Wacky Races: Crash & Dash (Wii, Nintendo DS)

In WACKY RACES: CRASH & DASH, your goal is to beat all other strange and egotistic racers to complete six circuit rallies. Just like in the old cartoon show, you'll meet a zany cast of drivers like Penelope Pitstop who have special powers on the tracks.

Strangely, you play the game not by steering with the Wii remote a la Excite Truck. Instead you have to hook up the Wii nunchuck. You steer with the control stick (not cool) and speed up by shaking the Wiimote (really cool). The powerups can be creative, like hair dryers that boost speed or dragons that shoot flames from a car. But it's all for nothing.

Those looking forward to a game that has all the energy of the TV show will be greatly disappointed. What you get is a racing game that should never have been released. That's because you don't drive from a third or first person perspective. You drive looking at the screen that's 2D and flat. You get the idea that the game makers are paying homage to the TV show, which also was 2D and flat. But the perspective in the game is so bad, that you have no feeling for the road or for going off it. Then add to this horrible steering controls, and those cool power ups seem utterly useless.

Furthermore, the video cutscenes stop the race right in the middle to show Dick Dastardly and Muttley as they plan a trap for you. You'll then use the Wiimote to get out of the trap by, say, placing screws in the right places in a puzzle. This interruption is so annoying, it's like cutting to a commercial when Tiger Woods is about to hit a putt. What an utter debacle. The game makers had a good idea with powerups and a good franchise with Wacky Races; but, just like a tire rolling on a nail, it all went flat when it came to game play and design.

Available on: Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS
Not available online
Genre: Racing
Developer: Eidos Interactive
Released on: June 17, 2008
Price: 39.99
ESRB Rating: E for Everyone