#burncycle

Burn:Cycle

My buddy and I started a podcast where we talk about video games. I know that that’s like every podcast ever made, but it’s still a fun time. Because we’re terrible at naming things it’s called Masters of Interlacing, and since I’m the resident artist I took up the task of designing our mascot. Her name’s Interlace-chan, and she’s great.

Burn:Cycle

Burn:Cycle

Philip's CD-i "Burn Cycle" commercial from 1994 - AI Enhanced Released in 1994, "Burn:Cycle" is one of the most notable titles for the Philips CD-i, a platform that struggled to carve out a niche in the competitive gaming market of the 90s. "Burn:Cycle" is often remembered for its ambitious blend of live-action video sequences, puzzle-solving gameplay, and a cyberpunk narrative that explored themes of consciousness and identity. It was one of the first games to be explicitly marketed as an interactive movie, and it sought to leverage the CD-i's multimedia capabilities to deliver a cinematic gaming experience.

Graphics and Audio

"Burn:Cycle" featured a mix of pre-rendered 3D backgrounds and full-motion video (FMV), a technique that was quite cutting-edge at the time. The pre-rendered scenes provided a visually immersive environment that was richer and more detailed than what most contemporary systems could handle. These graphics helped to establish a convincing cyberpunk world, complete with neon-lit cityscapes and gritty interiors that effectively conveyed the game's dystopian setting.

The integration of FMV into the gameplay was one of the game's major selling points. "Burn:Cycle" used live-action video not just for cutscenes but as an integral part of the gameplay, which was still a novelty. The video quality, by today's standards, might seem grainy and low-resolution, but at the time, it was a significant leap forward in terms of creating an immersive narrative experience in games.

The audio landscape of "Burn:Cycle" is particularly noteworthy. The soundtrack, composed by Simon Boswell, is a blend of electronic and orchestral music that fits perfectly with the game’s futuristic tone. The voice acting and sound effects are generally well-executed, enhancing the overall atmospheric tension and helping to drive the narrative forward.

Gameplay Mechanics

The gameplay of "Burn:Cycle" is primarily focused on puzzle-solving and narrative choices, with some light action elements. Players take on the role of Sol Cutter, a data thief who must navigate through a series of cybernetic puzzles and interactions with other characters to cure himself of a deadly virus that threatens to end his life within two hours—real-time ticking down that adds a sense of urgency to the player's actions.

The interface for interacting with the digital world of "Burn:Cycle" was innovative for its time, utilizing a point-and-click mechanism that allowed players to hack into computer systems, manipulate objects, and make narrative-affecting decisions. This gameplay mechanic anticipated the later popularity of narrative-driven adventure games.

Acting and Narrative

The acting in "Burn:Cycle" is a mixed bag, typical of early FMV games where performance quality varied widely. The lead performance by Vivi Devereaux as Sol Cutter is generally strong, helping to ground the high-concept story with a sense of personality and urgency. However, some secondary performances come off as stiff or over-the-top, reflecting the experimental nature of live-action recording in video games during the early '90s.

The narrative is where "Burn:Cycle" really tries to set itself apart, featuring a complex cyberpunk story that delves into themes of technology, identity, and reality. The story is engaging and well-crafted, with multiple layers of conspiracy and philosophical questioning that are rare for video games of that era.

Innovations and Influence

"Burn:Cycle" was ahead of its time in many ways. Its use of FMV to drive gameplay, not just narrative, was relatively innovative, as was its integration of a real-time countdown mechanic that added urgency to the player's decisions. The game's attempt to blend cinematic storytelling with interactive gameplay elements anticipated the future of video gaming and can be seen as a precursor to later narrative-driven games.

Conclusion