Biker Mice from Mars: Battle Mode
Leif Powers
Stock e-mail address:
[email protected]
Version 1.01
May 16, 2003
The copyright and allowable usage of this document
is described by the legal statement at
http://www.leifpowers.com/
Among other things, it says that this document may be
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Go to the website if you want to do something else with
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Table Of Contents:
1. Introduction
2. How To Play The Game
3. The Mice And Others: Characteristics And Strategies
4. The Battle Mode (General Tips)
5. The Battle Mode Tracks
6. How To Get The Game
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1. Introduction
Oh, how I could go on about the great games I play. This one, however, won't be
as
expansive as the rest, due to the fact that prowess at Biker Mice from Mars
(hereafter BMFM, pronounced Bumfum, or Biker Mice, though never From Mars)
results
largely from execution and practice. I will, however, proceed to enumerate some
strategies and tactics.
BMFM is so much better than so many video racing games because of its unique
Battle
Mode. In most of those modes, in games such as Rock N Roll Racing, when a player
runs out of life or encounters a dangerous hazard, the players car explodes or
otherwise violently malfunctions, but the player gets a new one and proceeds
onward.
However, in BMFM's Battle Mode, the annihilated player stays dead for the
rest of the race. This opens up some unique possibilities for mayhem in play.
Amongst the most principal of these possibilities are the creative use of
special
items and firepower, and the cooperative play of two people against the four CPU
opponents. Special items such as the Earthquake can be used on certain levels to
knock people off of bridges and into spiked walls, where they will instantly die
and
stay dead. In addition, the attacks of certain players cripple the opponent or
push
the opponent in wayward directions that can lead to untimely ends. Most
importantly,
two people can team up and take on the other four computer opponents, which
leads
to sweet double-teams against computer players. These elements make BMFM a
rather
enjoyable pastime.
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2. How To Play The Game
See below in this section in this FAQ. Insert it in the SNES and go. Also, see
the
following reference:
BIKER MICE FROM MARS GUIDE
By: RyuSeiryuu
v.7 March 22, 2002
You can find it on gamefaqs.com or something similar. There may be something in
there at some point that isn't in here.
B - Accelerate
Y - Use Special Attack (uses one shot)
A - Get Item (uses the item in the box)
X - Brake (who uses brakes, anyway?), also, Reverse
L - Special Move
R - Special Move
D-Pad Left (& Right) - Turn Normally
Hitting B Repeatedly - Short Nitro Boost
L + D-Pad Left - Quick Turn (which gives a temporary speed boost)
R + D-Pad Right - Quick Turn (which gives a temporary speed boost)
D-Pad Up (In The Air) - Move Front Wheel Down
D-Pad Down (In The Air) - Move Front Wheel Up
D-Pad Down (On The Ground) - Pop A Wheelie (to use a fogey term) - you can
deflect
mines when you hold this, and you can also travel
at
normal speed on rough terrain with this, on a lot
of
characters, you will slow down otherwise
B + D-Pad Down - Lay A Mine (uses one shot). Also works in the air
for
an "air mine".
B (In Menus) - Confirm
A (In Menus) - Cancel
When the BMFM splash screen comes up and the game shows you the menu, hit this
sequence to activate Super Hard Mode, which will allow you to get three more
tracks
than with Hard mode (and harder opponents to boot): Up, X, Left, Y, Down, B,
Right, A
In the Options screen, you can enable Auto Acceleration and adjust some other
stuff
not related to Battle Mode. Theres also a Sound Test, which is fairly nice,
since
Biker Mice has good music.
When you enter Battle Mode (under the 1 Player or 2 Player menus), you will
first
choose a difficulty. Each successive level of difficulty will race on more and
more
tracks. Afterward, you will be greeted with a presenter's stage. Choose your
player
and you will enter Charley's bike shop, where you can upgrade your bike (or
floater
or spider) with armor, engines, and tires, once you have enough money to afford
it.
Note that you can't get shots; in Battle Mode, you start with all eight of them
already equipped. However, in the Normal Race (not covered here), you start with
three and buy up to eight.
During the game, hit B repeatedly before you start until the race starts to get
a
momentary speed boost. Your number of shots remaining is at the top, next to the
bullet. It will start at zero until you complete one lap, when it will be filled
to
its maximum of eight (since this is in Battle Mode), and every lap thereafter,
it
will be refilled to the maximum, eight. Your life will also be at the top in a
point
meter. You start with three damage points, but can upgrade to eight (one at a
time).
Also at the top of the screen is the Item Box, which holds the one item you get
for
completing a lap. An item can be:
Cash - You get $100, to be given to you at the end-of-
race
accounting.
Nitro - You get a big temporary speed boost.
Earthquake (Skull) - You summon an earthquake which slows all of the
other
players to a crawl for a short time. Note that the
Nitro
item can give a player some speed even when this
is happening.
Star - You become invincible to all attacks and knock off
anyone who touches you, giving them one point of
damage
in the process.
Time Stop - All other players are frozen for about five
seconds.
When it expires, these players continue doing what
they
were before. You can shoot at people who are
stopped,
and have the attack hit them after time resumes,
even
though it doesn't immediately make contact.
In addition to these, there's also a map of the track, which you can use to see
the
next turn and know where other players are, as well as your lap count. On your
extreme right will be the players who finish first (at the top), second (below
the
first), and so on. If a player dies, they will finish in the last place open at
the
time.
One crucial note: one player must make third place or higher to advance in
Battle
Mode. Otherwise, the player(s) must start all the way from the beginning, and in
low places in the lineup to boot.
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3. The Mice And Others: Characteristics And Strategies
Throttle - Leader Of The Biker Mice (Mouse)
This guy is slow, but he can corner well (although that's largely due to the
fact
that he has iffy top speed and acceleration). His special attack is a large
projectile that shoots straight forward and knocks its victim up in the air (can
air mine during this time, I believe). This guy's one advantage is his quick
turn
with L and R, which is a tight hop-turn. Normal L and R just bump other players.
Get him engines and only get tires if you need them.
Vinnie - Rash, Womanizing, Vain Mouse
This guy can really accelerate, but his top speed is pretty low. He can also
corner
very well, though, so get him some engines and he'll tear up the track. His
special
attack is a hop which makes his bike a weapon- you can hit opponents both on the
way up and on the way down, one damage point for each hit. Normal L and R just
bump
other players. His quick turn makes him spin around on his back tire a whole lot,
which is not too bad, but he can get hit and turned in various directions while
doing it. He doesn't need any tires usually, but he does need engines.
Modo - Hard Drivin', Easy Goin' Mouse
Modo is incredible in Battle Mode. He isn't that fast and he needs tires every
so
often and he doesn't accelerate quickly, but his attack is incredible. He
charges
forward for a second and takes TWO damage points off of anyone he touches, not
to
mention getting a huge speed boost and knocking everyone around in the process.
His
quick turn is like Throttle's, a quick hop-turn. L and R just bump other players.
Karbunkle - Limburger-Obsessed Mad Scientist
Karbunkle is somewhat slow, but corners well. However, he has a weird quick turn,
and his ability to raise and lower his spider is nil, which means that he gets
slowed down by rough terrain. For him, L and R deploy grabbers which can help
him
make turns. As long as he stays tethered, he will continue to turn in that
direction,
up to 90 degrees. You can speed this up and turn even more than that by turning
normally while this is deployed (which is his quick turn). Karbunkle's special
attack
and his mines take one point of damage and mutate the target into Frederick, a
suicidal freak with a tentacle for an arm. The afflicted player will retain
control
of the mutant, but the mutant is very slow, and as Frederick, the player can
still
be hit by other attacks like mines and shots. Get engines for Karbunkle.
Grease Pit - Lubricant-Laden Stupid Henchman
Grease Pit is incredibly fast. However, he cannot even come close to controlling
himself. He will skid all over the track. Get a few tires for him before getting
him engines. His attack is a grease shot that turns the target into a grease
slick
for a short time. L and R for him bump other players, just as for the Biker Mice.
His quick turn, though, makes Greasy slide all over, so if you use it, make sure
you've got a wall so you can rebound and take advantage of the speed boost. If
you
get him a lot of tires in proportion to engines, then he is often able to make
better quick turns.
Limburger - The Whole Cause Of This Mess (Other Than Konami)
Limburger is fast. He corners strangely, though, since he rides in a floating
orb.
On turns, he turns his vehicle pretty well (especially given his rating for Grip
in the game), but his quick turn is only a faster version of his normal turn.
Because Limburger floats, he is not subject to any effects caused by rough
terrain.
Limburger's normal attack is a shot that travels so far and stops to become a
mine
on any normal surface, or, if it hits something in the track terrain, even an
inclined piece of track, it becomes a mine right there. When Limburger holds D-
Pad
Down, his craft turns 180 degrees, allowing the player to fire at others behind.
Limburger should usually get engines.
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4. The Battle Mode (General Tips)
This section covers all of the things you should do generally in Battle Mode, as
well
as tips on each of the tracks.
When the Battle Mode begins, each of the computer-controlled players will have
three
damage points and basic equipment. However, with each subsequent class of track
you
reach (not from one track to the next, but from stage to stage), the computer's
players will gain more life and more equipment, so you need to take more damage
off
in the race in order to kill them.
Make sure your bases are covered before beginning to race:
When you go into the Bike Shop, the first things you should get are the
first
two armor levels to get your bike's life up to five. Then, you should probably
get an
engine after that, unless you're Grease Pit who should get the next two tires
before
getting any engines. After that, try to get armor, but also try to get engines,
and
also tires if you can't handle your bike with the speed you have.
Do keep an eye on how many points you have (NOT cash). After each race
you
will see your points and your cash, both for the points and cash you have
already,
and that which you will receive for the race you've just completed. If you want
to
win at the very end of Battle Mode, then you will need to have more of these
points
than anyone else. So, in the beginning you should try and get as much cash as
possible (to upgrade your bike), but you do need to keep ahead of everyone else
in
points in order to be the ultimate winner.
Make sure you have enough tires to corner decently on levels with water
and
spikes or pitfalls in them like Across the Drain. If you don't, get some before
you
leave the Bike Shop.
When you're actually racing:
Start by using an initial B-button mashing to get yourself a huge jump
off
the line. Afterward, when you're not in a mess of people or trying to aim or
dodge
a shot, tap B repeatedly to get a nitro boost, especially on ramps and bridges
where
you can vault yourself into the air. Also, on corners, you can use the quick
turn
+ a B-button nitro boost while the quick turn is executing to get a boost right
after
the corner - very useful.
When you need to make a turn and you're going really really fast, always
use the quick turn if your character has it. Also, if you want to go quickly on
an
accelerator right after a turn, use the quick turn to put yourself in position
so
that you can get a speed boost at top speed to make you go even faster.
Don't line up right behind or in front of any player for more than two
seconds.
When you aim a shot or mine, move into the slot, lay the mine or shoot your shot,
and
get out of the way.
If you can see on the lap viewer that people are in front of you, shoot
at them
off the screen with straight shots. It works quite well.
Try to get out in front of the computer opponents, and then wait by the
side of
the road to start hitting them as they pass you up.
If one player of the two human-controlled players is Karbunkle, then use
a nice
double-team trick: have Karbunkle shoot a guy, then have the other player shoot
Frederick. If the other player is Modo, you can take three points of damage off
of a
player in two seconds.
If one player's attack hits you into the air, hit Down + Y while you're
still
up there; if you have any shots you can spare, you will lay an air mine, which
often
hits your opponent either directly on top of them or as they approach your
location.
If you have spare shots left at the end of a lap, lay a bunch of mines
right
before you cross the finish line. They work more often than you might think.
If the Earthquake item has been used, lay mines all around if you're
close to
other people. Moreover, turn around and shoot at the other players. In addition,
if
someone lays a mine near you, hit X to stop yourself from hitting it and turn
around
later.
When you hit a water spot or a rough patch, hit D-Pad Down to keep
yourself
going at a decent speed.
When you make any kind of jump or hop, make sure to level your bike with
the
road by using D-Pad Up to lower your front tire and D-Pad Down to raise it.
On the gas jets, stay on the narrow lanes between them, unless people are
following close behind you, in which case you should get into the next lane or
start
attacking them with mines. If you have a lot of life and you need to catch up,
you
can use some quick turns across these and then get into a lane on the straights.
Don't try and take these on the diagonal unless you have a lot of life to burn.
Don't be too close to others on the bridge, use mines in the air and lay
mines on the bridge right before the end.
If all of these fail and your opponents are getting farther and farther
ahead of you, turn around and attack them when they pass you up next. Try to use
all of your remaining shots as they get to where you are, then cross the finish
line
to get eight more and continue blasting them. Just watch out for quick mine
attempts
when you cross the finish line.
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5. The Battle Mode Tracks
Remember that in each succeeding level, the CPU opponents get faster, with more
damage points to give.
Level 1:
Square Town: This is where you should get acquainted with the fundamentals. Make
sure to use the B-button nitro boost on the ramps to get you maximum speed and
distance. If you use it on the first small ramp in the lap, then you can get
catapulted all the way to the end of that stretch without any more juice, and
you'll
be much safer from enemy attacks. If you do that, make sure to use a turn
in the air, after the third ramp, so that you won't bang against the wall.
Midsea Island: This track is one on which you need to use your short nitro boost.
Use it on all of the big ramps and the first small one in order to get around
quickly. Also, when you jump off the decks, use it there to keep going quickly.
Your
quick turn is really good on the 180 degree turn right after the second deck.
You
can knock your opponents into the water on the sides of the track to slow them
down.
The Maze: This is fairly standard. Try to hit your opponents into the niches on
the
sides of the track to slow them down.
Level 2:
Broken Overpass: Use the short nitro boost on the small ramps to get yourself
across
quickly. Also, on the large ramp, try to quick turn in the air or soon after you
land,
so you don't get stuck in the rough. You can explode the fire hydrants for fun.
Flame Hall: Make sure to use the quick turns + B-button nitro boost, there's a
lot of
well-spaced areas for this kind of thing. The water should be used, but know
that if
you have pursuit, sometimes you can mess them up by going on and off the water,
it's
more difficult than one might think to hit a guy juking on that - you really
have to
anticipate the guy in order to hit him. Otherwise, this thing is straight and
narrow
except for the gas jet room, try to make a path through there by using the quick
turn to stay in a lane between the jets, instead of going straight through them.
It's tough to hit guys who are already turning in that area, but leading into it,
before a racer has made any turns, you have some pretty good opportunities to
get
in his lane and whack him.
Desert Storm: This has a lot of 180 degree turns, but they're so wide that it's
usually best to just take them as you would normal turns. Make sure to establish
a
reference point on the track to line yourself up for the accelerators. Use quick
turns
to keep yourself on the raised platform so that you don't fall into the rough.
You
should use the short nitro boost to get yourself over the bumps at the end of
each lap.
You can also use them on the other set, but they don't generally pan out because
they
swing you wide of the accelerators. If you don't get on the first set of
accelerators,
you should try to use a short nitro boost on the ramps to get yourself across.
You can
make good use of quick turns right before the accelerators. Lay mines on the
accelerators for good effect.
Level 3:
Corner, Corner: Use a quick turn on the first turn to get yourself onto the
ramps
quickly. If you get on the air vents, you can be raised above a crowd (air mine
opportunity). On the last sequence of turns, you can cut straight through if you
line
yourself up properly and just steam straight ahead, or for more speed, you
should quick
turn with the nitro boost every time.
Dr. Ino's Island: This is probably the toughest track you will face before level
5.
What you must do on this track is make sure to use the short nitro boost on
every
ramp and every incline change, especially the one that goes down into the water
and
starts a series of small ramps. That's a great place to use the Item Nitro Boost.
Use
quick turns to avoid falling into the water. Also make sure to kill at least two
people
(or three if you're alone) to ensure that you get to the next stage. If you
can't win
with racing, backtrack and attack the weakest opponents to get the win. Make
sure to
shoot off the screen at opponents farther ahead. When you get to the huts, they
are all
in rows, and so you can pick a row and shoot straight in between all of them.
Cutting
across them isn't a very good idea because you end up wasting a lot of time
turning, and
bumping into those things is very easy to do.
Sewer Trap: This level can get evil. On each corner, and especially the last 180
degree
turn at the top of the track from going down to going up, use the quick turn to
get extra
speed. The spiked walls in this level will kill you instantly if you touch them,
even if
you're invincible, so get out of the water early if you can't corner well or if
there
are people near you who could shoot you or bump you in. However, you do need to
use the
water some in order to get extra speed. Try to hit computer opponents as they
near the
end of the water, but don't rely on that to hit them. One tactic you can use is
to use
the Earthquake when opponents are about to exit the water.
Level 4:
Twin Road City: This track is fairly straightforward. Make sure that you always
take
the left turn when the road forks, unless you have a lot of shots left, you have
points
(NOT cash) to spare, and are in hot pursuit of enemies. The sign at the end of
the
left branch can knock you backwards if you hit it, so make sure to avoid that
hazard.
Black Falls: This track can really cause you problems if you don't respect it.
On the
early corners, make sure to stay in bounds. You can cut straight across as with
a
similar section on "Corner, Corner", but it's much harder to do so because you
can't see
your path as you ride through. Make sure to shoot long and use short nitro
boosts on
the long stretch after that. When you get to the waterfalls, DO NOT go down too
quickly,
especially if you can't corner well, and DO NOT come close to other players or
stay in
their line of fire. If you get hit on a low stretch, or you can't corner out of
the
waterfall, you will die instantly when you fall off the cliff. I still die on
this
stretch and I'm careful about it. Don't forget to hit people as you come down it,
and
try to knock others off the ledge there to save yourself a lot of bullets, and
get rid
of an opponent, especially if you're behind.
Jupiter Base: This level is fairly simple, but a little tedious. When you reach
the
zappers, ride on the extreme left to avoid them, or even on the extreme right.
On each
of the rises after each 180 degree turn, use the short nitro boost to get speed.
Level 5:
Across the Drain: This is a HUGE level on which to use the Earthquake. You can
knock
three or four people into the spikes and kill them if you use it at the right
time.
Make sure to hit the accelerators and use a short nitro boost on the ramp,
because
you're really going to need it. Also, when you attack, try to hit enemies while
they're in either of the narrow lanes with water, so that they will hit the
spikes
while they're recovering.
Crown Circuit: This track is going to be long. Use your short nitro boosts and
any Item
Nitro Boosts you have on the long haul in the middle of the track. Make sure to
hit
each of the accelerators. When you go over the last ramp on the second
accelerator,
turn yourself before you even hit the ground to make the best corner. On the
subsequent
corners and ramps, use a quick turn off each ramp to get the most speed.
Saturn Base: This track is one of the most evil in the game. Your first order of
business is to NOT get hit in the air coming off one of the big ramps, as that
will kill
you quite nicely. Make sure you have enough speed to make the jump as well, go
in
reverse, even, if you don't have enough juice. When you get to the fans, make
sure to
play close to the fans so that you don't fall off the edge. Get close to the
edge of
the track when you come to the zappers, and use the short nitro boosts when you
get to
the multiple ramps. Use the Item Nitro Boost, Invincibility, and try to hit
people
generally on the first long stretch of the track, as that is the easiest and
safest
place to do those things. The one good thing for us humans on this level is that
the
Earthquake also works well here, either when enemies are on the ramps, or when
they
are on the fan stretch. You can try and hit people as they go up the ramps, but
the
CPU players won't always fall prey to this. Make sure to use air mines when you
are in
the air over those ramps. One thing you can try is to let all the CPU guys go,
then come
over the ramps behind them, instead of trying to contest with all them behind
you,
giving them lots of chances to take you out.
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6. How To Get The Game
Gamestop pretty much has a stranglehold over national used-game sales,
but they do have some games there. However, their ordering system is messed
both online and in-store, so sometimes shopping around their stores works.
eBay has always been a place where you can get used games but beware,
sometimes people will rip you off, so look for good feedback.
The phone book is also a place you can look for used-game outlets in your
area.
There are obviously other places, these are just the notorious/general ones.
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