Hot Wheels Battle Force 5
Brash car-bash game almost unplayable -- plus, it's violent.
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Hot Wheels Battle Force 5
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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 this loud and chaotic vehicular battle game is all about smashing and crashing. People not familiar with the Battle Force 5 animated series might see the famous Hot Wheels name and assume this is more of a racing game. Be aware that it is not. It is a science-fiction combat game that is heavy on the explosions. There's also a sizable disconnect between the show's TV-Y7 rating and the game's E10+ rating.
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What’s It About?
HOT WHEELS BATTLE FORCE 5 follows a quintet of action heroes who defend the planet against an evil robot army by driving heavily armed cars, motorcycles, and trucks. The plot of this game revolves around the Battle Force trying to find keys that will close up energy portals through which the robots plan to invade Earth. There is also a Battle Mode (1 or 2 players) in which several combat cars try to swipe a key from one another and return it to a portal to get points.
Is It Any Good?
It's rare to see a vehicle-based video game where the steering is as shaky and difficult to control as it is in Hot Wheels Battle Force 5. The camera shifts around so violently that it's easier to get dizzy than it is to achieve the game's mission goals. The concepts behind the gameplay are not bad; especially the games of "car tag" in which two vehicles keep swiping a needed key from one another in attempts to bring it to their goal. They make the Battle Mode more like a vehicular sports game than just another arena-type combat game. But, of course, in order to really have fun with them, you'd need to be able to steer the vehicles with some degree of precision. Sadly, poor controls kill any chance this game has of being truly enjoyable. Steer clear of this one.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Parents can talk about branding and the use of corporate logos to attract audiences and customers. Does this game relate in any way to the Hot Wheels toy cars?
Families can also discuss car safety. This game is obviously a fantasy, but it can be used as a jumping off point to discuss the importance of seat belts, defensive driving, and other safety measures.
Game Details
- Platforms: Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii
- Available online?: Not available online
- Publisher: Activision
- Release date: November 17, 2009
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- ESRB rating: E10+ for Fantasy Violence
- Last updated: August 31, 2016
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