Micro Machines 2: Turbo Tournament

Micro Machines 2: Turbo Tournament is a 1994

Gameplay is identical to the previous instalment: races are viewed from a

Like the original, there are the challenge and head-to-head game modes. In challenge mode, players play a series of races against three opponents and must finish first or second to progress to the next race. If a good enough lap time on any of the earlier levels is achieved, players automatically win the race. Placing first three times in a row earns players the chance to win an extra life by playing a special round to collect vehicles within a time limit. Head-to-head is a game which involves one opponent achieving enough distance from opponents to be the only racer on the screen. This earns that player a point, represented by coloured lights on the screen: one light turns the colour of that player. If all eight lights are one colour, the player of that colour wins. If after three laps, the colours are mixed, the player with the most lights wins. Players are given three lives in both modes.^[3][4] Players select a character, whose stats only affect computer-controlled players, to play as before racing.^[5][6]

Micro Machines 2: Turbo Tournament adds new modes: Leagues, Time Trials, Single Race, and Tournaments. In League mode, players compete for points in divisions. Seasons consist of four races. Players with the most points at the end of the season are promoted to the next division, and players with the least are relegated. In Time Trial mode players race alone (although some tracks have a Shadow Racer representing the best time) for the best time, or to practice driving. Single Race is where players compete in a series of rounds in which vehicles begin at the centre of the screen, and get further apart as the race progresses. If a vehicle goes off the screen, they are out of the race unless they have travelled the furthest. The game ends when only one player remains. Tournaments are a fixed race series played in the same manner as Single Races. The winner is the first player to win a set number of times. There are two multiplayer-only modes: Knockout and Share Games. Knockout involves a series of races similar to tournament mode, with winners progressing to the next round and losers knocked out. Share Games is similar to Single Race, but cars are coloured according to team, with each team's finishing position depending on which member performs the best.^[7][8] The Mega Drive J-Cart provides two controller ports, enabling up to eight players in multiplayer by two players sharing the controllers.^[9] The Game Gear version retains the console sharing (two player sharing one console) function of the original,^[2] and two units can be linked.^[10]

The MS-DOS version includes a

Andrew Graham, programmer of the original game, had returned to university after its completion, and David Darling, co-founder of Codemasters, decided that they could not wait for him to finish his degree. Codemasters approached Peter Williamson of Supersonic Software and had him produce the sequel. Williamson had just completed

Micro Machines 2: Turbo Tournament features greater background interaction than the original, such as levels in the dark. Williamson's favourite addition to the game was the sponge in the kitchen, which forced players to time their entry onto and exit from a platform. He also liked the toilet seat track. David Darling initially disliked the physics, stating he liked the way the first game achieved skids without feeling like a train manoeuvring. It was worked on until it was similar to the original, and ultimately it worked "perfectly".[1] According to Williamson, the team spent "enormous amounts of time" testing the game.^[13]

Micro Machines 2: Turbo Tournament was released for the Mega Drive in 1994. The cartridge features a non-volatile memory (NVR) chip that stores lap times and game achievements.^[14] The game was ported to MS-DOS, Game Gear, Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), and Game Boy.^[1] An Amiga version was also planned.^[2] Codemasters handled development for the Game Gear version, which began in September 1994, and the port was released in spring 1995.^[15] The MS-DOS version was published in North America by GameTek on 31 May 1996.^[16] The European PC release was by Codemasters in July 1995.^[17] The SNES and Game Boy versions were published by Ocean Software.^[18][19]

After over quarter of a million copies sold, an update, called Micro Machines Turbo Tournament '96, was released for the Mega Drive in PAL regions in October 1995,^[20] which added tracks, a track editor, and a new soundtrack.^[1][9] It was released on J-Cart format, and its NVR chip also stores tracks.^[21] The track editor had been featured in the PC version of Micro Machines 2: Turbo Tournament, and Williamson explained that it "seemed like an obvious thing to do", and that it was not possible for the original Mega Drive version because the team were going for a Christmas release date.^[13] He also stated that the USA was a difficult market to compete in. The sequel was produced in six months. Due to its success, Supersonic was asked to develop Micro Machines Military, released in 1996 for the Mega Drive, which featured military vehicles with weapons. Graham returned to develop Micro Machines V3, released in 1997.^[1][9] Micro Machines 2: Turbo Tournament was bundled with the original and released for the Game Boy Color in 2000.^[22]

Reception

Micro Machines 2: Turbo Tournament was well received. Critics were impressed with the J-Cart and the extra tracks and vehicles. Mark Patterson of Computer and Video Games praised the Mega Drive version's J-Cart enabling more than two players without extra hardware, and described the game as "bloody brilliant!".^[23] Edge's reviewer commented that the extra vehicles, tracks, and game modes increase re-playability of both single-player and multiplayer.^[25] The reviewers of GamesMaster lauded its addictiveness and commented that it is amongst the best or highest-rated games they have played.^[26] A reviewer from Mean Machines Sega believed the game exceeded their expectations, and echoed other opinions by praising the re-playability provided by the extra levels and vehicles.^[27] Player One's reviewer eulogised the animation, saying it lacks slowdown, and playability.^[30] Reviewers from Sega Magazine were highly positive: Richard Leadbetter and Tom Guise lauded the multiplayer mode, saying it is "untouchable". The playability were also given high praise, and was described as "superb". Leadbetter believed the game is "totally brilliant and well worth the asking price".^[41]

The Game Gear version received positive reviews, with some comparing it to the Mega Drive version. A reviewer from Consoles + describes its music as reminiscent of the Mega Drive soundtrack, and lauded the animation, saying its speed is "incredible".^[33] Mean Machines Sega's reviewer described the Game Gear version as "every bit as playable as the Mega Drive classic", but criticised the screen update, saying it "makes things a bit muddy".^[10] Player One's reviewer praised the originality of the circuits, but described the sound as average.^[31] A reviewer from Mega Fun thought that multiplayer is better with two units linked than with two players sharing one.^[35]

Similar compliments were made of the other versions. A reviewer from