Power-Ups

The power-up system in Mach Rider is not mentioned in the instruction manual, and is not well recorded.

There are three power-ups, each with their own unlock conditions.
You can combine power-ups by unlocking each one on a different course.
If Mach Rider explodes, you will lose all your power-ups.
It’s possible to power-up Mach Rider in every game mode (if the conditions can be met).

Power-Up 1

What it does

Mach Rider changes colour to red and blue. You will not slip or explode if you drive into most road obstacles, including water, oil, tacks, rocks, black oil drums or ice (slip zones).

You still explode if you crash into a blue oil drum or Bomber Ball, or if you are rammed by an Invader while driving at low speed.

How to get it

Shoot 3 blue oil drums at the side of the course, then end the course with at least 180 bullets in reserve.

You start every course with 80 bullets.
Every time you shoot, you use 2 bullets.
You get 16 bullets for blocking an Invader (pushing it into a road obstacle).

You can unlock this Power-Up on almost any course using the following technique:

Stay in low speed at the start of the course and carefully shoot 3 of the blue oil drums lining the edge of the course (using 6 bullets). You now have 74 bullets in reserve. Do not shoot your guns again!
Drive alongside at least 7 Invaders and push them into obstacles before the end of the course. This will earn you an additional 112 bullets (7 × 16).
If you add this to the 74 you started with, you should have at least 186 bullets in reserve. You can see if you were successful if your "Shots" tally is over 180 on the score tally screen.
You get the power-up when you begin the next course.

Availability

This power-up is not available in Solo Course mode. There are no Invaders to block, so you are unable to increase your bullet count beyond 80. As a result, Solo Course may be unbeatable.

Power-Up 2

What it does

Mach Rider changes colour to red and white. You now have unlimited bullets and rapid fire.

How to get it

Shoot exactly 12 Black Oil Drums, then finish the course.

You can get this power-up on any course with Black Oil Drums as a road obstacle.
If you shoot 13 Oil Drums or more, you will not get the power-up.
You get the power-up when you begin the next course.

Power-Up 3

What it does

Mach Rider changes colour to pink and white. Your machine gun can take out any Invader in a single shot. You are also more easily able to block Invaders.

How to get it

Shoot exactly 6 Bomber Balls, then finish the course.

You can get this power-up on any course with a large number of Bomber Balls.
If you shoot 7 Bomber Balls or more, you will not get the power-up.
You get the power-up when you begin the next course.

Combining Power-Ups

Mach Rider has a unique colour for each combination of power-ups:

Blue and white

Power-ups 1 and 2

Green and white

Power-ups 1 and 3

Teal and white

Power-ups 2 and 3

Purple and white

Power-ups 1, 2 and 3