CyClones is a 1994 sci-fi First-Person Shooter developed by Raven Software and published by Strategic Simulations, Inc..
In the future, a hostile alien race called Cybernetic Clones - CyClones for short - have invaded the earth and devastated mankind, and even converts captured human captives into half-mechanical slaves and soldiers. Havoc, a human bio-weapon once captured by the aliens before breaking free of their control, must fight back.
After years of being stuck in legal limbo due to publisher SSI's collapse, the game was finally rereleased via SNEG in 2023 on Steam and GOG.
Mission Status: TERMINATED
- Action-Hogging Opening: The opening FMV that introduces Havoc's first field test sees him blowing up turrets, outrunning bullets, and kicking ass with an intense rock soundtrack in the background. Then comes the actual gameplay which is... far less impressive.
- Alien Invasion: In the backstory, and the alien invaders took it a step further by capturing humans to build their ranks.
- Antagonist Title: The Cy-Clones are Cybernetic Clones who wants to wipe out all humans after conquering earth.
- Attack Drone: One of the enemy types: spherical, hovering drones that attacks Havoc with built-in laser blasters. They appear usually in indoor facilities as guards.
- Body Armor as Hit Points: Havoc has two stat meters onscreen, both of them vertical. A blue one for his health and a green one for his armor, which offsets some damage inflicted upon him. They can be replendished respectively by picking up a bio-kit and armor-kit.
- Critical Annoyance: When Havoc's health is on it's last few bars, the game will throw a blinking "DAMAGE CRITICAL" (all in caps) as warning. The warning goes away when Havoc's health is restored or if he dies.
- Cyborg: Havoc, one of the humans subjected to the Cybernetic Cloning process. Several of the half-human enemies also qualifies, though they no longer retain their minds.
- Excuse Plot: Aliens have invaded, and you're a badass cyborg bio-weapon who can kick their ass. Go!
- Fly-at-the-Camera Ending: After Havoc blew up the alien mothership destroying the queen, the final cutscene depicts his escape pod entering earth's atmosphere and flying at the camera. Roll credits.
- Grenade Launcher: Late into the game, one of the strongest weapons Havoc can use for blowing up enemies. The grenades' explosion range are huge, too.
- Heroic Mime: Havoc doesn't utter a word at any point in-game.
- Hive Queen: You don't find out about it until late in-game, but the alien invaders are actually ruled by a queen in her mothership which you infiltrate in the final stage.
- Live-Action Cutscene: The game's cutscenes and briefings are filmed with live-action actors playing military personnel, politicians, and scientists behind Havoc's development. The gameplay on the other hand uses blocky, mid-90s video game graphics.
- Plasma Cannon: Havoc can obtain one as his weapon, and there are several enemies using plasma blasters as well (depicted as slow-moving green energy projectiles that does quite some damage when hit).
- Super-Soldier: Havoc, a lab-developed superhuman designed for battling the aliens.
- Unwilling Roboticisation: The fate of captured human prisoners, being recycled into cybernetic creatures.
- Wolverine Claws: Havoc can equip himself with the sabre gloves, which has two metal claw-like protrusions on the knuckles. Great for ripping up enemies up close by punching.
- Zero-Effort Boss: The Queen, revealed to be the invasion's mastermind and built up as the final level's boss, turns out to be far less impressive than expected. She's trapped behind a chamber for the entirety of the boss battle, and rather than Havoc confronting her heads-on, instead the final battle has Havoc avoiding the queen's attacks, finding the control panel for the Self-Destruct Mechanism, triggering it and escape.
