Biker Mice From Mars
Driver FAQ
Written by Alain Garamonde
Version 1.0
(July the 25th, 2003)
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The purpose of this guide is to help players of this awesome racing game truly
understand the strengths and the weaknesses of all the characters in Biker Mice
From Mars.
I have analyzed each of the six characters to the best of my ability. If you would
like to contribute some information about one (or several) of the characters that
I do not have in my guide, send your info to
[email protected]. Make sure
you have "Biker Mice From Mars" in the subject heading. Include your name as well,
as you will be acknowledged.
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* * * * * T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S * * * * *
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Appendix I..........The Biker Mice
-Throttle
-Modo
-Vinnie
Appendix II.........The Villains
-Limburger
-Grease Pit
-Karbunkle
Appendix III........Summary
Appendix IV.........Revision History
Appendix V..........Legal Disclaimer
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* * * * * T H E B I K E R M I C E * * * * *
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The three drivers that fall under this heading are Throttle, Modo, and Vinnie. They
may share the common bond of being rodents, but they are all very different from
each other. Read on to find out which Biker Mouse is best for you.
The Biker Mice are the perfect characters for novices to use.
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THROTTLE
-----------------------
He's one cool-looking rodent, complete with shades and a nice motorcycle. He looks
good, and for the most part, is a good driver to use. Though he has no weaknesses
in his stats, he does not have a single strength. Overall, he's the best all-round
character in the game.
Speed - >>>
Accel - >>>
Grip - >>>>
Speed:
Throttle is neither too fast nor too slow. However, at times (especially without
any engine upgrades) he doesn't seem to live up to his name. Throttle, at first,
is somewhat sluggish. It is quite intimidating to see Limburger or Grease Pit (and
Modo, to a lesser extent) zoom up next to you in a matter of seconds! Sideswipe
them out of your way until you can afford new engines (to sideswipe, use L or R,
in their respective directions). To maintain his speed over track elements such
as dirt, pop a wheelie (hold Down). This also applies to Modo, Vinnie, and Grease
Pit.
Accel:
Throttle has an overall good acceleration rating. He should regain his top speed
without falling behind... too much.
Grip:
Throttle has a good grip rating. He can turn corners quite easily, especially with
the Power Drift (explained later) to zoom through them quickly.
His special ability, as mentioned before, is the Power Drift. Hold L or R while
turning a corner to gain an extra boost of speed. Follow this up with a nitro by
tapping B to gain another speed boost! A good tactic to use to increase your lead
or to catch up to the rest of the pack.
The Tornado Shot is Throttle's projectile weapon, and he is the only Biker Mouse
who has one. It is one of the most effective projectiles as well. The victim of
the Tornado Shot is sent flying straight up into the air! This is VERY effective
against Modo and Grease Pit, whose acceleration ratings are the lowest - they lose
a second in the air, and lose even more time accelerating to top speed! Limburger
is hardly affected, as he can take off at the apex of the spiral and catch up to
Throttle again.
Throttle, the Joe-Schmoe of the racers...
PROS
+ an all-round, easy-to-use driver for beginners
+ can sideswipe
+ Power Drift and Nitro around corners greatly boost his speed
+ no glaring weaknesses
+ good projectile weapon
CONS
- seems slow at the beginning
- no strengths (he's plainly average)
My rating:
7/10
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MODO
-------------------
It does not take a lot of "Modo"vation to select Modo at all. Though his acceleration
and grip are somewhat lacking, his good speed makes up for it. However, the reason
why Modo is widely used is because of his bone-crushing attack, the Bionic Crash.
This rad rodent is a killer, and is perfectly suited for Battle Mode... or should
I say "Battle Modo"?
Speed - >>>>
Accel - >>
Grip - >>>
Speed:
He is the fastest of the Biker Mice, slightly faster than Throttle and much faster
than Vinnie. You won't have to worry about upgrading Modo's engine until round
2. Without any upgrades, he can still hold his own in terms of overall speed.
Accel:
This is the Achilles Heel for Modo users. He is very slow at reaching his top speed
when stopped, and often costs players a few places. If you have Bionic Crashes
left, use them for a speed boost to get Modo's mojo going again.
Grip:
His grip is average, and if he peels out, it will take a long time to recover due
to his acceleration. ALWAYS use the Sky-Hi Slide to turn corners - it will keep
you ahead of the game!
As mentioned, Modo's special ability is the Sky-Hi Slide. Turning corners with
Modo is risky (even simple 90 degree ones) as he often skids and goes wide. His
Slide is foolproof when it comes to turning corners, so use it to your advantage.
Unfortunately, Modo cannot sidewsipe, so be careful if he gets bumped around (his
acceleration rating is to blame if he is bumped into a wall or solid object).
But, if a driver inches up anywhere near Modo, that driver is in for a rude awakening!
Modo's Bionic Crash takes off THREE armor circles in the Main Race, and TWO in Battle
Mode. YIKES!!! Every time you total another racer, you earn money. In the Main
Race, you can destroy any driver an infinite number of times! The Bionic Crash
is a cash cow (or "crash" cow)! The Crash is also good for gaining speed on straight
stretches to increase a lead.
Modo, the new Mighty Mouse...
PROS
+ good speed
+ Sky-Hi Slide will save you very often
+ CRUSHING attack!
+ can gain money quickly in the first round
+ Bionic Crash also doubles as a speed boost
CONS
- poor acceleration
- grip is something to be desired
- no projectile weapon
- cannot sideswipe
- Ski-Hi Slide takes time getting used to
My rating:
9/10
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VINNIE
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Vinnie is knocked a lot and is generally ignored. However, I use him more often
than any other character! Not only does his bike look awesome, but he has the
potential to become the fastest racer in the game! Though his Speed rating may
say otherwise, he is the fastest... but only when used properly. He is the hardest
Biker Mouse to get used to, but when mastered, he can zip through courses with the
greatest of ease!
Speed - >
Accel - >>>>>
Grip - >>>>>>
Speed:
I am a Vinnie fan, but I'll admit it. Vinnie is VERY slow at the beginning. Engines
are a priority for anyone who uses Vinnie, so always buy them over anything else.
However, he is the second-best jumper in the game (Karbunkle is the best jumper),
and can gain a ton of speed by tapping B to take off from a ramp. This jumping
tactic can be well used in the Circuit-type courses, where ramps are plentiful.
Accel:
Vinnie has an excellent acceleration rating. It doesn't take this mouse long to
reach his type speed (most likely because it is so low). You won't have to worry
about losing places with Vinnie.
Grip:
A stellar grip rating! Vinnie can turn corners very easily (much to the chagrin
of Grease Pit users!). Use the Tornado Twirl as well to take tight corners.
The Tornado Twirl however, is very risky, especially for new Vinnie users. Though
it is great to use for corners, try to save it for tight corners (Vinnie is perfect
at wide turns anyway). If you hit the rail or a barrier, you can be turned right
around and go in the opposite direction, so be careful when using it! The Twirl
can even turn opponents around if they happen to get caught near Vinnie when he
is about to perform it!
Many people hate Vinnie's "attack", the Shooting Star. Just remember, it is NOT
designed to kill! It was designed to help Vinnie gain speed... and to jump gaps
in the courses (ie. the shortcut in the Mars Base). Use the Shooting Star (Y once,
and then Y while airborne) on stretches repeatedly to gain an obscene amount of
speed - tap Y very quickly! You can also knock back an opponent if you jump on
them if you are lucky enough.
Vinnie, The true Speed Racer...
PROS
+ excellent acceleration
+ top grip
+ can gain a lot of speed with Shooting Star
+ Tornado Twirl is good for negotiating tight corners
+ opponents can be knocked back with Shooting Star and Tornado Twirl
+ excellent jumper
+ can sideswipe
CONS
- low speed
- attack is not designed to hurt opponents
- Tornado Twirl can backfire on you sometimes
- takes a lot of time getting used to
- not a very offensive driver
My rating:
10/10
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* * * * * T H E V I L L A I N S * * * * *
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The three villains in Biker Mice From Mars are Limburger, Grease Pit, and Karbunkle.
These three are VERY different from the Biker Mice. Each villain has their own
unique vehicle with its own sets of strengths and weaknesses, and are much harder
to get used to as well.
The villains are for the more seasoned Biker Mice From Mars players.
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LIMBURGER
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Just like the cheese he's named after, Limburger stinks... especially for newcomers.
He, in my opinion, is the hardest character to master. His space vehicle, while
flashy, presents many problems. I use Limburger occasionally, especially if I'm
up for a challenge in Hard or Super Hard Mode. If you thought Vinnie was hard to
get used to, Limburger will forever change your mind!
Speed - >>>>>
Accel - >>>>>>
Grip - >
Speed:
Limburger's quick, so it is easy to jump out ahead of the pack without even trying.
His special move, the Anti-Grav Dash, can be used to give him a speed boost in
addition to tapping B. Limburger unfortunately cannot take the full advantage of
using a nitro or zipper before taking off from a ramp. Limburger's jumps are much
shorter than the other drivers. Limburger also hovers over the course, so the many
elements on the track do not slow him down.
Accel:
Nothing can stop Limburger! When he is stopped by something, he'll kick it into
high gear in less than second! Thank goodness for this, because you'll be hitting
walls often due to Limburger's...
Grip:
If it weren't for his atrocious cornering, Limburger would be the best! Alas, he
is not. First of all, you must tap (yes, TAP) the control pad to turn, as holding
the direction down will cause Limburger to stop and turn around in a circle! Tight,
hairpin corners are nightmares for Limburger!
The Anti-Grav Dash, while useful, is very difficult to pull off successfully without
hitting the rails or dashing into the drink! First you must tap L or R twice before
making your turn. Then, you turn... and Limburger zips along with a speed boost.
However, this move takes a long time to master and requires VERY precise timing.
Use this around corners, and not on straight stretches. If you fail at doing it
correctly, Limburger has excellent brakes (hold X) so you can make your turn without
using the Dash. Keep trying the Dash and get used to it!
Limburger's attack is a projectile... with several disadvantages. The Plutarkian
Beam, unlike the Tornado Shot or Grease Gun, cannot travel as far a distance, often
stopping in the middle of the track if the target is too far away. The Beam also
cannot "climb" (go over) hills and stops dead on the slope (but this makes for a
good "land mine" attack). Of all the projectile attacks, Limburger's is the worst.
But there is a good thing about it. Unlike everyone else, Limburger can fire his
projectile backwards by turning around (hold Down and fire away!).
Limburger, like the cheese...
PROS
+ high speed
+ top acceleration
+ excellent braking
+ maintains speed over track elements
+ can fire projectile backwards
CONS
- awful grip
- must tap directions to turn
- bad jumping distance from ramps
- Anti-Grav Dash is tough to pull off
- the hardest character to master
My rating:
6/10
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GREASE PIT
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Grease is the pits, if you ask me. This slick dude on three wheels may be fast,
but his acceleration and grip are both, for lack of a better word, awful. Seems
to me that ol' Greaseball oiled his engine too little and his tires too much...
He, like Limburger is also hard to get used to, and requires just as much practice
to master.
Speed:
Though I dislike this character, I love his high speed! He zooms quickly right
out of the gate and leaves everyone in the dust. He is excellent on straightaways,
but be VERY careful when cornering. He is also a bad jumper, and cannot launch
his bike as far off of ramps. If an opponent uses the Earthquake item, Grease Pit
doesn't have to worry about rolling down hills - he has four-wheel drive... er,
THREE-wheel drive!
Accel:
His great speed comes at a great price... a price that often costs you many places,
and often enough, the race. When he is stopped, it takes forever for him to reach
top speed again. Boost his acceleration by purchasing engines and tires, preferably
the latter. Why? You'll see...
Grip:
This is why tires are so important for Grease Pit. He slips and slides like an
elephant on ice! He crashes into the rails and sides very often, and often stops,
and then you'll have to wait for him to reach top speed again (bad acceleration).
Use his special ability, Corner Crash, to hit the corner - this prevents him from
screeching to a halt or slowing down substantially.
The rails will be Grease Pit's home, so make the trip much easier on him by using
the Corner Crash before hitting them. He turns VERY widely, so if you are about
to hit the side, use this to prevent him from slowing down. This is the least useful
special ability, but it saves you from waiting for him to reach top speed again.
His projectile shares the same qualities as the Tornado Shot. Only, it melts the
victim rather than shooting him straight up into the air. Useful on Modo, whose
acceleration is the lowest when you are Grease Pit.
Grease Pit definitely lives up to his name...
PROS
+ top speed
+ can sideswipe
+ Earthquakes do not affect his performance on hills
CONS
- poor acceleration
- poor grip
- Corner Crash is not as useful as other drivers' abilities
- bad jumper
My rating:
4/10
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KARBUNKLE
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The doctor is in the house! Of the villains, he is my favourite to use. In addition
to his hilarious attack (and the sound that comes from it) and outlandish vehicle,
he is a great character to use and does not require as much as practice to get used
to. Behind Vinnie and Modo, Karbunkle is my third favourite character to use.
Speed - >>
Accel - >>>>
Grip - >>>>>
Speed:
Like Vinnie and Throttle, Karbunkle seems a tad slow. Buy some engines for him
early on and you'll be fine. If there are ramps, he can gain a ton of speed from
them, as he is also the best jumper in the game. Tap B over a zipper that is before
a ramp and take off... see how far he flies! This can greatly increase his lead,
and is a very good way to catch up to everyone else. He unfortunately cannot pop
a wheelie, and thus must go around track elements that may slow him down. Some
tracks also have stretches of water that will greatly affect his speed (ie
Whirlpools).
Accel:
Karbunkle's acceleration is good. It does not take all tht long to reach top speed
with him, so don't worry about falling behind or shortening your lead.
Grip:
His grip rating is very good. He can turn corners without skidding a whole lot,
unlike Grease Pit and Modo. Use the Bionic Anchor around corners as well to make
turns more quickly, especially around tight corners, as Karbunkle is somewhat weak
at making those kinds of turns.
The Bionic Anchor is Karbunkle's friend. You can turn corners more easily with
this, and gain a little speed boost as well. This is very useful for wide turns,
as Karbunkle may go a little wide, depending on the terrain. Use it well, and time
it correctly - it won't take long to get used to.
The pride and joy of Karbunkle is his Mutation Beam. This projectile weapon turns
characters into a little mutant creature (Fred from the Biker Mice cartoon)! This
slows your opponents down, in addition to uttering a strange sound - "Warbly!",
or something to that effect. Drivers, when transformed into Fred can be bumped
around very easily - use that to your advantage.
Karbunkle, the mad scientist...
PROS
+ good acceleration
+ excellent grip
+ the best jumper
+ Bionic Anchor makes turning corners much easier
CONS
- must go around terrain that can slow him down
- cannot sideswipe
- seems slow at the beginning
My rating:
8/10
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* * * * * S U M M A R Y * * * * *
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Best Speed: Best Accel: Best Grip: Stats Total:
-Grease Pit -Limburger -Vinnie -Throttle... 10
-Limburger -Vinnie -Karbunkle -Modo....... 9
-Modo -Karbunkle -Throttle -Vinnie..... 12
-Throttle -Throttle -Modo -Limburger.. 12
-Karbunkle -Modo -Grease Pit -Grease Pit. 9
-Vinnie -Grease Pit -Limburger -Karbunkle.. 11
Best Jumper: Best Weapon: Overall Rating:
-Karbunkle -Modo -Throttle... 7
-Vinnie -Throttle -Modo....... 9
-Throttle -Grease Pit -Vinnie..... 10
-Modo -Karbunkle -Limburger.. 6
-Grease Pit -Limburger -Grease Pit. 4
-Limburger -Vinnie -Karbunkle.. 8
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* * * * * R E V I S I O N H I S T O R Y * * * * *
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Version 1.0
-First draft. Will correct any mistakes found in the future.
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* * * * * L E G A L D I S C L A I M E R * * * * *
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And that's my guide. I hope it has been helpful for you. Remember, this FAQ is
not to be distributed for profit, and if you do want to use it, contact me first,
and I'll give you the go-ahead to do so. If you do plan on using it, give me credit
where credit is due. After all, this FAQ is of my own concoction, and is the result
of many hours of work. Failure to comply with international copyright laws will
result in legal action against all third parties involved in taking this FAQ without
my consent.
Copyright - Alain Garamonde