It's rare that I get to play a new game a week after it came out, but I rented Cars, based on the new Pixar movie, and I thought I'd give it a review.
Now, I haven't seen the movie, but I have played plenty of crappy movie tie-in games (including the Incredibles game), and this one leaves them all at the starting line. It is seriously good for a game aimed at younger players.
One of the best things about the game is that the story mode can be set to a harder level for some seasoned gamers, or an easier, shorter version for the kids. So it can be enjoyed by everyone in the family.
The graphics are top-notch, bringing the movie's characters to life, and the faces synch up to the voices really well. Speaking of voices, every member of the movie cast reprise their roles for the game, and don't seem to be phoning it in. Many of their cars can be unlocked for the arcade and multiplayer races.
The environments are also impressive, and the player can explore the dusty town of Radiator Springs and all of the desert that surrounds it.
There are only a few complaints I have with the game, the main one being the load time between different sections. I played it on the GameCube, so I don't know if the load times are better or worse for the other systems, but I swear I looked at the logo almost as much as I drove around. Fortunately, many of the races and events have their own unique load screen, so it's new art every time. But, there are few lags while in the game, so it's a give and take.
Other than that, there isn't much of a problem with the game. It is a little easier than most games I'm used to, but it's been a while since I've played a Rated E game. It's clearly designed for kids, but it isn't dumbed down.
All in all, I give the Cars game 4 1/2 Fruit Pies out of 5. It won't set a new standard in racing games, but it might set a new standard for movie tie-in games.