Publisher: CodeMasters
Developer: CodeMasters
Size: 8 Megs
No. of players: 2(simultaneously)
Official Ad: Yes
Break out the Toppies, clear off the pool table and make sure the cat doesn't eat any of the racers: It's time to compete for the ultimate honor of being deemed the Micro Machines Champion!

What's it all about?
It's an overhead-viewed racer based on the Micro Machines toy brand. Using a variety of vehicles, you race around the house against a buddy or computer controlled opponent(s) in an attempt to place second or better. Avoiding household items and other hazardous materials(orange juice, super glue, etc) you'll haul ass around such venues as the sandbox, bath tub, breakfast table, garage floor, flower garden and many, many others...
Graphics - Excellent. Everything looks realistically scaled to go with the theme of "Micro", and it all has a good amount of detail in it. The developers have also thrown in little, graphic touches everywhere that really add to the theme, and track designs. Pool balls, boxes of cereal, soap, AC units, pencils, erasers, cards: You name it, it's there....and looks great to boot.
Sound - Sparse. There's not much of it....during a race there's the engine, turning and breaking noises, at the race intro screens and various other places there are small bits of music....and that's it. Though none of it is particularly bad, it just begins to wear on you after a while....
Control - Smooth. Every vehicle in the game handles like a dream, whether it's the floaty choppers or the ultra tight F1 racers.
AI - About half and half: Halfway decent, halfway cheap-as-hell. At the beginning, you cruise past them with ease...then they'll slowly start presenting a challenge later on. Once you reach a certain point though, the CPU cars just become cheat-machines. They'll start making turns at top speed without even sliding, they never seem to hit a wall, or make any mistakes...and this is what you get to see assuming you *ever even catch up to them*. When the race starts, most times they tear ass out of there and you never see them again(until they lap you)....
Replay value - With two racing modes each for the single player and multi-player game(tournament and head to head) over 27 different circuits with multiple vehicles, you'll be playing for quite some time....and coming back for more when you're done.
Tips for better gaming experiences:
The AI is overly easy at the beginning, use this time to get rid of the tougher characters before you reach the point at which they'll *all* begin to stomp all over your head. I would recommend making sure you get Candy and Bonnie out of the way early. Also, though it's not the best way to make friends, try bumping others off the track, and onto the ground...it will *really* make them loose some distance.
Game Genie:
Though I don't remember any real ending, it does serve a nice sense of completion getting the car box filled...and the only way I was able to make it that far was with the Infinite Lives code. Unlike the other GG codes for the game that can make it so that you place "First" no matter what your standing is, this one actually keeps the challenge alive by making you place, but not allowing the game to punish for not doing so.
Infinite Lives: REHA-A60N

My rating: 85(out of 100) - An excellent racer with a very unique idea and style. Excellent graphics and control make this a great addition to your library, though the cheap ass AI may drive you away from it when friends aren't around to race against.
EGM gave it: 7, 7, 7, 7(out of 10)

JD's review: I usually eat Bel's Micro Machines, but I actually enjoyed playing this rather than trying to eat it.

Cruising in the sandbox...
One of the ultra-tough "bonus" tracks.
Toppies!!! Deliciously Crunchy Sugary bits! No Natural Ingredients, with a free thing inside!!!
If I *ever* caught Micro Machines cruising around my pool table...
UK Machines:
Over in the UK, homeland of the game's developers(CodeMasters), three more Micro Machines games were released for the Mega Drive: Micro Machines 2: Turbo Tournament, Micro Machines: Turbo Tournament '96 and Micro Machines: Military.