Biomotor Unitron Reviews
Biomotor Unitron seems like an awesome mecha-building RPG that draws inspiration from some of our favourite classic games, but in reality it's a shallow curiosity with a fair share of charm to sink an afternoon or two into and not much more. The pieces are here – in fact, we'd love to see a Biomotor Unitron-like game made with modern sensibilities – but the motivation to motor on through the monotonous random battles to rank up in the arena depends wholly on how much you'll enjoy some vivid sprites and catchy retro tunes.
It's great to get a chance to play a game that could easily have been lost to time, and for the price point it's more than worth trying.
It's easy to see why this is a cult classic. BIOMOTOR UNITRON is a retro RPG done right. While it can be something of a grind, it offers more depth than you might think. And considering an original NGPC cart commands triple-digit pricing, this eShop release is a steal at only $7.99. So, if you're a fan of dungeon crawlers, this sci-fi take shouldn't be missed.
Biomotor is simply mired in repetitive gameplay that just isn't paid off by any enjoyable story or character moments. While it isn't broken or unplayable, it's mediocre and frustrating in equal measure. Best to steer clear from these outdated robot wars or at least wait for a steep discount.
It has been pretty fascinating to play a variety of titles from the very apparently mighty retro portable, the Neo Geo Pocket Color...
Biomotor Unitron is yet another curiosity in the NeoGeo Pocket Color library much like Card Fighters’ Clash and Big Bang Pro Wrestling. Fortunately, it falls in the more playable and enjoyable court of the former than the latter, which while unique and nice-looking didn’t play too well. If you’re a fan of mechs, don’t want to spend too much, and have 10 hours spare, then you can’t do much better than Biomotor Unitron.
Biomotor Unitron is a competent dungeon crawler and mech-building RPG. Little about it is bad, but little is interesting, and it’s very much a game of its time. The biggest issue with recommending it today is that the Switch in 2022 is not the Neo Geo Pocket Color in 1999. That system desperately needed a competent RPG, and Biomotor Unitron was able to fill that hole. The Switch doesn’t need that, though. Between classic releases and new titles, it has one of the strongest RPG lineups any system has ever seen. In that context, it’s hard to recommend it to many players today.
Overall I enjoyed Biomotor Unitron. It is a great game to just relax to or to play while on a long trip in the Switch’s handheld mode. I know I would have really liked this in 1999 and it’s cool to be able to play these games that one may normally not have been able to. Although there are a few flaws like random battles every few steps and a lacking story, it didn’t take much away from the fun I had. It’s not perfect, but it’s a fun game for being over 20 years old.
If you’re into building a collection of historical pieces, the Switch is amounting to be quite the little museum. Between the many Sega Ages releases of the last few years, the bevvy of Switch Online older console games, and SNK’s effort at porting every single game they’ve ever released back in their golden days, we’re just spoiled as all hell here. Hopefully Biomotor Unitron isn’t the last of these releases. Even if it’s not the most exciting game you’ll ever get your hands on, the fact that it is readily available on Nintendo’s digital marketplace when it would otherwise be relegated to purely illegal means otherwise is worthy of praise.
Biomotor Unitron is a slick and fun dungeon crawler that holds up pretty well. It could use a bit of a smoother tutorial, but once you get into the swing of things, you’ll have a blast plundering dungeons and battling other robots.