Another polygonal Namco arcade game is getting its first ever home release, thanks to the Arcade Archives series.
Japanese publisher Hamster Corporation has been working through the library of games released on Namco’s System 22 arcade board – which saw the company making the jump to polygonal games – and its more powerful Super System 22 board, and releasing them through its Arcade Archives series.
So far it’s released eight of these games so far, and now the ninth – Cyber Cycles – is set for release this Thursday, August 20.
Cyber Cycles was released in arcades in 1995 an is described by some as ‘Ridge Racer on motorbikes’. The game’s original release lies between those of Ridge Racer 2 and Rave Racer, and features similar visuals with the obvious difference being that players now race on futuristic motorcycles.
Players can choose from three increasingly powerful (and therefore difficult to handle) bikes, with two more to unlock. There are two circuits to race on – the easier Green Hill, and the more advanced Neo Yokohama.
Cyber Cycles will be released as an Arcade Archives title on Switch and PS4, and as an Arcade Archives 2 title on Switch 2, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
Each Arcade Archives game features Original Mode, High Score Mode (where you keep playing until you get Game Over) and Caravan Mode (where you have to get the highest score within a certain time).
Arcade Archives 2 versions also add Time Attack Mode (where you try to beat the full game as quickly as possible), and VRR support for a “more accurate reproduction of the original arcade game’s experience”.
The Arcade Archives 2 version of Cyber Cycles also offers a split screen mode for 2-4 players, replicating the arcade version’s ability to link up to four cabinets.
Players who buy the $14.99 Arcade Archives version on PS4 or Switch will be able to upgrade to the $16.99 Arcade Archives 2 version on PS5 or Switch 2 later for $2.99.
This is the ninth of Namco’s System 22 and Super System 22 games to be released through Arcade Archives. The others currently available are Ridge Racer, Air Combat 22, Aqua Jet, Tokyo Wars, Rave Racer, Cyber Commando, Ace Driver and Armadillo Racing.
Hamster also indicated in June that its plans for Namco’s arcade titles go beyond System 22 as it added the original Tekken as an Arcade Archives 2 title.
Tekken was released on Namco’s System 11 arcade board, opening the door to potential future Namco System 11 game re-releases on Arcade Arcades like Tekken 2, Soul Edge, Dunk Mania, Xevious 3D/G and Pocket Racer.
