Powerups

**Powerups** are features present in both *Free Rider 2*, *Free Rider 3* and *Free Rider HD*, and mainly serve as boosts for the character, but can also serve as threats and obstacles.

## Free Rider 1

* **Slow Motion**

It is the first option, therefore representing the "add powerup" button. It is represented by a small brownish dial clock. While touching, time will get slower and the game goes back to normal speed after the character is no longer touching it.

* **Gravity**

Represented by a green arrow pointing downwards and a red ball inside of it, it changes the direction of gravity. The direction can be chosen by the direction the cursor is dragged, and there is no angle limit. If placed facing up, the character will jump float. If facing down, the character will stick to the ground and jumps become more difficult. The effects only appear after touching the powerup.

* **Boost**

Represented by a yellow arrow pointing right with a gray ball inside of it. It boosts the character no matter the vehicle he's using. Can be pointed to any direction such as the Gravity tool, but instead of changing the gravity, it is more stable and only boosts the character to the designed direction. Can be used as a perk, but also as an obstacle if facing to the direction opposite of the where the character is going.

* **Bomb**

Represented by a black bomb, similar to a anti-submarine weapon. More like a threat rather than a powerup, it explodes the character when touched and fails the level. No matter of the chosen vehicle.

## Free Rider 3

The powerups in Free Rider 3 remain pretty much unchanged, and the only changes are on the icons and the addition of the Checkpoint powerup.

* **Slow Motion**

It is represented by an alarm clock. While touching, time will get slower and the game goes back to normal speed after the character is no longer touching it.

* **Gravity**

Represented by a rocket, it changes the direction of gravity. The direction can be chosen by the direction the cursor is dragged, and there is no angle limit. If placed facing up, the character will jump float. If facing down, the character will stick to the ground and jumps become more difficult. The effects only appear after touching the powerup.

* **Speed Boost**

Represented by a speedometer. It boosts the character no matter the vehicle he's using. Can be pointed to any direction such as the Gravity tool, but instead of changing the gravity, it is more stable and only boosts the character to the designed direction. Can be used as a perk, but also as an obstacle if facing to the direction opposite of the where the character is going.

* **Bomb**

Represented by fuse bomb. More like a threat rather than a powerup, it explodes the character when touched and fails the level. No matter of the chosen vehicle.

* **Checkpoint**

Represented by a waving flag, saves the currents position of the character on the track, where he comes back after failing.

## Free Rider HD

The powerup adding system is reintroduced and reformulated in Free Rider HD. The options appear after clicking a thunder button. Some powerups are similar to the ones in the previous titles, with changes to the icons again. Two different powerups were added:

* **Goal**

Represented by a yellow star. Goals can be placed along the track when collected you win the level, and if you put more than one star, your goal is to get all the stars of the level.

* **Boost**

Represented by two green arrows. It boosts the character no matter the vehicle he's using. Can be pointed to any direction such as the Gravity tool, but instead of changing the gravity, it is more stable and only boosts the character to the designed direction. Can be used as a perk, but also as an obstacle if facing to the direction opposite of the where the character is going.

* **Slow Motion**

It is represented by a white dial clock. While touching, time will get slower and the game goes back to normal speed after the character is no longer touching it.

* **Gravity**

Represented by a blue arrow pointing up, it changes the direction of gravity. The direction can be chosen by the direction the cursor is dragged, and there is no angle limit. If placed facing up, the character will jump float. If facing down, the character will stick to the ground and jumps become more difficult. The effects only appear after touching the powerup.

* **Bomb**

Spiked red circle. More like a threat rather than a powerup, it explodes the character when touched and fails the level. No matter of the chosen vehicle.

* **Checkpoint**

Represented by a blue waving flag, saves the currents position of the character on the track, where he comes back after failing.

* **Helicopter powerup**

Represented by an orange helicopter. The character can pilot a helicopter for only 10 seconds, and it is present in a different section of powerups (the vehicle ones, and the helicopter is apparently currently the only available).

## Trivia

* The helicopter powerup makes *Free Rider 2* and *Free Rider HD* the only games with this vehicle.
* *Free Rider HD* presents goals as powerups, differently from the previous titles.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 http://www.onemorelevel.com/game/free\_rider\_2
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 https://www.freeriderhd.com/create
3. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-submarine\_weapon
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 http://www.onemorelevel.com/game/free\_rider\_3
5. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuse\_(explosives)