The Game Gear Directory: (Mi)
Mickey's Ultimate Challenge (1994)
Oh my goodness gracious me. This bizarre game is far from representative of the quality of most Game Gear Mickey Mouse titles, being designed in such a way that's unclear exactly who the proceedings are aimed at. It's essentially a mini-game collection linked together with some really awful platforming, and the mini-games aren't particularly interesting or original; there's a piss-easy take on Sokoban, a basic memory game akin the Super Mario Bros. 3 bonus stage, a clone of the board game Mastermind (do you have that in America?), an insultingly basic alphabetical book-sorting game and - worst of all - Simon. Your reward for conquering all this time-wasting nonsense? A SLIDING PUZZLE. So no, it's not worth it at all. I will say this, I thought Goofy's blacksmithery was decently-drawn, and tiny Mickey in the Sokoban stages is cute, but there's otherwise pretty much nothing to recommend about this cart. *
Micro Machines (1993)
The cars, they are small. These tiny tricked-out trucks go belting around your garden, your bathtub, all over the bastard place. They're so fast that it's hard enough keeping track of them without dealing with the rather foggy Game Gear screen, but here they are, the Micro Machines. God, imagine if your name was Michael Machines. Never hear the end of it, would ye? Look, sorry, yes. It's Micro Machines on Game Gear, and it's good! But wouldn't you rather play this on a console with your mates? You can play it with two players on one Game Gear with auto acceleration and the D-Pad/buttons being used to steer, but outside of novelty there really is no reason to engage in such silliness. Nonetheless this is a complete and satisfying Micro Machines experience, it's just... you know, it's not right without proper multiplayer on the big telly. ***
Micro Machines 2: Turbo Tournament (1995)
This is pretty much the same thing as above, but better in every way. For one thing, you can link up in this version - though it's still not gonna be as good as the Mega Drive version, now, is it?! Still, it's all here, with souped-up presentation, better music, better graphics and better handling models for all the different cars. Also, the second race is named after the notorious Abel Ferrara "video nasty" The Driller Killer. Okay, it's almost certainly not named after that, but I don't know what else to write here. The Game Gear is not the place for Micro Machines, because it is very much a same-screen multiplayer experience. However, this is inarguably a very strong showing for Codemasters and a fine adaptation with plenty of modes and statistics to enjoy. While the playable characters clearly represent a faltering attempt to offer some diversity, it has to be said that they are rather stereotypical, and the portrait for Suelee in particular elicited a wince from me. ***
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (1994)
Oh, this is great fun! Go, go Power Rangers, indeed! In this unusual but rather brilliant beat-'em-up from Banpresto, you pick your Ranger from the original five then go apeshit on a bunch of Puttys and various monsters from the exhausting TV show. It's not a belt scroller; you're 1v1ing these creeps ala Street Fighter II, one after the other. Sometimes monsters will tag team, Goldar and King Sphinx taking it in turns to get destroyed. Then you beat 'em, and they get big, so you ride the Megazord and beat the absolute piss out of them once and for all. It all feels nice and crunchy and the graphics are absolutely fantastic. It's all very simplistic and kind of dumb but this is a pick-up-and-play slice of fried gold that's even considerate enough to let you switch Ranger between battles, so you're not stuck with the same moveset for the entire game. You can also link up and fight one another! A very good cart, spoiled only by repetition. ****
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie (1993)
I cheered when the Banpresto logo appeared again. This is basically exactly the same as the first Power Rangers game, but with more Rangers available to kick ass with. Of course, I chose the White Ranger and proceeded to absolutely destroy Puttys. It's all grand fun, but the challenge knob has been tweaked a little because it just doesn't have that breezy sense of fun the first game did - it's much harder and you'll have to actually try. Grr! Using Thunder Megazord should be a power fantasy, but here it gets knocked down by the first enemy! This is still a brilliant game - and you can still link up with friends - but I think I prefer the previous Power Rangers title for its knockabout breeziness. ****
(Next: ML-Ms)
