable about Pablo or I.R.I.”