Cyber Cycles FAQ By Mark Kim a.k.a. Vestiroth Version 0.4 Premier Public Release Street Date: 23June1998 Newer versions of the Cyber Cycles FAQ may be picked up at my website located at http://verasnaship.simplenet.com. If you have any corrections, fixes, or suggestions with this speed guide, then please e-mail me with the subject of "Cyber Cycles FAQ Fix" at vestiroth@verasnaship.simplenet.com. Please be informed that I will not accept any spamming whatsoever. Period. If you want to know why I hate spamming, you should visit either http://spam.abuse.net or http://www.cauce.org before you e-mail me. I have been waiting for a long time in order to produce an FAQ for Namco's System Super 22 follow-up to Suzuka 8 Hours. The reason why this is so is because I'm assuming that GameFAQs.com already had a guide to Cyber Cycles. However, I had plans to do so because although there are tricks according to "Secrets of the Sega Sages", I was fascinated to see that there's not even a single Cyber Cycles FAQ. To show my appreciation in playing the game, this is the result. Notice: Judging from Kao Megura's and John Culbert's campaign to end all FAQ-stealing, I am gonna be tight on this too. Stealing any of the work from this FAQ will not be tolerated. If you don't give me any credit for this work while you try to create your own Cyber Cycles FAQ, I WILL tell CJayC to boycott your work if for any reason I find any of your FAQ material similar to mine and if you don't even post my name on the credits section of your FAQ. It's time to stop all of this FAQ-stealing injustice as this crap has gone way too far. This FAQ can be used for personal and commercial use as long as the contents are untouched, unaltered, untampered, unmodified, or unpirated and as long as you give me credit of some sorts for this work. It can only be redistributed in its entirely original and electronical format. Printing directly from your browser's print option is acceptable, as long as you don't make any money out of this work by selling printouts, and as long as you don't tamper with this FAQ in any fashion. You must let me know whenever you mirror my FAQ by e-mailing me at verasnaship@earthling.net with the subject of FAQ Mirror URL so I can make sure that this work has been transmitted to your account properly. If not, then please e-mail me with the subject of FAQ trouble, and I'll reply with an attachment of my FAQ. This FAQ MUST BE VIEWED in a monotype font like Courier or the alignment of this FAQ will not be correct. No part of this FAQ may be printed in any gaming magazine whatsoever. Period. DISCLAIMER: THIS FAQ WAS CREATED BY MARK KIM TO COMPLY WITH ALL INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAWS AND TREATIES, WITH THE ADDITION OF UNITED STATES CODE 107. IF YOU, FOR ANY REASON, MUST FIND ANYTHING COPYRIGHTED IN THIS MATERIAL, PLEASE E-MAIL ME AT VERASNASHIP@EARTHLING.NET IMMEDIATELY AND I WILL REMOVE IT RIGHT AWAY. BE SURE TO USE COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT AS YOUR SUBJECT. Cyber Cycles, Anthias, Wild Hog, Paul Phoenix, Jennifer Lutzenkirchen, NVR 750R, Neo Yokohama, Green Hill, and all Cyber Cycles-related events are registered trademarks and copyrights of Namco, LTD. and Namco America, Inc. All Rights Reserved. All content of this FAQ, Kingdom of Verasnaship, Vestiroth, Vestiroth's Nest, Verasnaship are registered trademarks and copyrights of Mark Kim. All Rights Reserved. This FAQ was created by Mark Kim in respect to Namco Properties. ============================================================================= HISTORY OF THE FAQ Version 0.4 While GameFAQs.com had a link to Secrets of the Sega Sages cheat to Cyber Cycles, there were no FAQ files on the site whatsoever! I was shocked to hear this. In appreciation to this, I have written an FAQ regarding about Cyber Cycles. ============================================================================= CONTENTS - Game Basics - Viewpoints - The Machines - Green Hill - Neo Yokohama - How to mirror my FAQ - How to submit this FAQ to GameFAQs.com - Mirrors of this FAQ - How to suggest any fixes - Credits ============================================================================= BASICS Handling: Handling in Cyber Cycles is determined by the size and the weight of your machine. You need to time your drifts correctly or you minus well go out of the track for no reason. There are some times when you need to take out a turn ahead of time because you need some time to slow down. The bike is willing to slow down for you but you must determine if you have to release the throttle or to grip the brake or not. Knowing the depth of the turns is crucial to your success in Cyber Cycles. Braking: Braking is accomplished by gripping the rightmost lever in the bike. Braking isn't always the solution to take down the turns in the game. There are some instances that you have to avoid using the brake (i.e. this applies to the Anthias). Braking can help ONLY when you learn how to do it ahead of time. Try to brake a little and drift as you complete braking for enhanced control. Be careful not to go too fast, though. Throttle: This is the accelerator that increases your speed, but at times, would help you reduce your speed for better control. However, releasing the throttle is a lot slower than braking, as it's really easy to be thrown off the course if you do it too late. I would try to do a combination of both braking and throttling because at certain turns, you need to go slower for better control. Knowing when to brake, or release the throttle, or both is the key to efficient riding. Drones and Hazards: Definitely make sure that you are not bound to drive out of the course, and definitely stay away from the drones. If you go outside of the course, then you will lose precious speed as well as risking your chance for the top. Hitting the drones poses more of a threat because in the world of Motorcycle Racing, a spectacular collision with a drone could REALLY ruin your day. The clock isn't your worst enemy in the game at all. It's better to run out of the course rather than hit the drone at speeds of up to 249kmh. In order to sit for the top spot in the game, you should try not to hit the drones neither get out of the track for any reason. WARNING: THE DRONES HAVE A BAD HABIT OF CHEATING. IF THEY CRASH AND IF YOU ARE WAY AHEAD OF THEM, BE PREPARED TO HAVE THEM CATCH UP WITH YOU. AFTER- WARDS, IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CATCH UP WITH THEM. DON'T RACE DIRTY OR YOU WILL PISS THE CPU OFF! ============================================================================= VIEWPOINTS Cyber Cycles features three viewpoints that you can look at. These views include right in the biker's view, just close to your biker, and the Suzuka view (That is, the view that you only had in Suzuka 8 Hours). I would prefer the Suzuka view for many reasons because then you have a much better view of the action. The default view is the view just close to the bike. ============================================================================= THE MACHINES Cyber Cycles features three state-of-the-art, futuristic machines that can variate the difficulty of the two courses that you will be racing in. Even though most people like Suzuka 8 Hours 2 (because of the amount of tracks), or Motorcross Go! better than this game, I would say that this game has the top honors because the choice of the machines is where the game's high point lies at. ============================================================================= ANTHIAS Skill: Beginner Rider: Jennifer Lutzenkirchen, VSSE Best feature: Handling Worst Feature: Speed Maximum Top Speed (Normal): 290kmh Ideal Use: Green Hill ============================================================================= The Anthias is a good beginner's machine. Since handling is a piece of cake, it can take on the toughest corners with ease, but sadly it falls short of speed because there are times when these darn green drones will try to "cheat" on you. I would definitely use the Anthias for a first couple of games just to get used to the courses. I would just play a few games of Suzuka 8 Hours before you even try Cyber Cycles because this game is slightly harder than its pre-System 22 counterpart. For a Suzuka Convert, I think this should suit you well. However, once you mastered Neo Yokohama, then there's something better for you. The Anthias can get you the fastest lap on Green Hill, but not on Neo Yokohama. ============================================================================= NVR 750R Skill: Intermediate Rider: Morizuya Tachibana, Suzuka Racing Committee (Fictional) Best Feature: Speed Worst Feature: A little too hard for beginners to handle Maximum Top Speed (Normal): 332kmh Ideal Use: Neo Yokohama ============================================================================= This is definitely the machine to master in order to get the fastest lap time at Neo Yokohama. A good balance of speed and handling helps the NVR excel in certain areas but be aware that this machine is quite prone to certain sharp turns because of its high curb weight. Despite the weight problem, the NVR won't be a problem for an expert player. Just learn how to slow down ahead of time and by learning how to release the throttle whenever necessary. Once you get the feel of the throttle and brake, this would be your machine for Neo Yokohama. ============================================================================= WILD HOG Skill: Advanced Rider: Paul Phoenix of Tekken 3 Best Feature: Powersliding allows for fast, powerful cornering Worst Feature: Powersliding can be hard for a beginner to handle, this bike has the highest curb weight meaning that this is the most difficult bike to master. Maximum Top Speed (Normal): 324kmh Ideal Use: Neo Yokohama ============================================================================= The Wild Hog is everything what an American Bike should be: High Torque, powersliding for powerful cornering, and high torque for quick acceleration. Sadly, since this bike has the highest curb weight of the three, you need to allow lots of time to take down the corners or you minus well call that error your last. Always make sure that you negotiate your reaction to the turn by slowing down ahead of time and bank to the desired direction. Make sure that you recover by the time you are finished taking out the turn. Never, ever, ever hit any drones while sliding--or you're in deep trouble. ============================================================================= GREEN HILL (Three laps on most machines) Distance: 2900 Meters Difficulty: Easy Mark's Best Lap Time: 40"584 Mark's Course Time: 2'04"561 Mark's Bike of choice: Anthias ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Even though you should be familiar with Green Hill (from Suzuka 2), you will need to be aware that the High-Speed Ess has been sharpened to give the track an incredible challenge. Use of the Anthias is preferred, but the NVR may or may not be good depending on your needs. Without any major accidents, you should never have to worry about braking with the Anthias. In order to sit for the top spot using either the NVR or the Wild Hog, you will need to be careful of the Corkscrew Curve and the High-Speed Ess since these two turns are rather dangerous. Corkscrew Curve: Use the out-and-in technique to take this turn. You may have to reduce some speed if you are inside the NVR or the Wild Hog just before you start this turn because this is one long medium right that you have to confront. With the Anthias, all it takes is just caution because your drones also has a bad habit in avoiding the outside of the track. The Next Three Turns: Use the out-and-in while watching out for your speed when taking it with the NVR and Wild Hog. You may have to keep your speed under 238kmh with the Wild Hog and NVR, but you can take these turns at full throttle with the Anthias. The third and fourth turns are dangerous because if you don't watch your speed or position, then you will be thrown outside of the track. The Checkpoint and Beyond: Right after you cross the checkpoint, you should lean to the left as soon as you encounter another right. Don't be fooled by the High-Speed Ess as going outside the High-Speed Ess may result in loss of speed. Be careful of the drones while trying to pull off the High-Speed Ess perfectly. You should have a good chance to catch up with the two green NVRs at the Misty Curve. Stay low in the Misty Curve for speed. The Final Turn: Move from the Outside into the Inside. Without any major accidents, your lap time should be at the 42"000 mark. Anything below that should be good. ============================================================================= NEO YOKOHAMA (Two laps on most machines) Distance: 7836 Meters Difficulty: Hard Mark's Best Lap Time: 1'52"160 Mark's Course Time: 3'46"313 Mark's Bike of choice: NVR 750R ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Neo Yokohama is a course that has many weird sharps, many twists, blind turns, and lots of areas that places our audience in extreme suspense. Players race around the futuristic setting that looks like future day Japan indeed. You will need to be a real bike diva in order to place in the top spot. Kanzaki Tunnel: Begin the race here. Your first turn is a sharp right. Move from the outside, and as you pass the turn sign, go to the inside. Timing of the drift is important here. Tangvik: An Ess that is so blind, many people screw up here. As soon as you see the Ess sign, now is the time to lean the bike a little to the left. As soon as you see the gates closing near you, then you should try to drift to the left and back to the right to avoid slamming hard. Starblade Curves: It's important to judge the turns on how sharp they may be. Try to stay low on the curves, but be aware that an easy right could turn into an easy left, so make sure you take the necessary precautions. Lean left as soon as you are about to enter the second half of the Starblade Curves. Cross the first Time Extention and face the wrath of the Grobda Chicanes. Grobda Chicanes: These chicanes can be a pain in the ass. To stay ahead of the pack, really hit the brake and in-and-out from one chicane into another with finesse. You may have to speed out if necessary to make the Grobda Chicanes less hairy. Sadly, a lot of people are misled to the fact that the Grobda Chicanes are easy turns. Wrong. The Grobda chicanes consists of a sharp right to left, a sharp left to right, and a sharp right--good enough to ruin your day if you don't slow down just a little after the first time extention, and if you can't take the out-and-in strategy to work. Xevious Ess: You will have to go no faster than 230 at the start of the Xevious Ess in order to avoid any collisions. Slow down when you see the sign, and definitely take on the Xevious Ess from the out-and-in. The second turn of the Xevious Ess should be steered clear of because it is indeed a semi-sharp left. Druaga Sharps: After the second checkpoint, don't let the straight fool you because you will have to deal with the two Druaga Sharp Curves next. You shouldn't be going any faster than 205kmh and be going from the out and in on both sharp rights. You may have to release the throttle and throttle to the max again when you are assured that you will not have any problems with the second of the two Druaga Sharps. Galaxian Triangle: You will contend a sharp left, sharp right, and finally a sharp left. It's important that you start slowing down in an instant just as you are closing into a sign. You should not be taking on these turns any faster than 190kmh. You may wish to take on these turns like you would with the Casio Triangle in the Suzuka Circuit on Suzuka 8 Hours but it's a lot more dangerous and deadly because there are barriers on both sides of the track. Override: Long Easy Left. Move from the outside and into the inside and stay low on the Override for some speed. Don't get too confident with the turn or you will go onto the edge, something that you don't want to do. Just stay low just right that you won't go inside the edges of the track. You shouldn't be going any faster than 245kmh here. Then at the straight, keep the bike floored on a straight line for speed. Stanhope Curve: Take the turn from the out-to-in. Start banking as soon as you are near the turn sign. Aensland Curve (after the fourth time extention): This curve is sharper than the Stanhope Curve. Although this curve isn't as hard as it seems, you need to be banking as you are about to pass the turn sign, taking the turn from the out-and-in, and you need to be going no faster than 220kmh in order to avoid a possible date with the edges. Michelin Circle: Keep the bike floored straight just before the Michelin. As you approach the Michelin, you may have to brake so that your speed isn't exceeding 215kmh. This medium left suddenly turns into a medium right, which means that you should get ready to bank right as soon as you see the signs. Don't start any turn in Neo Yokohama too late or you'll slam into the edges hard. All of the strategies performed in Neo Yokohama are based upon my experiences with the NVR 750R. ============================================================================= To provide a mirror for my FAQ: If you want to take a copy of this FAQ for yourself, just press print at your browser's button. If you want to provide a mirror for my FAQ, here's the directions (Assuming that you are using Windows 95): - Start Netscape Navigator 3.0 or better - Go to http://verasnaship.simplenet.com/text/ (From now on, please do not go directly to my text files. - Click on the link to the text file, Click on file, and click on Save As - Save the file as mark_kim_cc.txt on your disk (If you save the file using a network, please use your floppy disk). - FTP this FAQ to your Internet Account as usual - Provide a link to this FAQ - Provide a text link to my site at http://verasnaship.simplenet.com - E-Mail Me if you want a fancier link at verasnaship@earthling.net - You can also e-mail me for any requests. Please provide me with the Mirror's URL if you have mirrored this work because I want to make sure that the alignment of this work turns out right. If I see that the alignment is not correct, then I'll e-mail you with this work sent as an attachment so you can correct your problems. I want to make sure that the quality of this FAQ will be passed through into your mirrors as well. ============================================================================= To submit this FAQ to GameFAQs.com: If you wish to submit a newer version of this FAQ to GameFAQs.com, then here's what to do: - Your subject should be Cyber Cycles FAQ update. - Please insert either http://verasnaship.simplenet.com/text/cybercycles.txt. somewhere on your letter. Please don't paste the entire contents of this work as a part of your letter. - Just before the URL update, you should type down "URL for Cyber Cycles FAQ Update" In the event that the FAQ didn't turn out to be mirrored properly, I'll e-mail the webmaster of GameFAQs.com with this work as an attachment so the alignment of this FAQ will turn out to be correct. Always make sure that the alignment of this FAQ is correct before you even open your mirror to the public--I'm counting on you to provide quality mirrors of this FAQ! ============================================================================= How to suggest fixes: One time when I was forced to update another FAQ for Super GT by Sega, I was surprised to see that I was driving from Helen Keller. That is why I have a protocol while you are suggesting fixes: - Your subject must be Cyber Cycles FAQ Fix - You must not use any profanity on your letter - You must tell me if it's advanced, intermediate, or beginner's strategy on that course - You must tell me if the fix is for the miscellaneous, for Neo Yokohama, or for Green Hill. - No Spamming! ============================================================================= CREDITS - Secrets of the Sega Sages (http://www.segasages.com) for the Scooter cheat - Namco for creating yet another respective motorcycle game. - Dave and Buster's, Aladdin's Castle at Aurora, Aladdin's Castle at Lombard, Great Oddysey at Carol Stream for having Cyber Cycles in Display. - MDH, GUY, RJB for setting time standards at the Neo Yokohama Course - John Culbert and Kao Megura for encouraging me to lobby against FAQ-stealing injustices. - CJayC for mirroring the last 6 FAQs that I have authored.