 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
DreamWorks Super Star Kartz
- Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS
- Price: $29.99
- Genre: Racing
Common Sense Media says
Mediocre racing game features Shrek, Donkey, and friends.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Dreamworks Super Star Kartz is a casual racing game featuring characters from such popular Dreamworks films as Madagascar, Shrek, and How to Train Your Dragon. Players zoom through winding race tracks based on locations from the various animated movies in the hopes of being the first to cross the finish line. A large factor in winning a race depends on players using various power-ups, or "weapons," to gain an edge on their opponents. These weapons include explosions, bursts of electricity, and other zany obstacles, but these actions never result in anything more than making an opponent immobile for a few seconds.
What's it about?
DREAMWORKS SUPER STAR KARTZ has very little in the way of a cohesive storyline. Instead, the game focuses exclusively on quick, casual racing gameplay. Players can load the game and start racing against their friends in a matter of minutes. A strong line-up of characters from some of the best-selling Dreamworks movie franchises are available, including Shrek, Donkey, Alex the Lion, the Madagascar penguins, Monsters vs. Alien's "B.O.B.," and the famous dragon trainer Hiccup. Each track location is based on a scene or environment from the same movies. It is branded very heavily with Dreamworks content, which is the biggest feature of the game. In addition to standard kart races, there is also a head-to-head "Battle Mode," which focuses on using power-ups and items to remove players from the field.
Is it any good?
On its face, Dreamworks Super Star Kartz is nothing more than a kart racing game that meets all the requisite components of the genre. That is, there are several characters to choose from; the race tracks are vibrant, colorful, and full of twists and turns; and there is a selection of power-ups and weapons to add a soupcon of strategy and loads of zaniness to the experience. In addition, there is a Battle Mode that takes away the racing element and instead focuses exclusively on the power-ups to see who has the best offensive and defensive strategies. It is the same formula that has been seen time and time again and there is nothing here to differentiate itself from any other themed kart-racing titles. Because of the heavily branded Dreamworks content, fans of movies like Shrek and Madagascar will find something to enjoy here, but it is best looked at as a piece of Dreamworks merchandise and not a stellar game in its own right.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the weapons in this game. What is the impact of having weapons appear in the game?
What is your favorite Dreamworks character and why?
This game features characters known to be strong and heroic. Do you think the game does a good job at demonstrating these positive traits?
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| Topics: | fairy tales |
| Platforms: | Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS |
| Available online? | Not available online |
| Genre: | Racing |
| Developer: | Activision |
| Release date: | November 15, 2011 |
| Price: | $29.99 |
| ESRB rating: | E for Mild Cartoon Violence |
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