 | 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. |
NASCAR Kart Racing
- Nintendo Wii
- Price: $39.99
- Genre: Racing
Common Sense Media says
Corporate branding permeates racer that emphasizes teamwork.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this is a kart racing game starring NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers. The game contains plenty of NASCAR references and in-jokes that will appeal to die-hard fans of the sport, but parents should be aware of relentless corporate branding that permeates every level of the game from the in-game billboards to the menu screens.
What's it about?
Unlike EA's main NASCAR franchise, which takes a life-like and serious approach to the sport, NASCAR KART RACING is a playful alternative that fuses the NASCAR brand with a more freewheeling kart-racing style of gameplay. Players compete with power-ups and fun courses such as the Cactus Pass dirt track and the Belt Way Battle street race, which go beyond the ovals of Talladega to include jumps, twists, obstacles, and plenty of turning right as well as left.
There are three difficulty levels, and three modes to choose from: In Championship you'll progress through 12 series, while Quick Play offers one-off racing. Both modes allow for up to four players to compete together. In Special Events you'll complete special challenges, like recording the fastest lap time, or seeing how long you can drive before running out of fuel.
Is it any good?
When held up to Mario Kart franchise, the golden standard of kart racing, Nascar Kart Racing falls a little short, but it's still a solid racing game that introduces a unique emphasis on teamwork. When you select a racer (one of 12 Sprint Cup drivers, with 12 more characters unlockable) you'll be automatically paired with a teammate. During the race, whenever you're close to your teammate, your boost meter charges to enable extra bursts of speed. Smart teammates will use this technique to "slingshot" past each other and zip to the front of the pack.
Unfortunately, the game suffers from intrusive and relentless corporate advertising. Ads are par for the course in NASCAR, but in NASCAR Kart Racing ads aren't just limited to the drivers' cars and firesuits, but to trackside billboards and even the game menus (the restart screen is "sponsored" by Coke Zero, for example). Even a power-up meant to distract by temporarily blocking your view of the track acts by flashing a giant logo of the sponsor of the attacking driver across the screen. The in-game dialogue is peppered with references to "NASCAR (R)" and the "Sprint Cup (TM)," too. Players willing to put up with this, however, will find an entertaining and laid back racing game that captures the spirit of NASCAR.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about which driver and teammate combo they would select as their "dream team" in the game. In what ways do NASCAR teammates like Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson cooperate on the track? Do you think the presence of ads in the game makes it more realistic, or less enjoyable?
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AGE
i laughed at this game
i laughed because it was fun to watch it go around
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| Platforms: | Nintendo Wii |
| Available online? | Not available online |
| Genre: | Racing |
| Developer: | Electronic Arts |
| Release date: | February 10, 2009 |
| Price: | $39.99 |
| ESRB rating: | E for Comic Mischief |
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