Icycle

Icycle Walkthrough

Icycle is without question one of the most unique, most engrossing and most entertaining driving games. There just isn't anything out there like it and that definitely makes it more appealing. Add to that the fact that the levels are truly difficult and you've got one of the best driving games on the internet. While newcomers are going to appreciate the easy to understand controls, more experienced players might have a bit of trouble remembering that the up arrow key is not accelerate in this game as it would be in most of the other driving games online. In this one, it is the more experienced players who are at a bit of a disadvantage when they first start playing. It won't take long though to get the hang of the controls so you can start focusing on the actual game itself.

The greatest thing about Icycle is that it's the perfect marriage of everything that makes driving games great. The graphics are appealing without being too over the top or flashy. It can be hard at times to tell what is background art and what you will be riding on, but that's part of what makes some of the levels in this game so challenging. This use of art as a purposeful distraction isn't something you often see in online driving games and it really works and helps to further set this game apart from the competing games in the genre. You will get better at telling the difference as you progress, but there are times that the background will give you trouble. Just keep that in mind as you're riding. The soap bubbles you're chasing will offer clues so make sure you pay attention.

In addition to the graphics, the story behind Icycle is a lot of fun. You are in control of a little naked man on an even littler cycle. You must get the man and his cycle from the entry point on the right side of the screen to the exit point on the left side of the screen. Along the way you will encounter all sorts of obstacles you need to deal with. From dips and hills to pointed icicles that will kill you if you hit there, there is a lot of danger lurking in this frozen world your little man finds himself in. Things get even more treacherous as you encounter landscapes that fall away when you drive on them and gaps in the terrain that seem almost too big to overcome. Once you get to the levels that have big chunks of the ceiling falling down, you're really going to have to use your head to get through.

You can't go back in Icycle. Reverse doesn't exist, but you are able to slow down. Make sure you use that option when you need it. There are levels that require near expert timing. Beginners and experienced players alike will have trouble with this at some points, but you can get it down. In many cases, timing a level right will require you to slow down in certain spots. Do it! Rushing through this game will get you absolutely nowhere - aside from perhaps crushed by a giant rock, impaled on a jagged icicle or lost in a gap you can't get out of. If you get stuck and can't get to where you need to be, you can kill yourself by hitting the skull and crossbones icon at the bottom right side of the screen. Killing yourself will obviously cost you a life but you'll just be reborn again at the beginning of the section you found yourself stuck in.

Learning from your mistakes is vital in making it through Icycle. If you get stuck and need to reset the level, try to remember what you did last time to end up in that situation and do everything you can do to avoid making the same mistake again. In truth, there isn't a single level in this game that can't be beaten but some of them will definitely give you trouble. You may have to retry one section of a level multiple times but eventually you will be able to get it as long as you pay attention to what you're going and don't allow yourself to get frustrated. If you get frustrated, you won't want to keep going and if you don't really pay attention you won't be able to figure out what you're doing wrong and fix it.

Overall, Icycle is pretty close to being the perfect driving game. It's certainly one of the best driving games online. It's great for the experienced player looking for something a bit different without wanting to abandon the genre entirely while newcomers will appreciate the easy to use controls and the fact that with a little thought, even they will be able to beat the game. This one is just excellent in every possible way. The only real problem with it, if I have to choose one, is that it isn't nearly long enough. When you reach the end, you're still hungry for more. Start from the beginning again and try to improve your score. Try to collect all of the soap bubbles so you complete each level to 100%. It isn't easy, but it is a lot of fun and gives you something new to strive for each time you play. If you are a fan of driving games, this is one you absolutely cannot pass up.