Mach Rider (NES)

Mach Rider

Platform:	NES
Year:	1985
Developer:	Nintendo R&D1, HAL Laboratory, Inc.
Buy:	Amazon

Mach Rider is an action racing game developed and published by HAL Laboratory and Nintendo. It was a part of the 'black box' games released by Nintendo. The game uses a modified engine from their previous game, F1 Race. In this game, you play as the Mach Rider. The year is 2112, and a group of terrorist bikers known as the Quadrunners have taken over several cities. As the Mach Rider, you must ride through several areas to stop them. There are four modes in the game; Fighting Course is the story mode. You must get to the end of the level without losing all your lives. Something unique about this option is that the game allows you to select between two different courses for each level. There are twenty stages in all, and after you complete all twenty, you go back to the first stage. In Endurance Course, you must travel a certain amount of kilometers within the allotted time limit, Solo Course is the same thing, except without enemies, and Design Mode allows users to create their own custom tracks. Unfortunately, like Excitebike (NES), the Save option doesn't work in the international versions because it required the Famicom Data Recorder.

The game received mixed to positive reviews from critics and players.

Screenshots

The title screen.

The story and course selection.

4 kilometers to go...

Mach Rider from the VS version.

Mach Rider is unmasked after you beat ten courses.

This page needs more screenshots.

Music

Because Mach Rider is an earlier title, its soundtrack leaves a lot to be desired. However, those who have played have fondly remembered the music. In particular, the title music and in-game themes are the most memorable. Years later, Super Smash Bros. Melee (GC) featured a "hidden song" which was a mashup of various themes from the game, performed by a live band.

The NSF file also contains the high score entry song from the VS version. The VS version is a little different though, as it keeps looping until your name is entered, then the song plays an ending theme for it.

The names of the songs come from the Game Sound Museum ~Famicom Edition~ S-1 Bike Game Series CD. We have altered the order of the songs since the CD leaves out a couple songs; a second bonus fanfare and the Name Registration in the VS version.

Recording

#	Title	Composer	Programmer	Length	Download
01	Title Screen	Hideki Kanazashi	Hiroaki Suga	0:18	Download
02	Course Selection	Hideki Kanazashi	Hiroaki Suga	0:20	Download
03	Decision	Hideki Kanazashi	Hiroaki Suga	0:04	Download
04	Main BGM 1	Hideki Kanazashi	Hiroaki Suga	1:13	Download
05	Main BGM 2	Hideki Kanazashi	Hiroaki Suga	2:59	Download
06	Game Over	Hideki Kanazashi	Hiroaki Suga	0:03	Download
07	Course Clear	Hideki Kanazashi	Hiroaki Suga	0:02	Download
08	Bonus 1	Hideki Kanazashi	Hiroaki Suga	0:01	Download
09	Bonus 2	Hideki Kanazashi	Hiroaki Suga	0:01	Download
10	Name Registration (VS)	Hideki Kanazashi	Hiroaki Suga	0:12	Download

Credits

Ripper: Mk-II
Recorder: Doommaster1994
Game Credits:
- Not Credited Composer: Hideki Kanazashi
- Not Credited Programmer: Hiroaki Suga

(Source: VS High Scores, Verification from staff; Game lacks credits.)

Because this is an early game, there are no credits. We had originally received verification from Tadashi Ikegami that Hideki was the game's composer. In 2022, we have received personal verification from Hideki that he composed the game's music.

In the VS arcade version, the game features a high scores screen. In the default scores, many of the three-letter initials match the aliases of HAL staff at the time including FLZ (Makoto Kanai), HNY (Akio Hanyu). GSX, an alias used frequently by Hiroaki Suga, is found among the high scores.

Albums

Game Sound Museum ~Famicom Edition~ S-1 Bike Game Series

2004-04-28

Game Rip

Formats	Download	Size
	Download	7 KB

The NSF rip contains all ten songs and fifteen sound effects. In the BGM music, the triangle channel plays the motorcycle sound effect, so it was shut off during the recording.

Ripping NES music is a very arduous process that is beyond the scope of this site.