Flashy graphics and a fun, giddy-up soundtrack can’t turn “Disney Pixar Cars” into a winner. Whether you play it on the GameCube, Xbox, PlayStation 2, GameBoy Advance or PlayStation Portable, “Cars” is a mediocre racing game with a ho-hum story.
You’re famous racecar Lightning McQueen, stuck in the dusty desert town of Radiator Springs. You love the bright lights and fast tracks of the big-time Piston Cup racetracks, but to return there, the game’s Story Mode makes you endure a string of boring skills-building tasks: Race and beat the locals, track down missing postcards, startle some sleeping tractors and more to win Trophy Points. Collect enough Trophy Points to unlock more skills-building tasks, and eventually the five Piston Cup races.
These major-league events bring a welcome change of scenery from the dust and tumbleweeds of Radiator Springs. The game’s art direction, like that of the movie “Cars,” is cool: a palette of saturated colors covers a seemingly endless expanse of desert that begs you to race across like a speed-crazed fool. As a side mission, the game has you collecting bonus icons strewn across the landscape, thereby forcing you to drive all over the dusty map.
That contrasts nicely with the huge, gleaming Piston Cup racing stadiums. Sitting at the starting line, you realize you’re a long way from Radiator Springs, and that change of scenery is a great way of giving you a taste of the big time that will make sure you keep trying to race every Piston Cup event.
Tactics in all Piston Cup races are the same, unfortunately. Keep your thumb on the gas and go. On the dirt in and around Radiator Springs, you can slide through corners, and on the asphalt ovals, stay low on the track. You’ll learn a few other tricks, but if you can manage those skills, you’ll win handily.
Mindless racers can still be fun. “OutRun 2006 Coast to Coast” is no achievement of racing verite, but my gosh it’s still a blast to play after all these years. Even if the graphics are ancient-looking. “OutRun” gives you a sense of barely controlled speed and cornering, and mastering that fine line of control gives you a sense of accomplishment. That’s why it’s fun.
“Cars,” on the other hand, never lets go of control. The characters sound as if they aren’t that interested. And if they’re not into it, why should you be?
There are cute references to the real racing world — race commentator Darrell Cartrip is voiced by real NASCAR great Darryl Waltrip; the name “Piston Cup” echoes NASCAR’s Winston Cup (though the racing community broke ties a while back with the tobacco-producing sponsor). Overall, though, there isn’t as much joy in “Cars” as in a similar venture, “The Incredibles.”
Buy this one only if your little one loves — absolutely loves! — “Cars” the movie and is running around spouting Lightning McQueen’s catchphrase: “Ka-Chow!”
Otherwise, pick up a copy of the recent “Burnout: Revenge” or last year’s “Burnout: Takedown.” Its controlled mayhem, keen strategy and blinding speed — not to mention speaker-rattling explosions — will entertain the whole family.
“Disney Pixar Cars”
Platforms: DS, GBA, GC, PC, PS2, PSP, XB
Publisher: THQ Price: $39.99
Rent/Buy/Skip? Skip
