Review for Mach Rider (Chief Mendez)
January 26, 2009Originality: First of all, it’s friggin original to make a character who does nothing else but sitting on a bike. Then, it’s done SO well. Oh my. Mach Rider does, in fact, really fight like someone would if he couldn’t separate from his bike. And he uses everything one could think of, like going with wheelies and crushing his enemies below the bike. Really neat.
Detail: I really enjoy the detail Mendez gives to his movesets. Its just much enough for me to know what the move does and how it looks like, but it’s not going overboard. Minimalistic but still doing its purpose well. Can’t complain on that one.
Balance: Okay, so let me get this straight… if Mach Rider were in Smash, he would stand almost no chance against most of the cast, because his controls are so insanely awkward, his aerial mobility is even worse, and because he has to be fast for some attacks to work properly. Now don’t get me wrong, he would be a GOD on Final Destination, but I think he’d totally get raped on stages like Norfair or Delfino Plaza – stages which require you to react fast and quickly be on some platform. The problem is that the system he has a character just is not really good for lots of stages in Brawl. The whole problem balances out his insane speed, power and weight, though, so I guess that’s okay.
Relevance to Character: Being one of those who has played Mach Rider back in the day I cannot say that this part is anywhere untrue. It’s what a biker would do and Mach Rider in the end is a biker. Added to that come a few references to the actual game like the Blaster. It’s probably the only way this character would work in Smash… and it totally suits him. Reading that again makes me wish for him to be in Smash 4. Heehee.
Extras: Only a handful, which is a pity. The Kirby Hat is gold, though. I really love your artistic vein. Of course it’s up to you, since Extras are only… well… Extras, but what you do is pretty spartanic if I do say so myself.
Organization: Oh my. I actually had the game back then, and therefore had the instruction book, so I know that the “Mach XY” was indeed part of the characterization. Generally, this organization style is insanely good, I love it. I like how the text alignments are enforcing the speed the character has, and the dividers with the bike are neatly done. It all looks oldskool. I also like the “Press A or B” part at the end and the pink exclamation marks at the Kirby hat section. However, I do have one thing… I hate you because of that. It’s Mach Rider’s fault that we have so many people trying to imitate it (K.Rool being the leader)… Of course that’s not directly your fault, but it makes me furious! <.<”
Overall: Mach Rider is, although he was entered rather soon in the contest and is the culprit resulting in the “Themename XY” headers, one of my favourite movesets still. Probably it’s because I’ve become all nostalgic because of it, or because I know the character so well and love how he was translated. Or just because it’s a really good moveset. It’s definitely worth a read. I really pity the fact that this character would be bound to end up in Bottom Tier because of how he works, but I’d still SO main him because he’s SO awesome.
…That is all!
Spadefox' MYM Box 
IT TOOK YOU LONG ENOUGH
…Anyway. I’m super-glad you picked up on why I used the “Mach XY” for the headers. I had totally given up hope that someone might see that and figure it out. :D
On the other hand, there’s the balance. That’s pretty much his weakest section, but there’s not much I can do about it–if I fiddled with his gears, then he wouldn’t really be Mach Rider anymore. The best I can do is just accept that he’d PROBABLY be on a lower tier, but that’s not set in stone until Sakurai makes this guy as-is and puts him in Smash, then us SWF members get our hands on him and realize how broken he is somehow. XD
(Secret P.S. I feel your pain over the “Adjective XY” header thing this guy started. It was kind of flattering when the first person copied it, but we’re STILL seeing movesets organized like that posted all the way up on page 600. It’s ridiculous.)
As said, I think he’s perfectly fine as he is. He just has the problem that his system wouldn’t work on most of the Smash stages because he needs even fields – which is what like 70% don’t provide enough.