Where to get it

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1999 · Aicom · Role-playing

Biomotor Unitron

SNK exclusive

Using the ore mined from the Unitice meteor, humans have been able to develop the man-shaped robots known as UNITRONS. As a Unitron master, you control one of these mighty machines as you explore mysterious dungeons and fight for the ultimate prize in the Unitron Arena! Create - Collect - Trade! Build your own weapons for your Unitron using Arms and Material.

Released: 15 April 1999
Platforms: Neo Geo Pocket Neo Geo Pocket Color
Genres: Role-playing
Developers: Aicom
Publishers: SNK
Modes: Single-player
Themes: Science fiction
Country: Japan
Age ratings: ESRB E PEGI 3 GRAC 15+
Languages: English, Japanese

About

Biomotor Unitron is a role-playing video game developed by Yumekobo for the Neo Geo Pocket Color. Released in Japan and North America in 1999 by publisher SNK, making Biomotor Unitron the first role-playing game in the system, few weeks after the console's launch.

A sequel, Kikou Seiki Unitron, was released in Japan; though, because of SNK's bankruptcy the title never saw a release in the United States or other regions.

Keywords

anime
turn-based
robots
silent protagonist
rock paper scissors
platform exclusive
mechanic

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

Biomotor Unitron is a "dungeon crawler" RPG with pseudorandom dungeons. The player controls a robot called a Unitron, and walks through the dungeons fighting battles to earn money and experience. The experience boosts stats for the player character, and their "control" of the Unitron, but not the Unitron itself. There is rather a system of parts upgrades.

The upgraded parts can be purchased, or "developed" using existing items, "tools", and "materials". The game has a fairly standard HP system. Instead of MP, there is EP, and EP is consumed with every action in battle. EP regenerates with every battle.

Reception

Biomotor Unitron received positive reception from critics since its release.

In 2014, HobbyConsolas's Álvaro Alonso identified Biomotor Unitron as one of the twenty best games for the Neo Geo Pocket Color. Likewise, Time Extension listed it as one of the best games for the NGPC.