It may be the fourth version, but the Micro Machines gaming franchise feel like it’s been around longer than computers themselves.

For those that have just woken up from a ten year stint in space, the game plays as a top-down racing offering with cars that are small enough to fit plenty on screen.

You can help your bid for victory by using weapons to smash your opponents and, well, that’s it really.

Micro Machines V4 doesn’t add much mustard to the mix, and is more an update than a radical re-haul.

In single-player mode, it’s fun for a short while with a range of tracks and cars to unlock, most of which are decent enough but far from inspiring.

Where it really comes alive is when played with a group of equally competitive friends in multi-player.

You can rope in three others for a spot of twisted racing fun, and a feature to allow you to pinch your rivals’ cars if you win adds extra spice to the gameplay.

It’s fun in short bursts and is likely to become a regular pick-up-and-play game for groups.

Visually, it’s as you’d expect – difficult to knock with clean and smooth graphics – but there’s not much you haven’t seen before.

Still, it’s churlish to knock Micro Machines for presentation as this is a pure gameplay-heavy title, and it’s got enough action to keep you satisfied.

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Rating: 3
Price: £20