MOTORSLICE Upgrades — The Honest Answer
Short answer: there are no upgrades. Here's exactly what that means for how you play.
Does MOTORSLICE have upgrades?
No. MOTORSLICE does not have:
- No skill tree
- No perks or talents
- No XP, levels or character progression
- No currency or shop
- No stat sheet
- No weapon upgrades (P only ever has the chainsaw)
- No equipment, armor or loadouts
- No microtransactions
P starts the game with her full kit and ends the game with the same kit. New verbs (double jump, chainsaw anchor, parry, hacking) are introduced through level design — not unlocked through progression.
Why this is intentional
The Gamer Social Club review calls this out directly:
“[Action-adventure games have] adopted all manner of extra content and mechanics over the years, from bloated and often incremental loot or skill progression to shallow relationship systems. To my delight, Motorslice does away with all of that, cutting straight to the…” — Gamer Social Club
The game is designed in the tradition of Shadow of the Colossus, Mirror's Edge, and Prince of Persia — three of its officially-cited inspirations, all of which deliberately avoid traditional RPG progression.
What progression actually looks like
Progression in MOTORSLICE is diegetic — it happens inside the world rather than on a stat sheet:
| Chapter | What you unlock | How |
|---|---|---|
| Prologue | Core movement (run, jump, slide, wall run) | Tutorial |
| Ch.1 | Chainsaw anchor + first parry | Level introduces orange surfaces and saw-throwing drones |
| Ch.2 | Mid-air boss boarding | Helicopter fight forces it |
| Ch.3+ | Long-form chainsaw traversal | The Mech is one big anchor puzzle |
| Ch.6 | Fan-launch into bosses | Combine arena introduces it |
| Ch.7 | Sustained vertical traversal | Bucket Wheel boss is the level |
| Ch.8 | All systems combined | Flying Train test |
What you actually collect
MOTORSLICE has collectibles, not upgrades. The two main pools:
- Orb drones — scattered through every chapter. Collecting them unlocks achievements (e.g. Cargo Train, Orb Drone). Not a stat boost.
- Slacking scenes — 30+ optional voiced moments. Lore + comedy + several achievements.
If you want a power-fantasy game instead
MOTORSLICE's no-upgrade design is a feature, not a bug. But if you specifically want a game with skill trees and gear, comparable titles include Stellar Blade, Ghostrunner 2 (chip-based upgrades), and the Yakuza / Like a Dragon series.
Related
- How to play — the full kit P has from minute one
- Combat guide — getting the most out of P's base kit
- Codes — short answer, also no
- Achievements — the actual long-term goals
- Wiki — full encyclopedia
This guide is independent fan content. MOTORSLICE™ is © Regular Studio / Top Hat Studios, Inc. No affiliation.