Icycle

Icycle is a flash animation reflex game created by Newgrounds.com user DampGnat, with sound created by Stilton Studios & Studio 42. This game was submitted to Newgrounds.com on December 5, 2009 and won a Daily 4th Place award on December 6, 2009.

Game Background

Another Ice Age has frozen the earth. As a naked survivor with a bike, you must now pedal your way to safety. You have no real sense of direction or idea of where to go. However, there seems to be another survivor on a motor bike, the exhaust of which has left frozen bubbles in the air for you to follow. Follow these bubbles and find this other survivor while dodging obstacles along the way.

Game Controls

Use WASD or arrow keys to move your bike around.
Press Up or Space to jump.

Gameplay

The objective of the game is to complete each stage while collecting as many frozen soap bubbles as you can.

There are a total of 8 different stages for you to complete. Every time you complete the game, you will gain a new item of clothing.

At the bottom of the screen, you can view which level you are currently on. At the bottom-right of the screen, you can see how many times you have died, as indicated by a number inside a skull and crossbones. Clicking the skull and cross bones button will give you the option to commit virtual suicide.

Next to the skull and cross bones, you can see how many frozen soap bubbles you have collected. Clicking on this button will open a screen that will give you a more detailed account of how well you have played so far. More specifically, it will give you the percentage of bubbles you have collected for each of the levels you have played so far. Along this column of percentages, it will also list the best percentage for that level, allowing you to compare yourself to the best percentage you have obtained for that level. This screen can also tell you how long you have played this game.

Next to the frozen soap bubble button, you can toggle the game's sound. At the very bottom-right of the screen, you have an additional information button that can remind you of the game controls.

Game Review

Icycle is a fun little reflex game that will test how well you can balance accelerating and breaking, especially since some levels have moving obstacles that will require you to do more than just jump or duck. The game author's idea to reward players who finish the game with a different item of clothing upon each game completion adds to the game's replay value. However, other than that, there is no real incentive to players to want to play more, as playing more would just make the game more repetitive.

Icycle scores a 8/10 for being a fun game in a creative setting.