Micro Maniacs (FoxKids.com Micro Maniacs Racing in North America) is a racing video game developed by Codemasters for PlayStation and Game Boy Color. It is a spin-off to the Micro Machines games, the main difference being that players control tiny characters where a few racetracks feature the use of vehicles. The North American version was sponsored by Fox Kids, and so the game's name was changed there. It was scheduled to be released in June 2000,[2] but was delayed to late September.
Micro Maniacs is set in a time where the Earth's resources are being depleted and the very planet is at risk. However, a scientist named Dr. Minimizer has an idea: using a device he calls "The Minimizer Ray", he will shrink the planet's population to 1/360 of its original size, and so create a world more suitable to our current status. If this is to be successful, the doctor needs to create a supersoldier: somebody who can prepare the planet for us when we are eventually minimized. In order to do this, the doctor enlists the help of 12 volunteers for an experiment. The experiment consists of racetracks that are considered various dangerous environments as to ascertain the suitable skills for the supersoldier.
Gameplay
The player is controlling the character V4, who according to the data on the right is in third in Challenge mode. The timer is in the top-left of the screen and the player's power-ups in the bottom-left.
As opposed to previous games in the series, players control these small volunteers more than vehicles, the main difference is that the volunteers are able to jump and use individual abilities. The volunteers (or characters) are each slightly different. None are particularly realistic, but their unusual characteristics allow the characters to make use of various power-ups. These are used to attack your opponents in a race, and include things like black holes, atomic blasts, and laser mines.
Similar to the other games in the Micro Machines series, each course is based in a different environment, like a bathroom, a kitchen, a laboratory, a garage, and a bedroom. The goal is to race through the level and be the first to cross the finish line. Each course is marked out with a substance in the environment. These are related to the level in question, and include things like toothpaste, fish food and baked beans. Some courses require the use of vehicles like jet-skis, bees, motor scooters and skateboards.
Challenge
A 1 player only mode. The racer is up against 4 AI opponents in a 3 lap race. The player must come in 1st or 2nd to win a race and advance a row except for the Final Round, where 1st place is the absolute win condition.
Time Trial
In Time Trial mode, 1 to 8 players can race, using either one, or separate controllers. There are four Time Trial modes:
TT Free Play - 1 player attempts to earn a best time.
TT Challenge - 1 player has to beat a set lap time within three laps to progress up rows.
TT Multiplayer - 2 to 8 players attempt to set and beat opponents lap times.
TT Tournament - Similar to TT Multiplayer, but the aim to be the first player to a set number of points
Vs.
In Versus mode, 1-8 players have to make the other opponents disappear off the screen by running as far in front as possible to score points. The player who either fills up their points gauge, passes the finish line on the final lap with the most points, or the last person standing in Play-Off (a Sudden Death mode activated if players have the same number of points upon crossing the finish line on the last lap). Players are defined in 8 colors. There are 3 Vs. modes:
Single Player Vs. where 1 player must race against one to seven AI opponents (changed via the main Game Settings) which progresses in a similar fashion to Challenge mode.
Multiplayer Vs., where 2 to 8 players race to get the most points.
Vs. Tournament, where 2 to 8 players race to get the most wins.
Vs. Teams
Vs. Teams is similar to Vs. mode, with the core difference being to score points for their team. This mode requires 3 to 8 players and contains four teams to choose from.
Training
Before any of the races begin, a training mode is started. Players can train in the circles as the level loads. This mode will also show who you are up against and any vehicles that level uses.
Bonus Tracks
In this mode, the player runs through a maze. The aim is to collect all 30 power ups within the time limit. If the player wins, they win an extra life. If they lose, they win nothing. There are 4 different bonus tracks: Blue, Green, Red and Yellow. These tracks can only be entered via Challenge, TT Challenge or Single Player Vs. if the player wins 3 races in a row in 1st place.
The PlayStation version received favourable reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[3] Other magazines gave the import favourable to average reviews while the U.S. version was still in development.[8][14] In Japan, where the same console version was ported and published by Spike on 2 November 2000 under the name Denkō Sekka Micro Runner: Maniac Hakushi no Hisaku (電光石火ミクロランナー 〜マニアック博士の秘策〜, Denkō Sekka Mikuro Rannā 〜Maniakku Hakushi no Hisaku〜, lit. "Lightspeed Micro Runners: Dr. Maniac's Secret Plan"), Famitsu gave it a score of 25 out of 40.[9]
References
^IGN staff (25 August 2000). "Landmark Cross-Promotion Deal Merges Online and Offline Promotions". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
^IGN staff (3 May 2000). "Codemasters Reveals Its Strong E3 Lineup". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
^ ab"電光石火ミクロランナー 〜マニアック博士の秘策〜 [PS]". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
^Provo, Frank (28 November 2000). "FoxKids.com Micro Maniacs Racing Review [date mislabeled as "May 17, 2006"]". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
^Nix, Marc (20 October 2000). "FoxKids.com Micro Maniacs Racing". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
^DMC (June 2000). "Micro Maniacs (PS)". Hyper. No. 80. Next Media Pty Ltd. p. 76. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
^Kornifex (7 April 2000). "Test: Micro Maniacs (PS1)". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Webedia. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
^ abSteinman, Gary (May 2000). "Micro Maniacs". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. Vol. 3, no. 8. Ziff Davis. p. 94. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
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Micro Maniacs FoxKids com Micro Maniacs Racing in North America is a racing video game developed by Codemasters for PlayStation and Game Boy Color It is a spin off to the Micro Machines games the main difference being that players control tiny characters where a few racetracks feature the use of vehicles The North American version was sponsored by Fox Kids and so the game s name was changed there It was scheduled to be released in June 2000 2 but was delayed to late September Micro ManiacsDeveloper s CodemastersPublisher s CodemastersTHQ GBC SeriesMicro MachinesPlatform s PlayStation Game Boy ColorReleasePlayStationEU 7 April 2000NA 26 September 2000 1 Game Boy ColorEU 2 November 2001AU 12 November 2001Genre s RacingMode s Single player multiplayer Contents 1 Plot 2 Gameplay 3 Reception 4 References 5 External linksPlot EditMicro Maniacs is set in a time where the Earth s resources are being depleted and the very planet is at risk However a scientist named Dr Minimizer has an idea using a device he calls The Minimizer Ray he will shrink the planet s population to 1 360 of its original size and so create a world more suitable to our current status If this is to be successful the doctor needs to create a supersoldier somebody who can prepare the planet for us when we are eventually minimized In order to do this the doctor enlists the help of 12 volunteers for an experiment The experiment consists of racetracks that are considered various dangerous environments as to ascertain the suitable skills for the supersoldier Gameplay Edit The player is controlling the character V4 who according to the data on the right is in third in Challenge mode The timer is in the top left of the screen and the player s power ups in the bottom left As opposed to previous games in the series players control these small volunteers more than vehicles the main difference is that the volunteers are able to jump and use individual abilities The volunteers or characters are each slightly different None are particularly realistic but their unusual characteristics allow the characters to make use of various power ups These are used to attack your opponents in a race and include things like black holes atomic blasts and laser mines Similar to the other games in the Micro Machines series each course is based in a different environment like a bathroom a kitchen a laboratory a garage and a bedroom The goal is to race through the level and be the first to cross the finish line Each course is marked out with a substance in the environment These are related to the level in question and include things like toothpaste fish food and baked beans Some courses require the use of vehicles like jet skis bees motor scooters and skateboards Challenge A 1 player only mode The racer is up against 4 AI opponents in a 3 lap race The player must come in 1st or 2nd to win a race and advance a row except for the Final Round where 1st place is the absolute win condition Time Trial In Time Trial mode 1 to 8 players can race using either one or separate controllers There are four Time Trial modes TT Free Play 1 player attempts to earn a best time TT Challenge 1 player has to beat a set lap time within three laps to progress up rows TT Multiplayer 2 to 8 players attempt to set and beat opponents lap times TT Tournament Similar to TT Multiplayer but the aim to be the first player to a set number of pointsVs In Versus mode 1 8 players have to make the other opponents disappear off the screen by running as far in front as possible to score points The player who either fills up their points gauge passes the finish line on the final lap with the most points or the last person standing in Play Off a Sudden Death mode activated if players have the same number of points upon crossing the finish line on the last lap Players are defined in 8 colors There are 3 Vs modes Single Player Vs where 1 player must race against one to seven AI opponents changed via the main Game Settings which progresses in a similar fashion to Challenge mode Multiplayer Vs where 2 to 8 players race to get the most points Vs Tournament where 2 to 8 players race to get the most wins Vs Teams Vs Teams is similar to Vs mode with the core difference being to score points for their team This mode requires 3 to 8 players and contains four teams to choose from Training Before any of the races begin a training mode is started Players can train in the circles as the level loads This mode will also show who you are up against and any vehicles that level uses Bonus Tracks In this mode the player runs through a maze The aim is to collect all 30 power ups within the time limit If the player wins they win an extra life If they lose they win nothing There are 4 different bonus tracks Blue Green Red and Yellow These tracks can only be entered via Challenge TT Challenge or Single Player Vs if the player wins 3 races in a row in 1st place Reception EditReceptionAggregate scoreAggregatorScoreGameRankings75 3 Review scoresPublicationScoreAllGame 4 Consoles GBC 90 5 PS 88 6 Edge7 10 7 Electronic Gaming Monthly6 75 10 8 Famitsu25 40 9 GameSpot7 1 10 10 Hyper88 12 IGN7 5 10 11 Jeuxvideo com17 20 13 Official U S PlayStation Magazine 14 The PlayStation version received favourable reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings 3 Other magazines gave the import favourable to average reviews while the U S version was still in development 8 14 In Japan where the same console version was ported and published by Spike on 2 November 2000 under the name Denkō Sekka Micro Runner Maniac Hakushi no Hisaku 電光石火ミクロランナー マニアック博士の秘策 Denkō Sekka Mikuro Ranna Maniakku Hakushi no Hisaku lit Lightspeed Micro Runners Dr Maniac s Secret Plan Famitsu gave it a score of 25 out of 40 9 References Edit IGN staff 25 August 2000 Landmark Cross Promotion Deal Merges Online and Offline Promotions IGN Ziff Davis Retrieved 28 January 2021 IGN staff 3 May 2000 Codemasters Reveals Its Strong E3 Lineup IGN Ziff Davis Retrieved 29 January 2021 a b FoxKids com Micro Maniacs Racing for PlayStation GameRankings CBS Interactive Archived from the original on 9 December 2019 Retrieved 28 January 2021 Woods Nick FoxKids com Micro Maniacs Racing Review AllGame All Media Network Archived from the original on 15 November 2014 Retrieved 28 January 2021 Micromaniacs sic GBC Consoles in French No 118 November 2001 p 145 Retrieved 29 January 2021 Zano Switch May 2000 Micro Maniacs PS Consoles in French No 100 pp 94 95 Edge staff April 2000 Micro Maniacs PS Edge No 83 Future Publishing p 74 Retrieved 28 January 2021 a b EGM staff June 2000 Micro Maniacs Electronic Gaming Monthly No 131 Ziff Davis a b 電光石火ミクロランナー マニアック博士の秘策 PS Famitsu in Japanese Enterbrain Retrieved 28 January 2021 Provo Frank 28 November 2000 FoxKids com Micro Maniacs Racing Review date mislabeled as May 17 2006 GameSpot CBS Interactive Retrieved 28 January 2021 Nix Marc 20 October 2000 FoxKids com Micro Maniacs Racing IGN Ziff Davis Retrieved 28 January 2021 DMC June 2000 Micro Maniacs PS Hyper No 80 Next Media Pty Ltd p 76 Retrieved 29 January 2021 Kornifex 7 April 2000 Test Micro Maniacs PS1 Jeuxvideo com in French Webedia Retrieved 29 January 2021 a b Steinman Gary May 2000 Micro Maniacs Official U S PlayStation Magazine Vol 3 no 8 Ziff Davis p 94 Retrieved 29 January 2021 External links EditMicro Maniacs at IMDb Micro Maniacs PlayStation at MobyGames Micro Maniacs Game Boy Color at MobyGames Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Micro Maniacs amp oldid 1109188779, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
