Biomotor Unitron on the Neo Geo Pocket“It would be near impossible for Wikipedia to be a complete and thorough repository of gaming history, with Deus Ex or The Legend of Zelda sharing the same word count as something obscure like Biomotor Unitron on the Neo Geo Pocket”Whenever I need a random, obscure or funny video game name, I automatically go for Biomotor Unitron on the Neo Geo Pocket. Not just Biomotor Unitron, but the whole shebang: Biomotor Unitron on the Neo Geo Pocket. I just love the way that it absolutely doesn’t roll off the tongue, it’s such a convoluted mouthful that you sooner slur it than say it. And it’s so quintessentially gamey, an ultra nerdy phrase that sounds like indecipherable techno babble or some poorly translated Japanese RPG. Yesterday I gave Biomotor its most high profile mention yet, with a name drop in a Wired UK piece. The site has been celebrating Wikipedia’s 10 year anniversary this week, so I contributed with a piece about the online encyclopedia’s ability, and limitations, as a resting place for gaming’s heritage. And I dropped Unitron as my example of an obscure gaming artefact. But, as I admitted to my friend Phil, despite my constant references I’ve never really played the game. I’ve owned the title for years, after getting it in a trade for some TurboGrafx-16 game, but I’m ashamed to admit that I never ventured past the first few screens. Well, that is until yesterday, when I finally slammed the cartridge in my silver Neo Geo Pocket Colour (and found the power lead and swapped out the dead memory battery) and actually played the damn thing. Biomotor Unitron on the Neo Geo Pocket is a pretty obvious attempt to grab some of that Pokemoney, and give the fledgling SNK handheld it’s own monster hunting RPG. It even lets you trade with buddies over a link cable, if you can manage to find another human being with the rare system in their possession.As far as I’ve played, the game is pretty simple in its underlying concept. The starting town is home to a Unitron battling arena, with several ranks featuring progressively more difficult opponents. You’ll need to travel around the world and essentially grind to earn enough EXP - and cash - to win the next bout.There’s also a heavy alchemy focus, as you chuck random bits of metal and electronics together in the hopes that they’ll fuse into some rad new biotic arm for your battling bot. Plus, you can scour the landscape or shops for add-ons and junk like new armour and elemental-specific weapons. All in all, the game is a competent little RPG with some smart ideas and even some humorous dialogue, but it’s no hidden gem. No memorable relic. Now that I’ve finally sunk my teeth into the game, I feel like hanging up the title as my go-to obscure gaming reference. What if someone mistakes my constant mentions for sincere admiration? What if some avid reader assumes that I’m the games biggest fan, and sends me fan art and erotic Unitron fan fiction? I’m not ready for that. But, more than that, seeing it as an actual game with graphics and mechanics and a story, instead of just some obscure box nestled in my eclectic gaming collection has sort of sullied the magic of the name a little. It doesn’t quite have that some pizazz anymore. It’s no longer that bizarre, or even funny. I think I need a new Biomotor Unitron on the Neo Geo Pocket.

Biomotor Unitron on the Neo Geo Pocket

“It would be near impossible for Wikipedia to be a complete and thorough repository of gaming history, with Deus Ex or The Legend of Zelda sharing the same word count as something obscure like Biomotor Unitron on the Neo Geo Pocket”

Whenever I need a random, obscure or funny video game name, I automatically go for Biomotor Unitron on the Neo Geo Pocket. Not just Biomotor Unitron, but the whole shebang: Biomotor Unitron on the Neo Geo Pocket.

I just love the way that it absolutely doesn’t roll off the tongue, it’s such a convoluted mouthful that you sooner slur it than say it. And it’s so quintessentially gamey, an ultra nerdy phrase that sounds like indecipherable techno babble or some poorly translated Japanese RPG.

Yesterday I gave Biomotor its most high profile mention yet, with a name drop in a Wired UK piece. The site has been celebrating Wikipedia’s 10 year anniversary this week, so I contributed with a piece about the online encyclopedia’s ability, and limitations, as a resting place for gaming’s heritage. And I dropped Unitron as my example of an obscure gaming artefact.

But, as I admitted to my friend Phil, despite my constant references I’ve never really played the game. I’ve owned the title for years, after getting it in a trade for some TurboGrafx-16 game, but I’m ashamed to admit that I never ventured past the first few screens.

Well, that is until yesterday, when I finally slammed the cartridge in my silver Neo Geo Pocket Colour (and found the power lead and swapped out the dead memory battery) and actually played the damn thing.

Biomotor Unitron on the Neo Geo Pocket is a pretty obvious attempt to grab some of that Pokemoney, and give the fledgling SNK handheld it’s own monster hunting RPG. It even lets you trade with buddies over a link cable, if you can manage to find another human being with the rare system in their possession.

As far as I’ve played, the game is pretty simple in its underlying concept. The starting town is home to a Unitron battling arena, with several ranks featuring progressively more difficult opponents. You’ll need to travel around the world and essentially grind to earn enough EXP - and cash - to win the next bout.

There’s also a heavy alchemy focus, as you chuck random bits of metal and electronics together in the hopes that they’ll fuse into some rad new biotic arm for your battling bot. Plus, you can scour the landscape or shops for add-ons and junk like new armour and elemental-specific weapons.

All in all, the game is a competent little RPG with some smart ideas and even some humorous dialogue, but it’s no hidden gem. No memorable relic. Now that I’ve finally sunk my teeth into the game, I feel like hanging up the title as my go-to obscure gaming reference.

What if someone mistakes my constant mentions for sincere admiration? What if some avid reader assumes that I’m the games biggest fan, and sends me fan art and erotic Unitron fan fiction? I’m not ready for that.

But, more than that, seeing it as an actual game with graphics and mechanics and a story, instead of just some obscure box nestled in my eclectic gaming collection has sort of sullied the magic of the name a little. It doesn’t quite have that some pizazz anymore. It’s no longer that bizarre, or even funny. I think I need a new Biomotor Unitron on the Neo Geo Pocket.

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