Motos

• Release Date: 1985
• Genre: Action
• Style: 2D Action
• Similar Games: Crush Roller (Arcade), Galaga 3 (Arcade)

Game Description

In Motos you pilot a spaceship looking to bump orbs and other nasty things into an abyss before they can do the same to you. Situated on a tile board, you ram your ship into the baddies when they get close enough to the edge.

On certain boards, there are power-ups that enable your ship to hit harder or even jump. Jumping causes the tiles beneath your ship to weaken. Jump on them more than once and you will fall through the resultant hole.

Occasionally, there are inanimate objects on the board. Knocking these nonthreatening objects into oblivion awards bonus points.

As the game progresses, the players face more dangerous objects and higher numbers of them. If players take too long to complete a board, meteorites will smash into the board and create holes. Both objects and the players' ships can fall through these holes.

Players get three ships to start the game. When they are gone, the game is over. Two players can take alternating turns, and games cannot be continued.

Roots & Influences

It's difficult to imagine that Motos was influenced by any game. It is a true original. It's sound, however, sounds a lot like another Namco game, Galaga 3.

Review: Overall

Motos is the kind of game that dares you to put it in a category. In an arcade filled with clones and sequels, Motos is a breath of fresh air.

First, there's the plot. You're a space pilot on a tile board being assaulted by a collection of orbs and dinner plates. How odd is that? It's very odd.

Second, there is the action. Now that you've ascertained that orbs and dinner plates are attacking you, what do you do? Well, you ram them and try to knock those puppies off the tile board, of course.

You add Motos' plot to its action, and you have one strangely original game. That's a good thing.

The graphics in Motos are quite good, especially for the mid-1980s. The hero's ship is well- defined and the bad guys are textured nicely. Namco even sneaks some 3D action into this 2D game. The jumps that the hero's ship can make, and the descents of objects into the abyss are examples of 3D action creeping into Motos.

The sound in Motos is great. The effects of the bumps and crashes are basic but good. The music is bouncy and catchy. It reminds me a lot of Namco's take on the Galaga sound in Galaga 3.

Motos is very enjoyable and very challenging. The first few boards are easy enough and can lull you into a false sense of security. By the time you reach the fifth round, however, there are enough things trying to knock you off the board that it is almost impossible to clear it. The difficulty of Motos is its only real drawback. It is fun to play, but the games end very quickly because they are so very hard.

All in all, Motos is a good game. If it was a little easier, it would be a great game.

Review: Enjoyment

Good, but way too hard.

Review: Graphics

Very good, especially or 1985.

Review: Sound

Catchy.

Review: Replay Value

Good for a few replays, but the difficulty can leave you discouraged and frustrated.

Review: Documentation

Weak. No demo screen detected.