Biomotor Unitron review by substance J

Originally released in May 1999, Yumekobo's Biomotor Unitron quickly drew my attention with its inspired Mecha designs, fantasy characters, and RPG gameplay (It was also one of the handful of titles that supported Color at that time). I had intended to import it, but never got around to it (and was partly turned off by the inevitable language barrier). Months later, I was extremely excited to hear the game was officially announced for US release in September of 1999. Not only would it be a great RPG, but also prove SNK's devotion to their growing North American user base.

Graphics: B+
Biomotor Unitron's visuals lack the flash that most RPG players have become accustomed to, in this era of endless Square CG and polygons…but they are indeed solid, and possess something many RPGs of late have been sorely lacking…inspiration! While some of the designs totally miss their mark, the majority of them are very cool. Or at the very least, interesting. From Mecha equipment to townsfolk, the consistency of the visuals is refreshing. Actual Mecha battles take place in classic (archaic?) RPG style…one character jumps forward, a few graphical effects shown off, and the result is made known to the player. Most of the other elements are equally traditional, such as your SD Mecha bounding through the Dungeons (which are nicely presented and graphically diverse), and stereotypical shopkeepers. Overall, Biomotor's graphics are simple yet very attractive.

Sound: C+
The music and SFX really aren't bad at all, but they rarely seem to suit the situation properly, and are often switched back and forth quickly (like, when you're in a Dungeon and a monster jumps you) which can be pretty annoying. Battle SFX are relatively good...some metallic sounds for slashes, booms for explosions, etc. Typical stuff.

Gameplay: B+
Woo hoo! This is exactly the kind of pick-up-and-play handheld RPG I've been waiting for. Though, this is not your typical RPG...

When you begin a new game, you get started by selecting a male and female from one of 6 races (Human, Forester, Mariner, and so forth). One of them will be your Pilot, and the other will be your Engineer. The role of the Pilot is obvious...to kick some serious Unitron arse. The Engineer, however, will play a very import role as well -- to develop new weapon Arms, a major gameplay element. You start off with a few simple Arms, and as you earn money and fabrication materials by way of Dungeon searching, Arena combat, or as a gift even, you may then have your Engineer create you an entire arsenal of equipment ranging from simple steel Prods to Rail Guns. When aiming to create the ultimate in fighting technology, you'll need to find some rare and very expensive metals. These are often difficult for your Engineer to work with if they're not skilled enough, and do not have the proper Tools, so it's a good idea to level up your Engineer frequently (or take the easy rout and just reset if the development doesn' t work). There are also many other items and special parts to equip your Unitron with...higher quality Cores, new Legs (ranging from humanoid to fish-like) EP boosters, extra armor, etc. Powerful new attacks can also be learned from Helmut, a Unitron master in the woods who will teach you the techniques if he believes you're ready.

There is no epic storyline involved in Biomotor Unitron (though that's not to say there isn't one at all), so gameplay consists mostly of searching for material, gaining levels, finding all of the elemental Emblems scattered about the world map, and eventually becoming the Master of Masters. The simplicity may turn some gamers away, but I find the pursuit to be extremely rewarding and very addictive.

Overall: A-
If Biomotor Unitron had been released a few years ago, I think it would be regarded as a classic now. It's a bit rough around the edges, and it may lean toward the simple side of the genre, but I have enjoyed every minute I've spent with it, and I even plan to play a lengthy session once I'm finished with this review. It's the only game of its kind on a handheld, and worth adding to your collection simply for the sake of variety. As much as I love my SNK fighters, Biomotor Unitron is just the sort of thing needed to keep the NGPC's library fresh. I can't wait to see what Yumekobo has in store for us with the release of Biomotor Unitron 2!