In Season 15 of Retro Comparisons we take a look every game that was released on 2 or more of the 3 most popular handhelds of the fourth generation; the Nintendo Game Boy, Sega Game Gear & Atari Lynx.
Game Gear has colors but the playfield is zoomed in, this game requires quick reflexes to be played properly and the more adequate zoomed out view of the Game Boy release makes it the better version.
You hit the nail on the head. Being able to see a little bit ahead of you is key to a game like this. Especially for someone like me who's getting closer and closer to 40 and has diminished reflexes lol
@RetroComparisons I'm not too familiar with the Micro Machines series, while it was always available on all systems, I've played V3 on the PS1 and N64 recently and liked it quite a lot, Micro Maniacs is a spin-off for the PS1 and is quite good, with impressive visuals, too. So I noticed these games require reflexes and at least a good portion of the road ahead needs to be seen for a proper execution. Most Master System original games ported to the Game Gear and many of the portable originals are cropped due to the smaller screen, but the Game Boy Micro Machines kept the more zoomed out approach. If a game can't be properly ported to a system, they shouldn't even bother with the Game Gear release then, a more adequate solution would be to give the player the ability to choose a closer or wider view of the action.
@@roberto1519 I've never seen Micro Maniacs but I'd love to try it out based on what you're saying. V3 is a cool game in this series. I agree that they really should have had the option to zoom out. That's the issue with a lot of these ports even for stuff like the original Mario on the GBC. I'd much rather have smaller sprites than a large sprite with no surrounding context.
True, Super Mario Bros. Deluxe for the Game Boy Color really suffers from this, it goes against the original game design and blind jumps are a normal occurrence. SNES games for the GBA suffer from this too, usually, I think the Donkey Kong trilogy is one of the few that you lose almost none of the original screen real estate. Yes, try Micro Maniacs to see if you like it, it's based on Micro Machines, but you actually run on foot, and there are stages where you fly and use other vehicles, it has very high quality textures, too.
One cannot go wrong with Micro Machines the toys or the video games. I loved these toys as a car and probably my favorites outside of legos. The NES version took RC Pro Am and turned it into a sweet top down racer with different cars and easily in my top 20 games. Once I saw this I was very curious to see what the Game Boy version would produce.... The devs did not disappoint! Reminds me of the NES version just monochrome! I figurer the game gear was going to mop the floor on this one and it failed to show up with a mop. It still looks good but the zooming and parallax scrolling takes away from the visuals. Winner: Game Boy This may be my most rented game, I do not remember owning it or I rented it so much that it felt like I owned it... lol This is a tough game to pick up after 15 to 20 mins it flows well and is such a good racing game! Nice showing and I am totally digging the strong showing of the Game Boy
I'm laughing my ass off at "it failed to show up with a mop". I totally see why you would have rented this so much. It's an addictive game and unlike Race Drivin' or Klax that shows up on every season this one I actually look forward to each time. The GB version is extremely well done and negates the advantage the GG had going with the color screen. Coincidentally I recorded Monster Truck Wars last night which is like a mix of this and Off Road and it made me appreciate this game even more. Granted I only played the GG version last night with it's horrible controls but that's something that the GB version in particular of this game nails which is super important for a racing title like this.
Detail and sound-wise these are pretty close. The color adds a little to the GG version, but that smaller field of view is killer. Since getting ahead is the point of this game, the Game Gear suffers more for not being able to see as much of the play area. So, the Game Boy probably wins this one just on playability.
Cool video comparison! I had it for the NES great agme and another odd coincidence few days ago my dad and I were talking about older games I played as a kid some he played with me, he was asking me about "what's the game with the little cars on the table, that was weird and fun" he told me. So funny this is the second time this month that's happened, whenever I speak to others about old games you upload that game like a few days after haha. So funny!
Lol I swear I'm not listening in on your private conversations. The NES version of this game is awesome and it looks like it made a lasting impression deservedly so.
@@RetroComparisons HAHAHA all good man, the world is funny sometimes. Maybe you have that sixth sense haha. Yeah, definitely a fun game I can see this game being remade/remastered for modern consoles for sure.
The RC PRO-AM sound effects sold me on the Gameboy! 🤓
Haha I think they may have stolen it from that.
Game Gear has colors but the playfield is zoomed in, this game requires quick reflexes to be played properly and the more adequate zoomed out view of the Game Boy release makes it the better version.
You hit the nail on the head. Being able to see a little bit ahead of you is key to a game like this. Especially for someone like me who's getting closer and closer to 40 and has diminished reflexes lol
@RetroComparisons I'm not too familiar with the Micro Machines series, while it was always available on all systems, I've played V3 on the PS1 and N64 recently and liked it quite a lot, Micro Maniacs is a spin-off for the PS1 and is quite good, with impressive visuals, too. So I noticed these games require reflexes and at least a good portion of the road ahead needs to be seen for a proper execution. Most Master System original games ported to the Game Gear and many of the portable originals are cropped due to the smaller screen, but the Game Boy Micro Machines kept the more zoomed out approach. If a game can't be properly ported to a system, they shouldn't even bother with the Game Gear release then, a more adequate solution would be to give the player the ability to choose a closer or wider view of the action.
@@roberto1519 I've never seen Micro Maniacs but I'd love to try it out based on what you're saying. V3 is a cool game in this series. I agree that they really should have had the option to zoom out. That's the issue with a lot of these ports even for stuff like the original Mario on the GBC. I'd much rather have smaller sprites than a large sprite with no surrounding context.
True, Super Mario Bros. Deluxe for the Game Boy Color really suffers from this, it goes against the original game design and blind jumps are a normal occurrence. SNES games for the GBA suffer from this too, usually, I think the Donkey Kong trilogy is one of the few that you lose almost none of the original screen real estate.
Yes, try Micro Maniacs to see if you like it, it's based on Micro Machines, but you actually run on foot, and there are stages where you fly and use other vehicles, it has very high quality textures, too.
One cannot go wrong with Micro Machines the toys or the video games. I loved these toys as a car and probably my favorites outside of legos.
The NES version took RC Pro Am and turned it into a sweet top down racer with different cars and easily in my top 20 games.
Once I saw this I was very curious to see what the Game Boy version would produce.... The devs did not disappoint! Reminds me of the NES version just monochrome! I figurer the game gear was going to mop the floor on this one and it failed to show up with a mop. It still looks good but the zooming and parallax scrolling takes away from the visuals.
Winner:
Game Boy
This may be my most rented game, I do not remember owning it or I rented it so much that it felt like I owned it... lol
This is a tough game to pick up after 15 to 20 mins it flows well and is such a good racing game!
Nice showing and I am totally digging the strong showing of the Game Boy
I'm laughing my ass off at "it failed to show up with a mop". I totally see why you would have rented this so much. It's an addictive game and unlike Race Drivin' or Klax that shows up on every season this one I actually look forward to each time. The GB version is extremely well done and negates the advantage the GG had going with the color screen. Coincidentally I recorded Monster Truck Wars last night which is like a mix of this and Off Road and it made me appreciate this game even more. Granted I only played the GG version last night with it's horrible controls but that's something that the GB version in particular of this game nails which is super important for a racing title like this.
Detail and sound-wise these are pretty close. The color adds a little to the GG version, but that smaller field of view is killer. Since getting ahead is the point of this game, the Game Gear suffers more for not being able to see as much of the play area. So, the Game Boy probably wins this one just on playability.
I agree 100%. The GG version is nice looking undoubtedly but the controls are slippery and the field of view is the real killer.
O lado bom da versão do Gameboy, é que dá pra se jogar entre 2 até 4 player.
Going with the game gear on this one.
I may actually give the GB the win for the first time in a while solely because of the superior controls.
Cool video comparison! I had it for the NES great agme and another odd coincidence few days ago my dad and I were talking about older games I played as a kid some he played with me, he was asking me about "what's the game with the little cars on the table, that was weird and fun" he told me. So funny this is the second time this month that's happened, whenever I speak to others about old games you upload that game like a few days after haha. So funny!
Lol I swear I'm not listening in on your private conversations. The NES version of this game is awesome and it looks like it made a lasting impression deservedly so.
@@RetroComparisons HAHAHA all good man, the world is funny sometimes. Maybe you have that sixth sense haha. Yeah, definitely a fun game I can see this game being remade/remastered for modern consoles for sure.
@@MKF30 Oh yeah that would be amazing! I'd buy a remake of this on day 1 if that ever happened.
@@RetroComparisons Same lol
I really enjoyed the GB port of MM actually. Except that tyre squeal. eeew
Lol that noise is enough to give anyone a headache.
Both versions look good.
I think so too. Personally I haven't seen a bad version of this game yet and that's after having played numerous ports.
O lado bom da versão do Gameboy, é que dá pra se jogar entre 2 até 4 player.
That's so cool! The Micro Machine games were always good about that multiplayer experience.