Cars

WHAM! Gaming

What really leaves all the other modes in the proverbial dust though is the free-roaming aspect of ‘Cars’.

Play Magazine

This is a real racer, and a really big racer developed by the reigning kings of the kind, Rainbow Studios, who worked closely with Pixar and all of the celebrity talent from the film...to create a companion game as high-performance as the movies it's based on. [July 2006, p.70]

PGNx Media

Cars is not the most complex racing game around, but it manages to capture the Pixar spirit very well. Aside from this, it’s an enjoyable game with solid gameplay and a great presentation.

AceGamez

Sure, the hardcore Burnout and Gran Turismo fans will find this game laughably easy, but for a few hours of harmless and comical entertainment, you can't go wrong driving Cars!

1UP

It's kind of like a junior sandbox approach that younger gamers will enjoy because they can just trundle around without crashing or waiting for loads and older kids will love because it allows them to explore a large area and find characters and items that they'll recognize from the movie.

GameSpot

It's hardly the next big thing in driving games, but it still manages to deliver the most authentic Pixar film experience to the video game medium of any previous attempt, and it's certainly one of the better kid-oriented games to come out this year.

GameZone

There are issues concerning the pace of the races, the lack of interactivity, and the less interesting Piston Cup competitions. But if you liked the movie and want to get your kicks on Route 66, check out Cars.

Next Level Gaming

What happens when a game does all of the little things right, but doesn’t deliver much in the gameplay department? That’s exactly what happened with Cars.

GameSpy

The best thing that can be said about Cars is that it lays down solid racing gameplay without feeling generic.

Games Radar

Whichever version you play, Cars is a likable little racing adventure. The gameplay is nothing outstanding, but it's fun enough while it lasts, and overall it looks pretty slick.

IGN

Cars really becomes a balancing act in the end, and it will be up to the individual players to decide if the sum is greater or weaker than its parts. It’s definitely worth a rental for fans of the movie, though we’d strongly encourage people to weigh their possibilities before dropping the full purchase amount.

Game Informer

This certainly shouldn't beat "Burnout" or "Need for Speed" for your racing dollars, but it might if you're shopping for the family. [Aug 2006, p.81]

TeamXbox

Lack of polish makes Cars a bit crude, but not to the point where it’s unplayable. The handling is spot-on – the MX Unleashed guys know their physics.

Cheat Code Central

If you attempt to unlock everything in this game you can expect it to last about 15 hours or so. The average gamer will probably get five to eight hours out of it before they've seen most of it and start to get bored. I would definitely recommend renting this for a weekend before committing to a purchase.

Xbox Evolved

The fans can look past the poor gameplay elements, the weak graphical presentation in certain spots, the average but sometimes lackluster sound effects, the overall simplicity...and the kids just won’t care.

G4 TV

There’s little variation among the GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox versions of Cars, and each hits the mark in terms of racing game basics such as framerate and sense of speed. Rainbow Studios has performed admirably here.

Sydney Morning Herald

Many youngsters will simply enjoy hooning around Radiator Springs, although some might get frustrated not knowing where to go next.

eToychest

The racing in Cars is fun and accessible for children, and the story is appropriate for all ages, but frustrating mini-games and lack of direction at key points in a children’s game are both unforgivable oversights.

Pro-G

The racing is by no means terrible, and will serve its purpose for those interested in a Cars video game, but had that aspect been nailed, the whole experience would have been elevated a notch or two.

Digital Entertainment News

There are better driving games, certainly, but if you absolutely must have a driving game based on this movie, this is pretty much your only choice.

Official Xbox Magazine UK

So, no major surprises then, and ultimately Cars is a mediocre racing game for anyone over the age of about 13. But taken on its own terms, as a game geared towards pre-teens and fans of the movie, its flaws and shortcomings don't matter one bit and will probably pass young 'uns by quicker than Lightning McQueen himself.

Official Xbox Magazine

It all grows wearisome in record time. [Sept 2006, p.79]