Micro Machines V3

Micro Machines V3 takes the immensely popular miniature-scale racing series to a new level by adding weapons and power-ups to the fray. Now you can grab turbo charges for bursts of speed or blast away opponents with grenades and force-fields. For the first time on a portable system you can still drive all of your favorite Micro Machines vehicles on all the classic tracks such as the pool tale and sand-box, but now you can do it with an attitude! Features 48 courses - breakfast table, school desk, science lab, beach, restaurant, garden, pool table, etc.

Released: 1998
Platforms: Game Boy Color Nintendo 64 PlayStation Windows
Genres: Racing
Developers: —
Publishers: —
Perspective: Bird view / Isometric
Themes: Action Comedy
Country: United Kingdom
Age ratings: ESRB E
Languages: English

About

Micro Machines V3 is a racing video game developed by Codemasters, the third title of the Micro Machines series following Micro Machines 2: Turbo Tournament (1994) and the first set in a 3D game environment. It was originally released for PlayStation in 1997 followed by ports to Microsoft Windows, Nintendo 64 (as Micro Machines 64 Turbo) in 1999, and a 2D version for Game Boy Color in 2000.

Keywords

frog
kid friendly
playing cards
60 fps on consoles
sudden death
greatest hits
promo vhs

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Development

A Sega Saturn version of the game was demonstrated at the 1996 Electronic Entertainment Expo, at which time Codemasters stated that they were hoping to release the PlayStation and Saturn versions simultaneously. However, in mid-1997 they announced that development on the Saturn version had been halted.

Initially Micro Machines V3 was published only in Europe, but in late 1997 Midway acquired the U.S. distribution rights and announced a November 1997 U.S. release for the PlayStation version.

Reception

Micro Machines V3 received divisive reviews. While critics uniformly praised the detailed, imaginative tracks and multitude of play modes, they disagreed on whether the game provides any lasting fun, with the multiplayer modes being a particular sticking point. IGN and Next Generation regarded it as the highlight of the game, with IGN reporting that the competitiveness of the multiplayer was able to get "a huge crowd of jaded IGN hacks to gather around a single TV screen and scream and shout at one another" and Next Generation calling Micro Machines V3 "One of the few truly great multiplayer PlayStation games." On the other side, Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM), GameSpot, and GamePro found the multiplayer irritating and confusing to the point of being almost unplayable.

Crispin Boyer and Kraig Kujawa of EGM said the camera views, in particular the restriction to one screen, make it too easy to lose track of what's going on, while their co-reviewer Sushi-X found the entire concept of competing to fall off ledges the least number of times was not fun. GamePro expressed irritation with how the multiplayer races stop and restart every time someone wipes out or gets too far ahead of a competitor. GameSpot agreed, and reasoned that "While a split-screen mode would be likewise untenable, this inching along clearly sucks unless all drivers involved are incredibly (or equally) proficient."