Official Website

Platform: PSP, PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS, Windows PC-DVD

Genre:  Racing (Action-oriented)
Number of Players: 1 (2 - 4 via Ad-Hoc)

Racing games have long been a staple part of the gaming industry and has given way to classics. I’m not talking about old school games like Night Driver or Pole Position, though they definitely have earned their place in gaming history, but over the years we’ve seen names like Gran Turismo and Ridge Racer, among many others, become the titles that are thought of when someone mentions racing. However, there’s one franchise that has been forgotten by all but the most dedicated of gamer, a series that took the premise of combat racing into a much smaller direction, and while hearing Micro Machines might conjure images of toys for many, fans have been waiting to see the game make a comeback.

Enter: Micro Machines V4.

Thinking “toys” in this case isn’t necessarily wrong, and the Micro Machines games have in fact utilized the tiny racers as a big part of the action. A racing game of any sort however means that for the most part, it’s not story that’s a focus, but instead thrills, chills, excitement, and some frustration as well. Micro Machines doesn’t need a story, it doesn’t need a plot, and instead it allows you to jump right into the thick of things, though this isn’t quite the same type of racer that you might normally be used to playing.

From the table tops to the roof tops and any place in between, Micro Machines throws in unique tracks that you don’t normally find. Forget about tearing around Seattle, the deadly curves found in Japanese tracks, and there aren’t any high tech tracks seen in hover racers, but instead you may be on a kitchen counter, you could be in the backyard racing through plants and other gardening supplies, or just about anywhere else that these tiny cars could race.

The Micro Tournament is where all the action is, and here you will be pitted against other drivers, either through AI or multi-player, but it’s not always about coming in first. Initially the race comes down to survival or getting out in front first, and you will either gain or lose points. You can win faster however with the right weaponry, and each track has a number of power-ups that can be collected and used at your leisure. Throw out dice that act as landmines or spray opponents behind you with the Incinerator, a flame thrower that will melt the competition. Pepper them fire from a machine gun, knock them off the track with a sonic boom, or drain energy with . . . . The Shocker! (How can you not want to play a game where the shocker is a weapon?) You can also find icons to restore you health, increase your weapons destructive capability, average out everyone’s health or refill your ammo. It’s all about the WMD’s: weapons of micro destruction.

Just like any racing game, winning brings with the benefits. The obvious one is that it’s going to help you progress further in the game with new tracks available, but you also will win cars for your collection. Just hop over to the garage and you can change the vehicle that you are currently using, and it’s not just cars, but trucks, buses, and a number of other four-wheel terrors. You can also trade your cars with friends.

The different divisions of the Micro Tournament will find you in battle races where points are what matter or a classic race where coming in first is the key. There are team battles that may pit you against other cars, giving their team the advantage. Checkpoint races on the other hand require you to hit each point on the track before time expires. Besides collecting cars though, each of these races has another important feature, and that would be access to the tracks themselves. In the games multi-player mode, tracks you’ve unlocked will be accessible, allowing you to set the stage for your game, be it a battle or a race, and they are additionally available in the games practice mode. In the practice mode, you can either opt to have a quick battle or a time trial.

There are other options available in the game, some all thanks to cheat codes. With the correct entry, you can unlock more cars, activate the retro camera option that will give fans of the original game some fond memories, or you can bypass races. However, skipping races really defeats the purpose of playing: that’s half the fun. Also, if you own the PlayStation 2 version of the game, you can link your PSP to your PS2 and unlock even more tracks. Add in the wireless option as well as a shared controller system (allowing you to play a two-player game on one PSP) and you’ve got plenty of miniature action for the long time fan and the newcomer.

It’s not necessarily the cars that add to the graphics, but it’s the race settings, and the designers have done an outstanding job when it comes to the different circuits. Flying by kitchen appliances, garden hoses, vegetables, and anything else you could possibly think of (within reason of course) all makes the races more enjoyable. Yes, at times it can be a little distracting as you try and see what is off to the side of you or try and take in everything around you, but that really is the downfall to just about any racing game. Hey, it might be a game, but you still do need to keep your eyes on the road.

I am a bit disappointed that Codemasters didn’t include any of the retro games somewhere on the UMD to unlock, save for the retro camera option, but still, playing the game does bring back a number of fond memories of wasting away hour after hour playing Micro Machines, and I’d be a liar if I denied doing the same thing here. Who says that size matters? It doesn’t when it comes to Micro Machines, and V4 brings some big fun in a small package.

-mike-