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Arcade flyer for Metro-Cross
Metro-Cross (メトロクロス Metoru Kurosu?) is a 1985 runner and action arcade game developed by Namco and Now Production. It runs on Namco Pac-Land hardware (a Motorola M6809 and a Hitachi HD-63701, running at 1.536 MHz), modified to support a 2048 color palette (Baraduke used the same palette as well), and a video system previously used in Dragon Buster, with Namco 8-Channel waveform PSG for audio. The game's theme was used in Noby Noby Boy in a bonus game (based on the game), and
North American marquee for Metro-Cross.
Gameplay[]
The player controls the "Runner" with a joystick. Pressing the button makes the player jump. The player is given a time limit to complete the 32 courses in the game. The player runs automatically, so the player just needs to move the joystick to dodge the incoming obstacles and to increase the speed. If the player reaches the goal point, the level is complete, and the remaining time will add up to the score. Every fourth round uses the remaining time from the previous three rounds. If the player does not make it to the goal point before the time limit reaches zero, the runner will be electrocuted, and the game is over.
Famicom box art for Metro-Cross
Gameplay of Metro Cross on Round 2.
Famicom ccartridge for the game.
There are several obstacles that are meant to make the course harder and challenging. Green "Slip Zone" tiles will cause the Runner to slow down, which will increase the chance of losing the game. Glass "Pitfall" tiles will break under the Runner, causing him to fall down the hole (however the Runner will climb out and the game will continue), and Crackers that will make the Runner jump in the air (but is difficult to control. Jumbo Cans (large cans of what resembles Coca-Cola) will simply roll across the ground, in which they will run over the Runner. Later rounds feature Jumbo Tires that bounce across the screen, green Mice that will latch onto the Runner, causing him to slow down as if he was on a Slip Zone tile, red Cubes that move in columns, Walls that emerge from the ground, and Chess Kings and Knights that bounce on tiles (as they would on a normal game of Chess).
The player can find Springboards, which will propel the Runner forward, which can save large amounts of time. The player can also come across Skateboards, which when collected, allow the player to skate over Slip Zones, and increase the speed. The player loses the skate board when he/she collides with an obstacle, or completes the round.
Drink cans can also be found, which can be stepped on or kicked for bonus points. A "Super Drink" can appear on random rounds, and will stop the timer for a short while.
Ports and Re-releases[]
Metro-Cross was ported to the Atari ST, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC and the ZX Spectrum. The game was ported to the Famicom in Japan, and was included in Namco Museum Volume 5 for the Playstation in 1997. The game was ported again in Namco Museum Virtual Arcade in 2009 for the Xbox 360. A HD sequel, titled Aero Cross, was being developed under the Namco Generations label, however, it was cancelled along with the Namco Generations label.