User:GUTTERTAHAH/Lyle in Cube Sector
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| Lyle in Cube Sector | |
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| Developer(s) | Nic Destefano |
| Publisher(s) | Independent |
| Designer(s) | Nic Destefano |
| Engine | Multimedia Fusion |
| Version | 1.03 |
| Platform(s) | Windows |
| Release date | January 19, 2006 |
| Genre(s) | Platform game |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Media | Free download |
| System requirements | Pentium II processor, 8MB RAM |
| Input methods | Keyboard, Gamepad |
Lyle in Cube Sector is a freeware game for the Windows operating system. It was created by Nic Destefano, pen name Bogo47. Lyle in Cube Sector is a platforming game where the main character, Lyle, picks up and throws blocks scattered throughout the land to attack enemies, a deviation from the usual fare of standard platforming action.
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[edit] Overview
Lyle in Cube Sector was designed by Nic Destefano to be a throwback to the old-styled gameplay of the 8-bit era, featuring graphics drawn by Nic that resemble graphics one could find on a NES.[1] Music was downloaded from sites featuring free music that had chiptune sound quality, another throwback to the NES. Sound effects were borrowed from various NES games. Lyle in Cube Sector also features whimsical, odd humor. The original story from the developer's website is typed in all capital letters, and uses obviously incorrect words such as "STOLENED" and bizarre adjective use like "MEOWMEOW COMPANION".[1]
[edit] Gameplay
Lyle in Cube Sector plays has a very similar overworld structure to that of a Metroid game, where the player can explore freely, only limited by the abilities of power-ups they haven't found. The player's only method of attack is throwing cubes lying on the ground which they can pick up and throw at enemies, or to conjure a cube with the phantom cube power-up.
Not every collectable item gives a new ability; there are also two types of orbs, HP and CP. HP (Hit point) orbs give you an extra hit you can take from enemies, while CP (Cube power) orbs are used in a rudimentry monetary system. The player must exchange CP orbs at a machine to receive three phantom cube power-ups, making the phantom cube stronger, able to be conjured faster, and use less CP for generation.
[edit] Story
Template:Spoilers
Lyle has had his cat, Keddums, stolen away by a hooded stranger as he is sleeping. Lyle is awakened by Keddums's screech, and looks out his window, just missing who took his cat. Lyle then leaves his house and finds himself in Cube Sector. Lyle searches high and low for his cat, defeating two major enemies, Klobbur and Buzzby, and eventually finding a hidden cave. At the very end of the cave, Lyle encounters the hooded stranger, who reveals himself to be Vyle. Vyle then takes out a handgun and attacks Lyle.
Lyle defeats Vyle and chases him into the next room, where Vyle traps Lyle on an overhanging platform and activates the kitty-powered psychowave, with Keddums trapped inside. Vyle transforms himself into Psychovyle, a giant lizard-beetle fusion with bloodshot eyes. Lyle battles Psychovyle, which ends with Psychovyle collapsing his own platform, similar to the final battle between Bowser and Mario in SMB3. Lyle lands on a safe platform, while Psychovyle lands on a "large pointy thing", which destroys him.
Lyle is thrown back up the chasm near the kitty-powered psychowave, and the orb Keddums is suspended in is shattered. Lyle grabs Keddums and heads for the nearest exit, which leads to a plain room with a cube-rocket. Lyle jumps on the rocket and flies away, ending the game.
[edit] Characters
- Lyle - An african-american boy with green hair and massive eyes. He is the protagonist of Lyle in Cube Sector, and is the only playable character. His mission is to find his lost cat, Keddums, and evacuate Cube Sector safely.
- Keddums - Lyle's cat. The hooded stranger abducts him, setting the plot of the story in motion. He is also used to power Vyle's kitty-powered psychowave.
- Hooded stranger/Vyle/Psychovyle - A blue anthropomorphic monster that is the antagonist of the game. He steals Keddums to power his kitty-powered psychowave, which changes him into Psychovyle. It is unknown why he wanted to change into Psychovyle; he lost the reason to not run into an electrical barrier multiple times in the final battle, which led to his undoing.
[edit] Helpers of Lyle
- Glom - A dog that loves to eat eggs. After Lyle feeds Glom 3 eggs, he will give Lyle a CP orb and disappear.
- Cowube - A cow shaped like a cube that is also resistant to lava. Lyle must use him as a shield to get past several lava streams to find a block containing a CP orb.
[edit] Minions of Vyle
- Klobbur - A blue and red bull creature which tries to ram Lyle. He then rams the wall, causing a rain of blocks from the ceiling. He guards the phantom cube power-up.
- Buzzby - A flying bee-like insect that fires lasers and balls at Lyle. Buzzby sets up a guard of arkanoid blocks that Lyle must penetrate using a phantom cube as a paddle. He guards the Big Cube Lift power-up.
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[edit] Reception
Lyle in Cube Sector received good reviews at the gaming site The Daily Click, gaining a 97.4% approval rate, becoming the 169th game of the week,[2] and 29th most popular game overall. [3]
[edit] Trivia
- Nic took only 5 months to design Lyle in Cube Sector, although it was very nearly his only project during that time. [4]
- Lyle was named after a children's book called Lyle Lyle Crocodile. [4]
- Nic wanted Lyle to have a different skin color from most video game heroes, so he originally designed Lyle to have green skin. He later decided it made Lyle look too much like a martian, so he changed his skin color to black. [4]
[edit] Links
[edit] See also
- Indie gaming
- Klik
- Multimedia Fusion
- Cave Story, another Metroid-like freeware game with simple graphics
[edit] External links
- Developer's website
- The Daily Click entry for Lyle in Cube Sector
- Interview with Nic DeStefano, developer of Lyle in Cube Sector
- Another interview, on Total-Klik
