 Review By: Jared Black |
Developer: | Locomotive Games |
| Publisher: | THQ | |
| Genre: | Racing | |
| ESRB: | Everyone | |
| # Of Players: | 1 | |
| Online Play: | No | |
| Accessories: | Memory Stick Duo, Wi-Fi (Ad Hoc) | |
| Buy Now: |   |
I’ll spare you the “games based on movie licenses usually stink” history lesson, because by now it’s a well-known industry cliché that defies even the existence of games like Goldeneye 007. Plus, it’s not really applicable in this case. While Cars does feature the actual characters from the movie, it’s really more of a straightforward racing game that just happens to be set in the Cars universe. And, it’s not a bad one at that.
Unlike the console versions, there are no objectives here other than to simply finish first. Sure, technically you’re racing to drive baddies DJ, Wingo, Boost, and Snot Rod out of town for good, but really they’re just excuses to race against “boss” characters every so often. This takes place in Story Mode, where you must finish in first place to unlock each subsequent race. Other gameplay modes include Postcard Rally (race tracks unlocked in Story Mode to collect Postcard pieces), Grand Prix (four track cups using the same tracks and a point system based on order of finish), Time Trial, Custom Race (set up your own rules such as number of laps, mirror mode, and opponents), and finally Multiplayer. The Multiplayer mode is for up to four players, but unfortunately Ad Hoc only. In most of these modes you can unlock things such as new paint jobs, additional cars, etc. by winning.
As for how it actually plays, as I mentioned Cars is a straightforward racing game aimed squarely at the younger set. There is a Boost Meter that allows racers to get an extra oomph by holding down the square button, and after the first few races it’s required to win as the difficulty ramps up fairly quickly. The boost meter is refilled by performing several actions (including simply driving), so you’ll end up using it a lot. The cars can also hop by pressing the L button, which is good for avoiding obstacles and reaching shortcuts, and power slide by pressing the R button. The power slide works extremely well, so almost any curve can be conquered without braking by simply pressing it at the right time. Still, without weapons, car upgrades, or the need to put on the brakes it feels pretty shallow compared to what’s already out for the PSP.
Graphically, the game is very solid. The cars all look like their movie counterparts, and the cutscenes that pop up from time to time are cute. The tracks all have a distinct feel to them, and compare favorably from a technical perspective with other racing games on the system. While a little sparse on interesting landmarks and details (a canyon track with signs in it is hardly unique), there are scripted events that alter the layout of each course and help to keep things feeling fresh the first couple of times through. Tracks have several different branching paths to take, lending a little additional variety to things. Overall, the way the tracks change over time is not unlike Splashdown: Rides Gone Wild, which isn’t surprising considering that Rainbow Studios developed that title and also worked on the console versions of Cars.
Sound is top notch too, with a licensed soundtrack that includes fun pop songs such as “Rock This Town” by Stray Cats, “Come On, Let’s Go” by Los Lobos, “Free Ride” by The Edgar Winter Group, and others. It’s exactly the kind of well-produced, but inoffensive, soundtrack a kid’s game needs. Characters spout off a lot of one-liners during each race, and while they tend to grow old fairly quickly there’s enough variety to keep them from becoming too annoying. Plus, a few are actually funny even to an old geezer like myself.
Bottom Line:
Although not a retelling of the movie, Cars is a fast-paced arcade racing title that delivers plenty of gameplay and a fun atmosphere for younger fans of the movie. Don’t be surprised when you buy it for junior, and then sneak in a few races yourself when no one else is around. Really, there’s no shame in that.
| Pros: | Cons: | Final Score: |
|---|---|---|
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| 7.5 |
Posted: 2006-07-08 08:12:37 PST