Cars is the best movie Pixar has released in a long time, so it seems fitting that Cars the videogame is also the best game based on a Pixar license. The game captures the fun and personality of the movie almost perfectly, and the result is a fun driving game that both kids and adults will really enjoy.
Quick Hits
- Title: Cars
- Platform: Xbox 360
- Publisher: THQ
- Developer: Rainbow Studios
- ESRB: “E” for Everyone
- Genre: Racing
- Pros: Fun gameplay; voice actors from movie return; nice visuals
- Cons: A bit on the short side; easy; not all that different from older-gen versions
Story
The videogame picks up after the movie as Lightning McQueen is trying to make his way through the new racing season against his rival Chick Hicks. Almost all of the main characters from the movie return, and all of their respective voice actors lent their talents to the game, which makes Cars the videogame an outstanding complement to Cars the movie. It helps to have seen the movie, but it isn’t absolutely necessary to have a great time with the game.
Gameplay
THQCars is a free roaming game where you explore the area around the town of Radiator Springs. You will be given missions to collect items or challenged to races by the other cars in the town, but you are free to drive around and explore at your leisure. You can use a turbo boost as well as powerslide around corners, an the whole game plays very smoothly and fast. You will also enter the professional races which take place on a closed track similar to NASCAR. These races are visually very exciting, fast, and a lot of fun. You also have to do pit stops in the pro races, and just like in real life, being fast on pit lane keeps you going fast on the track. Another set of missions let you take control of Mater the tow truck and doing some tractor tipping. In these levels, you have to sneak past patrolling guards and search lights to scare sleeping tractors and tip them over. They are a nice change of pace from the rest of the game and aren’t too difficult.
Cars features a nice choice in difficulty level when you first start the game that is very much appreciated. You can play the full story, or a smaller, easier version of the story that is perfect for younger kids. Neither of the difficulty modes are all that difficult, and this is a game aimed at kids, but if you are a fan of the movie you’ll still have a lot of fun with it no matter how old you are.
Graphics and Sound
Graphically, Cars is a nice looking game but you can tell that it isn’t pushing the Xbox 360 very hard. It is a polished port of the game from the Xbox/PS2, and it shows. It still manages to look pretty good, though. The environments are somewhat drab, but the cars all look very, very nice and feature some great animation that gives them the same lovable personality and charm as the movie.
The sound is really the star of the show as the game sounds just like the movie. All of the voice actors from the film are back and they all did a great job here. The soundtrack is also very good and features a number of licensed songs that help set the mood and keep things pumping along.
Bottom Line
THQOverall, Cars the videogame is an excellent companion to the movie and fans of the film will have a great time with the game. It looks good and sounds just like the movie, and all of your favorite characters return so there is a lot to like here. It is a bit on the short side, and it is pretty easy, but it is undeniably fun thanks to the solid gameplay that developer Rainbow Studios is famous for. The only real complaint I have is that it isn’t any different from the older-gen versions of the game that was released, so unless you are crazy about achievements there isn’t any real reason to pick up the 360 version over the others. That choice is up to you, though. I’d say Cars is worth at least a rental.
