Micro Machines (2016)

Release Date: July 12, 2016

Racing, free-to-play, isometric view, toys, arcade elements, multiplayer, singleplayer

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A mobile reboot of the cult-classic series of racing games, created by Codemasters Software. In comparison to the original, which was popular in the 90s, the backbone of the gameplay hasn’t changed much. The action is once again presented from a top-down view, with the competition between small, remote-controlled vehicles being the mainstay of the game.

Mechanics
Game modes
Technical aspects

Micro Machines for AND and iOS is an arcade racing game that is a mobile reboot of the cult-classic series, based on a license from a popular toy manufacturer – Hasbro, the company that had its biggest successes in the late 90s of the last century. The reboot is a joint effort between the original developers from British Codemasters with Chilingo, a distribution company that is a part of Electronic Arts stable. The game has been released on popular mobile devices, using a free-to-play model with micro transactions.

Mechanics

The backbone of the gameplay in new Micro Machines doesn’t differ much from the classic solutions used in the series, albeit certain elements of the mechanics have been developed and adapted to present-day mobile standards. The mainstay of the game is the rivalry of the titular minicars, taking place in somewhat atypical sceneries for a racing game, such as desks, sinks and worktops, billiard tables, etc. During the races, our way is often blocked by everyday objects functioning as obstacles. Our cars can pick up a number of power-ups scattered around the tracks that provide us with a temporary improvement in performance or weapons that are used to shoot our rivals.

The game includes over 60 different car models, such as sport cars, famous „hot rods” and „muscle cars”, police cars, fire trucks, construction machines, or even tanks and hovercrafts. The vehicles have been divided into few groups, with the access to new vehicles unlocked as we progress in the game. In contrast to previous installments, the new entry introduces the ability to modify owned models through equipping them with fifty different types of upgrades, such as shields, flamethrowers, powerful axes, reducing rays, or NERF – popular toy blasters.

Game modes

Micro Machines for AND and iOS offers the ability to choose from three main gameplay modes. First two are not new for the fans of the series: classic race and elimination. The new entry introduces a completely new arena mode, in which the goal is not to pass the finish line, but to eliminate all remaining participants. The whole game is complemented by the multiplayer mode allowing competitors from all around the world, and online rankings in which we represent our country, collaboratively working for its position on the list.

Technical aspects

When it comes to technical aspects, Micro Machines for AND and iOS bases on a previous Codemasters production called Toybox Turbos, released in 2014 on personal computers and consoles, as a spiritual successor of the native series. In contrast to classic installments of the series, the described title incorporates extremely colorful, fully three-dimensional visuals, shown from an isometric view. Due to the nature of mobile devices, the game includes somewhat different driving model – during the gameplay, the vehicles move on their own, our only task is to decide whether to turn left or right.

Last updated on September 16, 2016

Videos and Screens

[0:37] Micro Machines (2016) trailer