The basic idea can be resumed in just a few words.
Different options are possible for a number of players.
If you play alone against the computer, you will have to choose three opponents from the many candidates, each one with a very different look. If there are two of you, no problem, you can both play Micro Machines on the same computer. Each player having four lives, you will try to go as fast as you possibly can so that your adversary will be behind and lose one of his lives at the same time. Using two computers, you can also play Micro Machines with a null modem cable or through a telephone connection using modems. This is the preferred option which is often the case in multi-player games.