Cars 2: The Video Game
Common Sense says
- Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
- $59.99
- 2011
Parents say
Kids say
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this game.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Cars 2: The Video Game is a combination racing/action game, in which the car characters are cast as secret agents battling to save the world during their races. Players use weapons like missiles and machine guns to shoot their opponents and blow them off course. They are also encouraged to side-bash opponents to knock them off course. There are several deathmatch-style "Hunt" levels that don't even involve racing. The characters are all cartoony automobiles, of course, but the sounds of gunfire and the explosions are more realistic.
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User Reviews
- Parents say
- Kids say
Son loves it, but too violent
Great game!
Extreme combat racing follows the movie's main storyline!
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: Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
- Price: $59.99
- Available online? Not available online
- Developer: Disney Interactive
- Release date: June 21, 2011
- Genre: Racing
- Topics: Cars and Trucks
- ESRB rating: E10+ for Cartoon Violence
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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.