Fun fun fun game (MicroMachines V3 (PC))

Member Name: rob_writer

Product:	MicroMachines V3 (PC)
Date:	05/02/02 (386 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fun to play

Disadvantages: No net support

Remember back in the day of the Mega Drive and SNES there was a great game called Micro Machines? Then it's sequel Micro Machines 2?

What most people don't remember is that there was another sequel that appeared on the Playstation and the PC, namely Micro Machines V3, and that this is still available on the PC from the Sold Out budget range. And once again I'm going to tell you all how brilliant sold out are; they sell loads of ace classic games for a fiver, they have the best installers I've ever seen and the people on the website were really nice when I had a problem with my order, so as far as I'm concerned everyone should go and get some of their great games (from www.sold-out.co.uk).

Anyway, back to Micro Machines V3. For anyone who doesn't know Micro Machines is a racing game with a difference. Rather than drive on tracks and in real cars, Micro Machines has you driving little cars around real life environments, be it in the garden, the shed, kitchen, dining table or school. This makes for a great environment in which to race, for example on the kitchen table races cereals make up the outline of the track while baked beans and milk cartons act as obstacles. It really is a great idea, and one that proved very popular in the early games on the Mega Drive. Back then the game used a 2D top down view, and this is the main thing to change in this version of the game.

In going 3D Codemasters have fortunately still managed to keep the essence of the game alive, basically because the usual view is top down and slightly behind the car. The view is very dynamic though, and moves as you drive through the course, sometimes the camera may be in front of you, sometimes it may be behind, sometimes it moves when you turn a corner, and at other times it remains fixed. I know it sounds a little random, but it works well and it soon becomes second nature.

With the move to 3D has come a big improvement in graphics. It
9;s all polygon based, so scenery looks more realistic and in general the game is more aesthetically pleasing than the 2D prequels. Despite being 4 years old now the game still looks reasonable good, if a little plain in places.

The graphics would be lost if the famous Micro Machines gameplay hadn't been retained, but fortunately it has - infact it may even have got better. While the earlier versions did feature some weapon in the form of tanks, this game introduces power ups collected as you drive through the level, usually giving you some kind of weapon. These include mines, rocket launchers, force fields and large hammers!

The large variety of vehicles and venues has been retained, with old favourites such as the formula one cars racing around pool tables and trucks around the dining table making a comeback. Add to this 4 single player modes with oodles of races and 40 cars to collect, you have a mighty single player challenge, but the best is still to come.........

The best of Micro Machines was always had in the multiplayer mode, and this version is no different, with up to 8 players battling it out at once, either on a single PC with a hell of a lot of joypads or more ideally over a network, but unfortunately not the internet. In multiplayer mode you can gamble the cars you've won in single player on races with your friends, and maybe complete your collection!

This is a great addition to the Micro Machines series, but one that no one really ever talked much about. Put it right, and go get it for only £5!!

The minimum requirements are

Pentium 120Mhz
16Mb RAM
4xCD-ROM
DirectX 5 Compatible Card (4Mb+ for D3D option)
Soundcard
40Mb HDD Space


Overall a great game at an even better price.

Summary: