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Jamiroquai - posing paragon of pop. You know, the one who can't grow his own Afro so he wears that big wiggy hat instead. However, that same hat hides a dark and terrible secret. Concealed inside the fluffy headgear is a small demon named Steefy One-Darr, who controls Jamir and forces him to do evil deeds (like release his godawful records for a start). Poor old Jammo is powerless to take the hat off, and is thus led astray into an orgy of chicen worship and wallaby sacrifice (er, allegedly). Only one team can save him - The Micro Machines.

These shrunken racers each control their own mini-vehicles, and have pledged to free Jamser from the vile influence of One-Dar. Their plan is to sneak under the brim of the enchanted cap, an easy task given their reduced size, and, er, drive all over the malignant trogolodyte until he submits. Or something like that anyay. Look, they haven't really got past the planning stage yet, alright? Their busy racing their little hearts out in the phenomenal Game Gear conversion of their popular hit game (copyright Tenuous Links Inc 1993).

Conversion of the already classic NES title also available on Megadrive.

There are two simultaneous two-player modes. The first is the standard Gear-to-Gear link up for you and pal to play in comfort and hygiene. The second is a revolutionary two-players-on-one-machine mechanism. In this mode, both players' cars accelerate constantly, leaving no need for those messy buttons. One player uses the D-button to steer his car left and right, and the other uses the I and II buttons! This means you can still enjoy double-up entertainment even if you're in the quite-likely predicament of living in a one Game Gear town.

There are a multitude of play modes available. There's the standard one-player Tournament, where the player races his way through an array of opponents in the quest for the Micro Machines crown. There's also the two-player head-to-head option. The object of this game is to completely fill the points bar displayed in the corner of the screen. This bar is composed of eight circles, four blue and four red. Every time a player reaches the forward edge of the screen they score a point and colour a circle. Get the lot and it's victory. This option also has a one-player incarnation, with just you and a computer driver battling it out.

1. Turbo Wheels
   These sand-hoppers are sprightly buggies. With a high top speed, cornering is a little tricky, and their light weight means they bounce around a great deal if they hit so much as tide mark.
2. Speedboats
   Bathtime racing is the order of the day here. Steer clear of the plughole which swallows your boat and the soap suds which slow you down and bounce you around.
3. 4X4
   A good start to the day, these slower breakfast table racers are easy to control and not too demanding. Still, there's always the other drivers, sticky marmalade spots and obstructing waffles to worry about...
4. Warriors
   Fitted with front-bumper detonators crashing into another Warrior generally leads to these trucks blowing up! Also watch out for their skiddy cornering and the glue spots and oil slicks around the track.
5. Tanks
   Pondering and cumbersome with a wide turning circle, the tanks don't seem to have much going for them. However, each tank is fitted with a cannon fired by pressing the II button! One hit temporarily destroys any tank, allowing you to get a clear lead.
6. Sportscars
   Very nippy, but can be a problem at first. Try to get the hang of the Miami Vice-style "power skid" for maximum advantage and pose power.

Hurrah and huzzah for Codies. It's games like this which will keep the Game Gear alive and kicking for eons. You really have to admire them for having the courage to try out something like the two-players-one-Gear mode which, although not utterly brilliant, is still good fun and a totally unique new feature.

The game itself is fast, fun, utterly playable, really great to look at and listen to... All the tracks are brilliantly recreated and, apart from a smidgen of sprite flicker, it has everything you could ever want from a Game Gear racing game - top stuff. Go and buy. Now!

The sprites are far more detailed although some of the background detail has been cut to speed things up. Other than that, every course has been perfectly replicated, along with all the music, and its been made harder. My main complaint with the Megadrive verion is that it's too easy in one-player mode, but the Game Gear version is rock.

The two-player-one-machine mode is a great idea, and whilst it doesn't completely work, it's good enough. But it's with a link-up that Micro Machines really comes into its element. Certainly the best Game Gear title available.

Graphics 87%
P. Some of the sprites are amazingly detailed and everything is pin sharp, with little blur.
N. There's a little bit of sprite flicker.

Sound 79%
P. All the Megadrive tunes and effects are here.
N. Although they weren't particularly great in the first place.

Lastability 94%
P. Loads of courses, and it's actually quite hard, plus the new head-to-head CPU option prolongs single-player life.

Overall 94%
Probably the most playable game around at the moment. Essential beyond a doubt for Game Gear owners.