Cars (Wii, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, PSP, PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, Xbox, Game Boy Advance)

There is some story in CARS, but the core activity is racing and driving cars: Kids put the pedal to the metal in more than 25 races on a variety surfaces. In story mode, players drive and race their way around Radiator Springs and the vast Ornament Valley -- powersliding, jumping, and even driving backward along the way. During pit stops, players race through a variety of Mini games, painting their vehicles or sneaking into the fields with Mater (voiced by Larry the Cable Guy) to do "Tractor Tipping," for example. As kids make their way through the story, they unlock content that can thereafter be played separately in the arcade and vs. modes.

Fans of Disney/Pixar's animated Cars will enjoy this video game of the same name. It's set right after the movie's plot, and kids are sure to delight in recognizing the characters and voices (Owen Wilson, Paul Newman, Bonnie Hunt, and the rest of the cast reprise their roles). Kid testers spun out occasionally, but in general they thought the race controls were on the money. The two modes (a shorter game for younger kids, and a more-challenging game for older kids) make this a nice choice for families.

Available on: Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, PSP, PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, Xbox, Game Boy Advance
Not available online
Genre: Racing
Developer: THQ
Released on: June 25, 2006
Price: 39.99
ESRB Rating: E