Micro Machines: Mini Challenge Mayhem Review

Micro Machines: Mini Challenge Mayhem is a single-player VR title by WIMO Games, and in it, you'll spend your time creating tracks around different environments and trying to beat challenges!

I'm a big fan of VR and playing games in a setting where you're tiny compared to the world around you; although I don't much care for cars, I do have a soft spot for them ever since I found my love for arcade racers, so I was pretty excited about Micro Machines! Although it's not about racing others, the idea of creating tracks and beating my own score sounded like a great time.

The first thing I'd like to mention is that I've been playing a lot of VR recently because my wife got her own Meta Quest 2, and despite that, I was smitten by the crispness of the images and colours! Micro Machines is very appealing to the eye, especially since it's all about toy cars and tracks in colourful rooms. The game also offers three points of view: from inside the car, from behind it, and as someone standing to the side of the track! Since I've gotten better from my motion sickness during VR games, I chose the second scariest one — from behind the car. As someone who sometimes feels a bit woozy after playing Beat Saber for too long, I'm happy to say that I didn't feel any sort of dizziness or discomfort; this was surprising, especially since the car can hit pretty high speeds! 

The gameplay itself is quite simple; in total, you have four game modes to choose from, and three of them will require you to build tracks. The challenge behind the gameplay comes in the form of Stars, which you have three different milestones to beat to get one plus a bonus one with a special condition. With these, you'll get to purchase new cars, parts (such as Engines and Wheels), and even Paints to add some customisation. This can help you get more Stars if you revisit levels you didn't get to ace, and it gives you an even bigger reason to complete all the goals outside of completion.

Out of the four modes available (Time Trial, Stunt Showdown, Demolition, and Sandbox), three of them require you to complete or create your own tracks around the area. I really enjoyed the addition of this since it brings a lot of interaction that capitalises on virtual reality! Additionally, it adds a surprising puzzle element to Micro Machines that I thoroughly enjoyed, especially in the Demolition mode, as you'll have a limited amount of parts. Once you have everything set up, your singular goal is to rush for the blocks and get as many destruction points as possible! The only problem is that the track-building part can be a bit cumbersome, and I also found myself getting a bit impatient to start the race, as I just wanted to head to the next and the next and the next!

This is the main reason Time Trial was my favourite, as this mode brings premade tracks that you can just instantaneously play. That being said, though, it did take me a bit to shake off the disappointment of having to slow down every curb. Micro Machines is a lot more about playing intelligently, not just hitting the gas pedal and hoping for the best, which is more like the type of car games I'm used to. Once I warmed up to how the game wanted me to play, though, I found its beauty, as I can't say there are too many puzzle games like this! 

My second favourite mode was Stunt Showdown because it had the freedom and fast-paced gameplay of Time Trial with the track-building of Demolition. It's also very satisfying to go full speed and get a few good tricks in!

Despite all this, however, there are a few downsides, but they're all minor. Aside from the track-building being a bit clunky at times, I also couldn't find a way to change the point of view, as I wanted to try playing from the inside of the car; I only had the option available at the start. And unless you enjoy the idea of making tracks in a handful of environments, you might be bored with the puzzle parts of the game, especially if you're an adult.

Overall, I really think Micro Machines: Mini Challenge Mayhem is a good game if you're looking for a more relaxed and puzzle-solving-focused experience. It isn't what I originally assumed, but it won my heart over anyway. There are some downsides, of course, but it's definitely worth it if you're already a fan of these sorts of activities or you have children who might love it.