Micro Machines V4

Format PlayStation Portable

Developer Supersonic

Publisher Codemasters

Genre Racing / Driving

It's not often you get a video game that's more fun to play than the thing it's actually based on, but when you do the result is generally regarded as classic.

Take Micro Machines for example. Don't get us wrong, teeny tiny toy cars are great and everything, but once the novelty of wheeling them around itty bitty towns has worn off there's not an awful lot else to do. Except lose them. Yet the games have always proved totally addictive, especially when someone else joins in. And tears and tantrums over lost/stolen Micro Machines are drastically reduced, too.

SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL
So the news that Supersonic Software, the people behind the excellent Mashed racing games, is beavering away on Micro Machines v4 warms our hearts like a little ray of nostalgic sunshine. The fact that it's coming to PSP is even better - small, perfectly formed racing on the equally small and perfectly formed handheld console is a match made in heaven.

Suffice to say, trading cars will play a big part in the game. There are hundreds of vehicles to be unlocked, but not all of them will be available with one copy of the game. Players will need to cosy up to their mates and swap cars with them. We know for a fact the PS2 version of the game reads each console's unique ID and creates a list of highly collectable cars specific to that PS2, with players having to interact with other players' machines to get their hands on every vehicle in the game. Hopefully the PSP game will implement a similar system, especially given the little machine's wireless capabilities.

The notion of collecting is extended to pink slip racing, here called Play for Keeps. An opponent's garage can be scoured for a desirable mini motor, and the winner gets to keep it. To us it brings back memories of brawls in the school sandpit, but it's a great idea and gives even more point to wireless racing. There's always satisfaction to be had from beating a human rival, but taking something of theirs - even if you've never met them - makes it all the sweeter.

ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTERS
Other modes will include more standard game types, like self-explanatory Time Trial, Race and Checkpoint options. Where the little racers belie their cutesiness is in the Chase and Battle modes, where the simple aim is to stop opponents completing three laps by ruthlessly taking them out. Perhaps the most fun can be had by eliminated, embittered drivers, who can overcome their frustration at being crap by sitting at the side of a circuit and bombarding the track with missiles to make life as difficult as possible for the remaining competitors. The pool table track in particualr provides plenty of ready-made ammo in the form of car-crushing pool balls. And yes, the not-in-the-least-bit OTT airstrikes from Mashed return for non-racing players as well.

Bad losers aren't the only danger facing racers. Each of the 25 arenas has its own inherent pitfalls: cooker hobs will melt wheels if they're lingered on; hens in a coop will attempt to smash passing cars with their beaks. Then of course there are car mounted weapons to make finishing first that little bit easier. Joining regular weapons like missiles and machine guns are things of a slightly loopier persuasion - like a giant, Micro Machine-mashing mallet. Marvellous.

PSW Staff