Indie game Cycle 28 is hitting the Switch next week, bringing an exciting community-driven puzzle along for the ride that could net you every single game the developer ever makes for free.
Made by Pill Bug Interactive, Cycle 28 is a 2D space shooter in the classic arcade style, where upgrades can only be unlocked by beating your highscore. The controls are said to be simple, the action is said to be fast-paced, but there's something more to this game than initially meets the eye.
Playing as Olivia Bergen – a flight lieutenant who has become separated from her fleet – you only know Cycle 27. You live it over and over again, with the game running on a loop which sees you blasting your way through waves of enemies to perfect your score. You don’t know who these enemies are or what they want; you just know you’re the only thing between them and home.
In an exciting twist, and a clever marketing ploy, the developers have challenged players with figuring out the mystery behind this endless loop, ending Olivia's pain once and for all. Despite being released on Steam in March, no-one has been able to discover the secret as of yet. If you can work it out, the developers encourage you to email them at '[email protected]' to win a Golden Ticket - your pass to securing the studio's entire catalogue of games.
“There are two sides to Cycle 28. On one hand, there is the satisfying space combat which keeps you coming back to do just one more run. On its own, that will be enough for most people, but we wanted to put something extra in for players who love a mystery. That’s where the second side of Cycle 28 comes in, a community-driven puzzle which may require some international collaboration.
"Since this will be a community effort the Golden Ticket winner will also be able to nominate up to five players who helped them in their quest for answers. Those nominated players will receive exclusive Cycle 28 rewards and content."
Cycle 28 arrives on Nintendo Switch on 2nd August - we'll have a review right here on the site on that very date, too.
Are you up for the challenge?
Comments 14
The mystery is intriguing but sounds like way too much work for me to ever figure out.
triggered My name is Shiryu. This is my 1337th cycle. No changes today, maybe tomorrow.
Bootstrap Paradox.
Hmm... An interesting challenge. Depending on how much Cycle 28 costs, it may be a challenge I am willing to undertake.
This reminds me of Ready Player One without the annoying fan service.
I bet it has something to do with the 28th cycle.
Interested in the challenge. If somebody already joined a cllaboration or knows a group let me know.
The puzzle is there is no puzzle.
You heard it here first.
Given the exclusive to Nintendo Life.
Thank me later
Interesting marketing, but the one other game they made that isn't on Switch doesn't entice me to spend the effort to work something (that may be completely nothing) out.
@Rhaoulos yeah you're right
Reminds me of Don’t Believe His Lies.
I loved diving into the rabbit hole that was the quest for the next “Frog Fractions”. I’d love to get my head into this mystery ^^
@justin233 I feel similarly. Reminds me of Fez. The secrets/lore were intriguing, but I never was really inclined to invest the effort to decipher/decode everything. Still enjoyed the game, though.
The whole "Solve the Mystery and Win a Prize" part sounds far too much like a Peter Molyneux stunt to me.
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