PlayStation

Micro Machines V3

If racing around imaginatively designed courses in an impressive range of all-terrain vehicles is your thang, then pass up this chance at your own peril. Highly recommended.

Micro Machines V3 is the best game we've played in many a long day, and one that we've now played for many more, even longer, days. We suggest you do the same.

With Vivid graphics, Violent weapons, and swift Velocity, Micro Machines V3 has everything you could desire in a racing game. It's a complete racing simulation in a fully 3D environment where up to eight players can compete simultaneously.

MMV3 is truly fabulous. Most players will pass it by because it just doesn't look that great and -- let's face it -- the premise of racing little toy cars around a breakfast table just doesn't sound as exciting as something as WipeOut XL or F1. But those buy this will be rewarded with one of the most fun and addictive multiplayer games yet seen on PSX.

Micro Machines V3 ist im Einzelspielermodus ganz unterhaltsam, dreht aber erst im Multiplayermodus so richtig auf und hier gilt: Je mehr Mitspieler, desto besser. So kann das Spiel auch heute noch absolut überzeugen.

In retrospect, the Micro Machines series almost seemed to mock the 16bit systems it dominated. Tiny vehicles, simplistic circuits and “O”-level-Art-standard characterisation added up to an atmosphere that could best be described as cheap and cheerful.

Micro Machines is an entertaining change of pace, but the long term replay value just isn't there to keep most gamers playing for more than a couple of hours. While the game does offer up nice sound effects, power-ups and plenty of play options, there just isn't enough here to make it much more than an occasional party game with a few of your friends.

This isn't the only wart Micro Machines has either. The main problem is that the quick and feeble charm it possesses wears off fast, and all the courses, options, and vehicles in the world (even this little tiny one) can't make up for the fact that the gameplay becomes incredibly monotonous almost immediately. All in all, Micro Machines V3 is a nice diversion from the first- or third-person racers that seem to crowd the field these days. But its repetitive gameplay and lack of a strong multiplayer mode make it only a brief detour. Rental brief, I'm afraid.