Library

Motorpsycho

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email
AMG AllGame Guide:

MotorPsycho

Top
Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Games Guide
MotorPsycho
Buy Now

Game Description

MotorPsycho is a single player motorcycle race against the clock. Much like the Pole Position games, you can choose to race on one of four tracks. You must thread your way through other motorcycles without crashing in order to get the best lap times.

You view the track from behind your motorcycle. Unlike the flat Pole Position tracks, in MotorPsycho you will sometimes find yourself racing up and down steep hills. The tracks also include obstacles. Ramps on the track allow you to jump over the obstacles and over other motorcycles.

The joystick controller allows the player's motorcycle to turn, accellerate, shift gears, and jump. There are no brakes! Before starting a race, the player has the option of adjusting two parameters that affect the motorcycle's turning performance.
~ Joseph Scoleri III, All Game Guide

Review: Overall

Upon casual inspection, Motor Psycho could easily be mistaken for just another Pole Position clone that uses motorcycles instead of cars. There are a number of similarities: four different tracks (like Pole Position II), high/low gear shift, qualifying runs, and a requirement to beat the clock each lap.

However, while Motor Psycho is clearly cast in the Pole Position mold, it has a completely different feel from its predecessor and comes off as a somewhat better game than the Atari 7800 version of Pole Position II.

One of the immediately noticeable differences is that the Motor Psycho tracks are not flat. Although the graphic presentation of hilly terrain is plain and not very inspiring compared to later games, this was indeed a welcome change from the competely flat tracks found in Pole Position, Pole Position II and clones.

Another interesting difference found in Motor Psycho is the jump function. Why steer around traffic when you can jump over it? This feature is also used to introduce a new hazard as there are small ramps scatterd around the track which can lauch you into the air before a tight turn resulting in a costly crash.

Motor Psycho also has one feature which almost kills it. When you crash, you are treated to the amusing sight of parts of your motorcycle bouncing off the screen. Although this is initially entertaining, the display uses up a variable amount of time. Unlike Pole Position where you get back on the track in about the same amount of time after every crash, some of the post-crash graphics in Motor Psycho are excruciatingly long, without any apparent rhyme or reason.

Of course the experienced gamer will answer: don't crash. But even when your crashes are few and far between, it can be very frustrating when the game happens to toss in a "long" crash when you are short on time. Equal length crashes would keep the player feeling like they were winning or losing on their own merits rather than based on a random graphics display.

Motor Psycho is also presents a somewhat unique option in that it allows you to control how the joystick makes your motorcycle respond. By adjusting the "straighten" and "turn" response times, a player can tailor the game until it feels just right.
~ Joseph Scoleri III, All Game Guide

Review: Enjoyment

This is especially enjoyable when competing against a friend to see who can get the best score/time for each track.
~ Joseph Scoleri III, All Game Guide

Review: Graphics

Nice details and backgrounds.
~ Joseph Scoleri III, All Game Guide

Review: Sound

Typically sparse 7800 audio, but a step above the similar Pole Position II.
~ Joseph Scoleri III, All Game Guide

Review: Replay Value

The different tracks provide a reasonable amount of replay.
~ Joseph Scoleri III, All Game Guide

Review: Documentation

Very brief and bland manual which was typical for the {!7800}.
~ Joseph Scoleri III, All Game Guide
AMG AllMusic Guide: Pop Artists:

Motorpsycho

Top
Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Pop Artists
  • Genres: Rock

Biography

Named for a movie by American sexploitation auteur Russ Meyer, Motorpsycho is a Norwegian band whose music is an adventurous fusion of progressive rock, psychedelia, alternative rock, folk-rock, hard rock, and old-school heavy metal. Motorpsycho was formed in Trondheim, Norway in the fall of 1989 by guitarist Hans Magnus "Snah" Ryan, bassist Bent Saether, and drummer Kjell Runar "Killer" Jenssen, who all knew one another from playing the regional club circuit with various bands. After cutting a demo in 1990 (which was released under the title Maiden Voyage) and releasing their debut LP, Lobotomizer, in 1991, Jenssen left the band and Hakon Gebhardt, a high school friend of Ryan's, took over behind the drums. After a handful of EPs and vinyl-only releases, the new Motorpsycho lineup added a fourth member, Helge Sten on keyboards and electronics, and they cut the grand-scale 1993 double album Demon Box, which earned enthusiastic reviews while expanding the group's following. The band stayed busy in the studio, releasing a pair of EPs in late 1993 and early 1994, leading up to Timothy's Monster, an expansive work spread out over two discs on CD and three LPs on vinyl. After the release of Timothy's Monster, Sten dropped out of Motorpsycho as a full-time bandmember, though he continued to work with the group in the studio and appeared at their live shows as his schedule permitted; guitarist Morten Fagervik and keyboardist Lars Lien came aboard in his place. In 1995, the group released The Tussler, the original soundtrack album to a movie that existed only in Motorpsycho's imagination, and despite a busy touring schedule, they returned with another album, Blissard, in 1996. By the time Angels and Daemons at Play was released in 1997, Fagervik and Lien had dropped out of the group, and the core trio of Ryan, Saether, and Gebhardt soldiered on, releasing their next studio effort, Trust Us, in 1998, and the first in their series of Roadwork albums (collecting live recordings from the group's archives) in 1999. In the 21st century, Motorpsycho kept up a hectic recording and performing schedule, releasing four studio albums, another Roadwork volume, and a collaborative EP with Jaga Jazzist Horns between 2000 and 2003; during this period, elements of jazz and electronic music also began playing a larger role in their music. In 2005, Gebhardt left Motorpsycho, and the 2007 album Black Hole/Blank Canvas found Ryan and Saether recording as a duo with guest percussionist Jacco van Rooij and vibraphonist Oyvind Brandtsegg. 2008's Little Lucid Moments marked the recording debut of Motorpsycho's new full-time drummer, Kenneth Kapstad, and in 2009, the band celebrated their 20th anniversary with a vinyl-only album, Child of the Future, recorded with engineer Steve Albini. 2010 saw the release another studio set, Heavy Metal Fruit, and the fourth Roadwork collection followed in 2011. In 2012, Motorpsycho collaborated with keyboardist-composer-arranger Ståle Storløkken (Supersilent, Elephant9, Humcrush, Terje Rypdal) and the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra. They released a re-imagined studio version of the 2011 concert work, The Death Defying Unicorn, which was commissioned by the Molde International Jazzfestival for their 50th anniversary. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
Wikipedia on Answers.com:

Motorpsycho

Top
Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
This article refers to the Norwegian rock band. For the Russ Meyer film see Motorpsycho (film).
Motorpsycho

Motorpsycho playing live at Studenten, Steinkjer, 2008-04-18
Background information
Origin Norway
Genres Hard rock, psychedelic rock, progressive rock, indie rock
Years active 1989–present
Labels Rune Grammofon (2008–present)
Stickman Records (1994–present)
Sony Norway (1994–2007, Norway only)
Voices of Wonder (1990–1993)
Members
Hans Magnus Ryan
Bent Sæther
Kenneth Kapstad
Past members
Håkon Gebhardt
Helge Sten
Lars Lien
Morten Fagervik
Kjell Runar Jenssen

Motorpsycho is a band from Trondheim, Norway. Their music can generally be defined as psychedelic rock, but they also mix in elements from metal, jazz, rock, pop and many other musical styles. The members of the band are Bent Sæther (b. February 18, 1969, bass/vocals), Hans Magnus "Snah" Ryan (b. December 31, 1969, guitar/vocals) and Kenneth Kapstad (b. April 20, 1979 drums). Until March 2005, Håkon Gebhardt (b. June 21, 1969, drums) was also an integral part of the band. A press release concerning his departure is published at the unofficial homepage. In December 2007 it was announced that former Gåte drummer Kenneth Kapstad was the new drummer in the band as well as an official band member.

Formed in the late eighties as an alternative metal band (They picked their name after seeing the Russ Meyer film of the same name as part of a Russ Meyer triple bill - there was already a band named after Mudhoney and a band named after Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! - the other two films on the bill), Motorpsycho soon developed a unique blend of grunge, heavy metal and indierock, as well as incorporating the sonic noise experiments of associated member Deathprod. The hugely ambitious, progressive double album "Demon Box" (1993) followed a series of low-profile EPs and albums, earning the band a nomination for a Norwegian Grammy, and secured a loyal following in Germany, Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands as well as in Scandinavia.

The nineties was an extremely productive era for the band, releasing new material almost every year, and enjoying critical acclaim for each album—if not the massive sales the music press kept predicting.

With the 2000 album "Let Them Eat Cake", Motorpsycho suddenly took huge steps away from their noisy hard rock roots, opting instead for a smoother, jazz-tinged approach to the songwriting and recording process. They kept this technique for the subsequent releases, Phanerothyme and It's A Love Cult.

The long awaited double album Black Hole/Blank Canvas was released 17/20 March 2006 in Europe, but it was leaked on the internet before this date. The album has received great reviews, and it is considered one of their best albums ever, proving the skill of the arguably most innovative Norwegian band during the last decade. Today, their cult status and extremely loyal fans remains unmatched by any Norwegian band.

On March 28, 2008, Motorpsycho released an album entitled "Little Lucid Moments" and on March 16, 2008, a DVD containing music videos, live footage and documentaries entitled "Haircuts".

To celebrate their 20th anniversary, the band released a vinyl-only album, "Child of the Future", recorded by Steve Albini at the beginning of August 2009. [1][2]

In January 2010, Motorpsycho released the album "Heavy Metal Fruit", their first album featuring an external producer, Kåre Vestrheim, and also their third album in under two years.

In October 2011, the Dutch venue Effenaar released a limited edition live album exclusively on vinyl entitled "Strings Of Stroop - Motorpsycho Live At Effenaar". The album features four Motorpsycho tracks recorded during various Motorpsycho shows at Effenaar between 1999 and 2010. Only 500 copies were pressed and sold at the band's 14th show in the venue.

On February 10th 2012 Motorpsycho released the double CD/LP effort "The Death Defying Unicorn" in collaboration with keyboardist Jarle Storløkken from the free improv group Supersilent. The album is a reworking of an instrumental suite commissioned by and performed at Moldejazz 2010. During 2011 Sæther produced lyrics for a sweeping narrative, thus making the album version a concept album. As in its initial performance the band and Storløkken are augmented by contributions from Trondheimssolistene, Trondheim Jazzorkester and violinist Ola Kvernberg. The core quartet performed the album in its entirety on every date during a March/April 2012 tour of Europe.


Contents

Line up

Current line-up

Previous members

  • Kjell Runar "Killer" Jenssen — drums (1989–1991)
  • Håkon Gebhardt — drums, vocals, banjo, guitar (1991–2005)
  • Helge "Deathprod" Sten — theremin, various electronics, audio virus (1992–1994; frequent guest and producer 1994–2002, 2007)
  • Lars Lien — keyboards, vocals (1994)
  • Morten "Lolly" Fagervik — rhythm guitar, keyboards (1994–1996)

Major collaborators

Timeline

Discography

Albums

1991: Lobotomizer released as LP and CD
1992: 8 Soothing Songs For Rut released as mini-LP (then called "Soothe")
and CD (adding two tracks from the "3 Songs for Rut" single)
1993: Demon Box released as double LP and CD (omitting three songs due to space limitations)
1994: Timothy's Monster released as triple LP box and double CD, re-released in 2010 as 4CD-box
1996: Blissard released as double LP and CD
1997: Angels and Daemons at Play released as double LP, CD (omitting two songs)
and three separate CD-EPs ("Babyscooter", "Have Spacesuit Will Travel" and "Lovelight")
1998: Trust Us released as double LP and double CD
2000: Let Them Eat Cake released as LP and CD
2001: Phanerothyme released as LP and CD
2002: It's A Love Cult released as double LP and CD
2006: Black Hole/Blank Canvas released as double LP, double CD and double CD with 2 track bonus single
2008: Little Lucid Moments released as double LP and CD
2009: Child of the Future released as LP
2010: Heavy Metal Fruit released as double LP and CD

as Motorpsycho & Friends

1994: The Tussler - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack released as CD (1994), double 10" (1996) and remastered CD/double LP (2003)

as Motorpsycho & Ståle Storløkken

2012:The Death Defying Unicorn released as double LP and double CD

as The International Tussler Society

2004: Motorpsycho presents The International Tussler Society released as double LP and CD, both came with bonus DVD
  • 2004: "Satans Favourite Son" (Promo-single)
  • 2004: "Laila Lou" (Promo-single)

Live albums (Roadworks)

  • 1999: Roadwork Vol. 1 – Heavy metal iz a poze, hardt rock iz a leifschteil: live in Europe 1998
  • 2001: Roadwork Vol. 2 – The MotorSourceMassacre: Motorpsycho, The Source and Deathprod live at Kongsberg Jazzfestival 1995
  • 2008: Roadwork Vol. 3 – The Four Norsemen of the Apocalypse (included in the double DVD release "Haircuts")
  • 2011: Roadwork Vol. 4 – Intrepid Skronk
  • 2011: Strings Of Stroop - Motorpsycho Live At Effenaar (limited edition vinyl)

Collaborations

EPs, singles

  • 1990: Maiden Voyage (Demo)
  • 1992: Soothe (EP)
  • 1992: 3 Songs for Rut (Single)
  • 1993: Mountain (EP)
  • 1993: Another Ugly EP
  • 1994: Wearing Yr Smell EP
  • 1996: Nerve Tattoo (EP)
  • 1996: Manmower (EP)
  • 1996: Sinful, Windborne (Single)
  • 1997: Babyscooter (EP)
  • 1997: Have Spacesuit, Will Travel (EP)
  • 1997: Lovelight (EP)
  • 1997: Starmelt (EP)
  • 1998: Ozone (EP)
  • 1998: Hey Jane (EP)
  • 2000: The Other Fool (EP)
  • 2000: Walkin' with J (EP)
  • 2001: Barracuda EP (EP)
  • 2001: The Slow Phaseout (Promo-single)
  • 2001: Go To California (Promo-single)
  • 2002: Serpentine (EP)
  • 2006: Hyena (Promo-single)
  • 2010: X-3 (Single)
  • 2010: The Visitant (Single)

See also

External links


This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

Post a question - any question - to the WikiAnswers community:

Copyrights:

Cite
AMG AllGame Guide Copyright © 2012 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Game Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved. Read more
Cite
AMG AllMusic Guide: Pop Artists Copyright © 2012 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved. Read more
Cite
Wikipedia on Answers.com This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Motorpsycho. Read more

Featured guides

» More

Mentioned in

Indie Files (1996 Album by Various Artists)
It's a Love Cult (2002 Album by Motorpsycho)
Black Hole/Blank Canvas (2006 Album by Motorpsycho)
Trying to Burn the Sun (2002 Album by Sideburn)
Little Lucid Moments (2008 Album by Motorpsycho)
» More