My first experience with Micro Machines was the commercials in the 80s, I don’t remember seeing them on store shelves. Being very young and hyper focused on transforming robots might have given me tunnel vision on what area of the toy aisle I perused. I remember playing the Camerica game on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) at a friend’s house and it was a lot of fun. I could not find a copy in stores, so I had to abandon that option. Well, thanks to a Sega Saturn independent developer, Micro Machines fans have an alternative in development. There is even a release candidate available, a demo if you will, of this work in progress.
Micro Motor Mayhem is very obviously inspired by Micro Machines toys and probably the games that were released. Sega Xtreme form member JBeretta is not shy about sourcing MM and Mario Kart for his inspirations fueling Micro Motor Mayhem.
You can currently play with three computer controlled racers or with a friend across several real world based tracks.
I say real world, not like NASCAR or anything but things like a work bench, table with breakfast, pool table, etc. Of course everything is oversized to give the cars the proper scale.
Now if you think the Sega Saturn could do good 3D or not is your concern. For me, it is a decent 3D machine and in the right hands it could do phenomenal 3D. What JBeretta has done here is, to me, on par with most commercial releases on the Sega Saturn. There is a plateau of sorts with what the Saturn can do unless you are prolific in the dual CPUs of the Saturn.
Micro Motor Mayhem does it just as good as gamers paid a premium for in the 90s. I mean that as a compliment, put this in front of the average retro gaming fan and ask who published this? Most would be dumbfounded as they probably refer to Micro Machines or something.
The engine is smooth enough, that is likely to be improved a bit with further development. This is not the first time I have covered something from JBeretta on the Saturn they are the developer behind Cold Case too.
Watch Micro Motor Mayhem’s development, especially if you are a fan of racing titles with a unique twist.
Source – YouTube via Sega Saturn Shrio
