Warped Kart Racers

If you're a fan of the irreverent adult animated shows the game is based on, you'll no doubt enjoy this accessible cartoon racer. It may not have the breadth and depth of some other games in this space, but Warped Kart Racers is a great game, including the sights and sounds of these animated shows. It features five playable characters from each of the four shows), such as the dimwitted Peter Griffin from Family Guy, the bitter Korvo from Solar Opposites, the stubborn Hank Hill from King of the Hill, and the careless but lovable alien Roger from American Dad! Rather than go with soundalike actors, Warped Kart Racers uses various lines from the show. They're funny for a while, but ultimately repeat themselves. The karts and courses are also inspired by each show, with fictional versions of the towns in the series, like Quahog in Family Guy, and the CIA building from American Dad!. There doesn't seem to be a difference in the various karts you choose to ride in, which may disappoint racing game fans, but it's a blast to rip around the tracks, drift through corners, look for shortcuts and secrets, and use well-timed weapons and power-ups to reign supreme.

Keeping you glued to the screen even longer are the many items to unlock, including kart parts (tires, wheels, antennas, and paragliders that let you soar in the air for a while). The touch controls (iPhone and iPad) are fairly intuitive, but until you master them you might find yourself falling over the edge of some tracks into space. But the touch mechanics work well, and there's controller support if you'd prefer to drive your racer by peripheral. The solo mode is perfect for working your way through each of the four themes (shows) and familiarizing yourself with the different race tracks and battle arena maps, but it's even more fun online by hosting or joining a match to go up against others. It may not win any awards, but fans of kart racers and/or these animated shows should most definitely download and play Warped Kart Racers.