Parents' Guide to Ace Racer

By making some things too simple, all the fun has been taken out of this driving title. As with so many car games, Ace Racer casts you as a novice street racer looking to prove yourself, which you do by winning races, and using the proceeds to buy better cars as well as ways to upgrade them. Taking to closed off city streets -- including at night and during a light rain -- you race a wide variety of sporty and expensive cars on twisted tracks that have tight turns, uneven pavement, and even some jumps. All of which is done courtesy of simplistic touch controls.

It's just too bad this simplicity also removes any challenge. For starters -- literally -- every race begins with the option of hitting a button that will give you a burst of speed. The problem is that cars also don't register collisions during the first few seconds of a race. As a result, you'll start every race with a commanding lead, one you'll almost never lose because your competition is terrible. Maybe they're distracted by the scantily clad women in the cutscenes, or the lady showering in the opening video. You also don't have to worry about when, or for how long, to hit the gas -- your pedal is always to the metal. Add to that confusing menus and an equally befuddling number of rewards and things to upgrade, and you'll find yourself wondering what's so ace about Ace Racer.