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Moto Roader

TurboGrafx-16

TurboGrafx-16

Moto Roader is a futuristic racing game that allows up to five players to compete against each other. Players use the cash earned when they win a race to power up their machine. Not only can they change the "tire" and "body" of their vehicles, but they also can add "special" parts. Jump over tall...

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Developer
NCS

Released on
1989

Size
1–5 Players

Version
TurboGrafx-16

Requirements
NEC TurboGrafx-16

Downloads
Racing

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

Moto Roader is a futuristic racing game that allows up to five players to compete against each other. Players use the cash earned when they win a race to power up their machine. Not only can they change the “tire” and “body” of their vehicles, but they also can add “special” parts. Jump over tall obstacles with a “hopper” and blast past rivals at incredible speeds with “nitro.” What multiplayer game would be complete without attack items? Use a forward-launching “grenade” or a backward-dropping “bomber” to blow up and knock away rivals. Outmaneuver rivals in all eight heats to become the champion.

Moto Roader

Overview & History

Developed by Masaya and published by NCS Corporation, Moto Roader screeched onto the Japanese PC Engine in 1989 before making its way to North American shores in 1990 as an early launch title for the TurboGrafx-16. Unlike traditional gritty motorcycle racers, this top-down vehicular combat game trades realism for chaotic, futuristic arcade action. Free from any heavy narrative backstory, the game drops players directly into high-speed, isometric racing circuits set across various sci-fi planets. It is fondly remembered for pioneering four-player simultaneous multiplayer on the console via the MultiTap adapter, setting a benchmark for couch multiplayer games of the 16-bit era.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Moto Roader is played from a fixed top-down perspective that automatically scrolls as vehicles accelerate. Players choose from a selection of futuristic buggies, each possessing slightly different attributes in top speed, acceleration, and handling. Unlike standard racers where crossing the finish line first is the sole objective, Moto Roader heavily emphasizes vehicular combat and tactical destruction. Tracks are littered with destructive hazards, moving barriers, and aggressive AI opponents that can be blasted using a variety of offensive power-ups. Collecting crystals scattered across the asphalt grants currency, which can be spent between rounds at the upgrade shop to enhance engine speed, tire grip, armor plating, and weaponry. The game features diverse modes, including standard championship circuits and destructive arena battle minigames where the last vehicle standing wins, offering remarkable strategic depth beyond merely holding down the accelerator.