- Release Date: 1990
- Genre: Racing
- Style: Motorcycle Racing
- Similar Games: Pole Position (Commodore 64/128), Super Burnout (Atari Jaguar), Pole Position (Atari Video Computer System), Pole Position (Arcade), Pole Position II (Arcade), Pole Position (Intellivision), Pole Position (Atari 5200), Pole Position II (Atari 7800), Pole Position (Vectrex), Pole Position (Texas Instruments TI-99)
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
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
