Enemies & Obstacles
Invaders
The main enemies in Mach Rider are referred to in the manual and throughout the game as 'enemies', 'evil forces' or 'invaders'. The Mach Rider trophy in Super Smash Bros. Melee confused matters further by calling them "Quadrunners" (despite clearly riding three-wheelers).
In this guide, they are referred to as Invaders.
- If you are driving at low speed, Invaders will appear from behind and try to crash into you.
- If you pull up alongside an Invader, it may try to push you into an obstacle.
- There are never more than 2 Invaders on screen at a time.
There are six colours of Invader, each with their own skills:
Pink Invader
The first Invader you encounter is the slowest and weakest. Just one shot will destroy it. If you approach it at low speed, it may drop an oil slick behind it.
Green Invader
A little faster than the pink Invader, but still much slower than you. It can drive a little erratically as you speed past. Two shots will destroy it.
Red Invader
Faster and more aggressive than the green Invader. It will drop oil slicks and try to push Mach Rider into obstacles. It can’t keep up with you if you are going at top speed. Three shots will destroy it.
Blue Invader
Blue Invaders drop tacks behind them that cause you to slip. Even if you're driving at top speed, they can still pull up next to you and push you into the path of oncoming obstacles. Either push them into obstacles first, or drop a gear to slow down, then shoot them in the back. It takes four shots to destroy it.
Purple Invader
The fastest Invader appears in your rear view mirror and tries to ram you from behind. Watch their movements carefully and move out of their way. If they shove you, they can send you flying off the road. Five shots will destroy it, but they are hard to hit that many times as they speed past.
Black Invader
The toughest invader takes six shots to destroy, and it’s very difficult to push it into obstacles. It will pull up next to you and aggressively shove you into obstacles. Try downshifting and maintaining a safe distance while you shoot them from behind.
Road Obstacles
Water
Driving through a puddle of water will make your bike slip. Countersteer to avoid sliding off the road.
Oil
Oil makes your bike slip for longer than water. Countersteer to regain control. Pink and Red Invaders sometimes drop oil behind them.
Tacks
Driving through tacks will cause your bike to slip. Countersteer to regain control. Blue invaders sometimes drop tacks behind them.
Rock
A stone obstacle that sits in the middle of the road. Colliding with a rock causes you to explode. You cannot destroy rocks, so steer around them. You may want to downshift if you encounter a cluster of rocks, particularly on corners.
Oil Drum (Blue)
Blue oil drums line the edge of the road. Crashing into one causes you to explode. You can shoot them, but they are not worth any points.
If you power-up, then blue barrels change to the same colour as your outfit.
Oil Drum (Black)
Black oil drums sit in the middle of the road. Crashing into one causes you to explode. Shoot them for 300 points each. If you encounter a cluster of oil drums, you can either shoot your way through, or downshift to weave around them.
Bomber Ball
These floating, explosive balls zoom past you at high speed. Crashing into one causes Mach Rider to explode. They are very difficult to shoot, but if you succeed then you get 1,000 points.
Ice (Slip Zones)
On some sectors, the course suddenly turns white and the road becomes very slippery. Countersteering on the ice is not effective. Drop your speed by releasing the accelerator and downshifting to 3rd or 2nd gear to safely take corners.
