The Good
- High quality graphics. The look of the game is terrific.
- Smooth animation and interactive environments.
The Bad
- Lack of variety in gameplay and repetitive level designs.
- Limited controls; start and stop, that's it.
- Few power-ups and no bonuses.
- Only one style playable car/character with no special abilities or extras.
- Very short game, even when padded out with the boring time trials.
- High difficulty level for the younger gamers for which this game is geared towards.
Story
The GBA version of Cars takes place after Lighting has arrived and befriended the townsfolk of Radiator Springs. His new buddies try to prepare him for winning the Piston Cup between races and challenges.Features
- 15 races.
- The Drive-In filled with unlockable screenshots from the film.
- Two power boosts: turbo pads (time trials, challenge and circuit races only) and nitro boosts (Piston cup races only).
- Variety of unlockable paint jobs.
The Game
When you hear that a game based on a movie called Cars is coming out, it's obvious that it will be a racing title, but there are some basic elements that gamers have come to expect from a decent driving/racing game, the majority of which this GBA game is missing. The game features superior artwork, character design and animation, but it is seriously lacking as a fun gameplay experience beyond the first few races. What draws a player to a racing game is the chance to play a variety of cars and driving styles, enjoyable driving challenges that include power ups, variable speeds and a numerous types of racetracks and locals. Unfortunately the GBA version of Cars lacks all of these elements.
The animation and interaction with the environment are very high in quality. Lightning McQueen's movements look really good, dust kicks up when you hit the breaks, skid marks on sharp turns and orange cones tumble away as you bump them. It's obvious that a lot of time and thought was put into the overall movement and look of the game.
Parent Tips
This game has been Rated E for Everyone by the ESRB, but aside from the gameplay difficulty, there really isn't anything here that deserves more than an EC - Early Childhood rating. There is absolutely no violence or inappropriate content, not even a car crash or fender bender. The automobile collision is treated like a bumper car where you bounce off surfaces and other race cars. This doesn't make it a perfect game for kids through. The biggest frustration children will find is how difficult it is to win the time trials, which are arduous and simply not engaging enough to re-play.Trivia
Game developers are no strangers to movie licensed titles having previously created the GBA games, Star Wars Episode II: The New Droid Army, Scooby-Doo The Motion Picture, as well as both The Incredibles and The Incredibles: Rise of the Underminor.