Common Sense Media Review
By Christopher Healy
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Great combat racing, but loads of gunfire and explosions.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Cars 2: The Video Game
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 4 parent reviews
Based on 13 kid reviews
Kids say that the game, while enjoyable and packed with fan service, falls short of perfection primarily due to repetitive gameplay and control issues, though it offers fun missions and multiplayer options. Many find it a decent choice for fans of the movie, but caution that the violence, including car shootouts, might not be suitable for younger players.
- enjoyable gameplay
- multiplayer options
- control issues
- violence concerns
- fun missions
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's It About?
This game takes place after the movie on which it is based; and the cheeky autos of CARS 2: THE VIDEO GAME are still working as undercover spies. Through a series of races, set in a variety of global destinations, they battle the forces of the evil Dr. Z, who is plotting to take over the world. The game features a number of traditional races that are all about getting to the finish line, as well as weapon-filled \"battle races.\"
Is It Any Good?
The mix of spy-gadget combat and fast-paced racing action in Cars 2: The Video Game is a really cool way to translate the secret agent them of the Cars 2 film into video game form. While the fighting aspect feels a bit intense for young kids, it's presented in a way that is easy to pick up and incredibly fun and exciting for players who are old enough to handle it.
The game looks and plays great. There are loads of ways to earn nitro boosts during a race -- jumps, stunts, backward driving, taking out opponents, etc. -- and using those boosts for last-minute surges to the finish line can be wildly suspenseful. There's a nice big selection of cars from the get-go, and by the end, you'll have a staggering amount of characters to choose from. Multiplayer is a blast, too (even if, perhaps, a bit too literally).
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in the game. Do all the guns and explosives seem appropriate in a game based on an animated family film? Does the fact that the characters are cars lessen the impact of the violence?
Does the violence in this game feel more or less realistic than similarly-formatted games like Mario Kart?
Game Details
- Platforms : Xbox 360 , PlayStation 3 , Nintendo Wii , Nintendo 3DS
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Not available online
- Publisher : Disney Interactive
- Release date : June 21, 2011
- Genre : Racing
- Topics : Transportation ( Cars & Trucks )
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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