Twisted Pixel giving away custom Xbox

LocoCycle&nbs??p;is a pretty flawed game, but if you're looking for a bit of silly fun it can deliver on a rainy afternoon. Previously it was an Xbox One timed exclusive, but now developer Twisted Pixel has announced that it will be coming to the Xbox 360 and Steam on February 14th, 2014.

It's a pretty sudden announcement, as the PC version was a secret project and not known before this week -- it would be a great candidate for a cheap Steam Sale. Twisted Pixel is also running a giveaway f?or a custom Xbox 360 or Xbox One, if you're in?terested.

LocoCyle update [Twisted Pixel]

The post LocoCyle heading to Steam and the 360 on Valentine’s Day appeared first on Destructoid.

Pablo is a champion

LocoCycle is a pretty insane game. In some ways it's wrong, in others, it's oh so right. But one thing's for sure -- if you love cheesy action films and want something completely different in a videogame, Loco might be your huckleberry.

Here are some tips to facilitate said craziness.

General tips (minor non-story spoilers below):

• When in close combat situations, press A to switch targets. Use this to attack enemies that might be poised to strike, and to target specific foes that may be part of a sub-mission.

• Upgrade your ability to interrupt attacks when throwing Pablo first. It's easily one of the best skills in the game, and it's extremely useful even later in the campaign, especially after you upgrade it to stun capability.

• Next, upgrade your regeneration skill. This will be extremely useful during long boss fights since there are no health pickups. Once you pick up Pablo's regeneration ability, stand still without boosting or firing to use it.

• Often times, it's more prudent to just stand still behind an enemy, take damage, and line up consistent shots. Rather than zoom around and get hit intermittently, sometimes it's best to just take them down as fast as possible instead of drawing it out.

• You don't need to do every QTE -- they're mainly for boosting your score. Don't stress over them.

• As missiles are coming at you, it's best to just stand still, then press the A button to grab and counter-throw them. Don't try to move around too much.

• When it comes time to fix I.R.I.S., check in four directions of the d-pad to "find" new minigames. For the wire game, gently press both analog sticks together until the wire is just barely touching, and look for the blue light.

• For the boss fight with the giant mech that's running alongside of you, you can only counter him by throwing back the car that's cut in half -- not the other vehicles or the buses. It's easy to get confused.

• When fighting the scientists in the electric balls, tap the gas button to avoid their attacks. Don't go overboard with it, just keep your finger lightly on the button to dodge.

• When fighting S.P.I.K.E. on the bridge, the last car will be the one you'll need to throw back at him. It'll be bouncing wildly -- line yourself up with it to avoid another round of attacks.

• During the final fight with S.P.I.K.E. (you'll know it when you see it), use a jumping heavy kick to confirm, then a low heavy kick for a quick high damage 2-hit combo. It's the easiest way to defeat him.

The post Very Quick Tips: LocoCycle appeared first on Destructoid.

A low rent, yet fun SpyHunter

I've always had a soft spot for SpyHunter. Although Twisted Metal and other arena-base??d shooters are great in their own right, there's something special about an action racing game that lets you hit the open road.

LocoCyle is kind?? of like that. But add in a few sentient talking mo??torcycles, crazy biker gangs, a plot for world domination, and an innocent mechanic forced along for the ride. Yep, it's pretty hard to explain, but I'll try.

LocoCycle (Xbox 360, Xbox One [reviewed])
Developer: Twisted Pixel Games
Publisher: Microsoft Studios
Release Date: November 22, 2013
MSRP: $19.99

I wasn't expecting LocoCyle to be as off the wall as it was. Think back to how Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon payed homage to '80s films -- that's similar to how LocoCycle plays out, but a little less dystopian and bleak and more "buddy cop." In a rather weird set of events, the game has a ton of real-life film footage spliced in-between gameplay that tells a mini-movie of sorts. Think Toxic Avenger meets Tron, with its own bit of craziness.

Actress Lisa Foiles lends her voice to I.R.I.S. the blue sentient motorcycle on the "good side." As your rival, Robert Patrick (of Terminator 2 T-1000 fame) plays the "bad" in the form of S.P.I.K.E. Stuck right in the middle is Pabl??o (Freddy Rodriguez), who is attached to I.R.I.S. as she breaks free of the evil organization that is auctioning her off to world powers as a weapon. James Gunn and Tom Savini also add their talents to the mix in these sequences, adding a good amount of cheese/camp factor.

Confused yet? I was too at times, given how insane the game is on a constant basis. I don't want to spoil much, but at one point S.P.I.K.E. is sitting down in a real-life film sequence, being cheered on in a bar to eat a giant burger. It's surreal and extremely corny, but it's nice to see Twisted Pixel ??try something vastly different from the rest of the gaming industry in their biggest production yet.

Pablo is, of course, reluctantly along for the ride, being dragged by I.R.I.S. He only speaks Spanish the entire game, with a "Pablo??-only" subtitles option to explain what he's saying. I'm not fluent in Spanish but I do speak it, and knowing some does enhance my enjoyment since I'm not having to constantly look at subtitles. If I didn't know the language though it would be an odd juxtaposition, to see him babbling about while I'm in the middle of dodging a missile.

I.R.I.S. gives off a different personality as she drags Pablo along the road, trying to stay positive in an innocent sort of way -- but she's downright cruel at times, ignoring his constant screams of pain. She's not always that funny either, so I expect her to be a divisive character among players. Pablo never really has a chance to shine, as he's constantly yelling things like "Get me off" and "Let me go!" and it isn't until the end that he has any real growth. In a sense, LocoCyle has created a way to present characters that you both love and hate at the sa?me time.

So what's the actual gameplay like? Well, combat is a lot like SpyHunter, a fighting game, and Road Rash all mi??xed into one -- with results that are often less impressive when directly compared to its influences. I.R.I.S. takes care ??of the former, with the ability to shoot her machine guns, and Pablo is in charge of the latter two styles, slicing enemies with his wrench as he's being dragged.

Some enemies must be shot, some have to be fought hand-to-hand, which initiates a zoomed-in sequence where I.R.I.S. and Pablo attack enemies in tandem by mashing ??the X and Y buttons. X is a normal attack, Y throws Pablo at other enemies, interrupting their att?acks, and A switches targets and counters. It's a simple system that lacks depth, but it works -- especially in some of the more intense fights.

In short, varying sequences of driving and shooting with fighting portions is basically how the game plays out -- like an arcade game, in the purest sense of the term. You'll race across various locales, completing objectives like "defeat these enemies within this time limit" or "escape this foe" -- but most of the gameplay is just going to be "blow stuff up," which can get repetitive after lengthy play sessions. There are also some QTEs present, but they are inoffensive, and you don't need to com??plete them to continue on with the story.

Since this is a rather short game, I'm glad the enemy variety is a priority. You'll encounter tons of different things to smash and shoot at, from jetpack soldiers, to rocket surfers, to mechs, to bikers that pay a clear homage to Road Rash. There's a good mix of designs and combat variety to keep you on your toes, with mini-games included as well, one of which mirrors a shoot-'em-up. The boss fights are a mix of repetitive and enjoyable encounters, with S.P.I.K.E. being the usual highlight. It sounds ridiculous -- two bikes fighting each other in hand-to-hand combat -- but that's what happens, and it feels delicious?ly old-school.

You'll earn experience points depending on how well you do in a mission, which can be used to upgrade I.R.I.S. in the form of offensive and defensive capabilities like increased speed, weaponry, and health. These upgrades aren't just cosmetic and? can change your playstyle drastically, which is a nice touch as this part of the game could have easily been lazily implemented. It also gives the game a sense of progression, rather than aimlessly shooting for hours on end.

The game's campaign is around three to four hours, and it's worth playing again to grab all of the hidden content. The extras you'll unlock are meaningful, with additional behind-the-scenes movies, concept art, and even a backstage look at Twisted ?Pix??el themselves. There's nothing major like new characters or anything, but if you're at all interested in the lore or the design process, there are a few gems in there.

LocoCycle tries a lot of new things thematically, while simultaneously paying homage to classic arcade racing shooters. It doesn't succeed in everything it sets out to do, but if you're looking for a decent arcade shooter to toy around with on your new Xbox One, LocoCycle is it. ??For everyone else, you'll have to wa?it until it hits the Xbox 360.

The post Review: LocoCycle (Xbox One) appeared first on Destructoid.

Coming to Xbox 360 at a 'further date'

The upcoming Road Rash-esque LocoCycle is now headed to the Xbox One as a launch title, with the original Xbox 360 version pushed to a "furth?er date," according to Twisted ??Pixel. It'll be launched as a "digital exclusive" through the "New" Xbox Live marketplace on the Xbox One, whenever that launch may be.

Sadly, there were no hints dropped as to when that is, but all bets are on for Microsoft to provide that information on Monday morning during their press conference. I liked what I saw of LocoCycle, and considering the developer described the combat as "Bayonetta-esque," I'm definite??ly watching out for this one.

The post Twisted Pixel’s Lococycle is an Xbox One launch title appeared first on Destructoid.

'This isn't Call of Duty?'

LocoCycle is well underway, ??and ?a new video has just been released to acclimate us with Freddy Rodriguez, the voice actor who plays the part of Pablo.

Twisted Pixel sat Rodriguez down to introduce his often out-of-control character. The studio apparently had to resort to some crafty and underhanded techniques to get Rodriguez? ??on-board for the project.

Rodriguez probably feels just as c?onfused as poor Pablo does.

The post New LocoCycle trailer introduces Pablo appeared first on Destructoid.

One of the new games Microsoft announced at its E3 2012 press briefing yesterday morning was Twisted Pixel's LocoCycle, the studio's sixth original IP. Here's the short teaser trailer?? from the show.

The titular m??otorcycle is apparently called "I.R.I.S.," and she's quite the capable vehicle -- equipped with nuclear technology, cloaking abilities, martial-arts training, and knowledge of over 50 languages, I.R.I.S. is ready fo??r any challenge.

That's all Twisted Pixel is saying for now; LocoCycle isn't even ?at E3, but the Microsoft-owned studio is promising m??ore details at PAX Prime. We'll be there to check it out!

The post E3: Twisted Pixel teases LocoCycle appeared first on Destructoid.