Cars: The Video Game

### Platforms

Game Boy Advance, GameCube, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, PSP, Xbox, Xbox 360 and Wii

### Genre

Racing and Adventure

**Cars: The Video Game** is a video game based on the 2006 film Cars. The game was released on June 6, 2006 for the Game Boy Advance, GameCube, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, PSP, Xbox, Xbox 360 and Wii.

## Plot

Taking place after the events of the film, the player controls protagonist Lightning McQueen as he participates in the new racing season with the end goal of winning the Piston Cup for the first time in his career, while also racing and training with the local community of Radiator Springs. In the PSP version, the player controls Lightning McQueen. After meeting and almost colliding with the Delinquent Road Hazards gang, he challenges them to a race to which they agree.

## Gameplay

The console versions of the game are set in the fictional town of Radiator Springs, where it takes place after the movie. The player must compete in 19 road races, 8 mini-games, and 5 piston cup races to help Lightning McQueen win his first Piston Cup. In the PSP version, the game presumably takes place on an alternate timeline. The player must compete in 13 races, as well as 5 boss races, to help Lightning McQueen force the Delinquent Road Hazards gang to depart Radiator Springs early. The game takes place in a sand box environment in the vein of Need for Speed, Grand Theft Auto and Midnight Club and features ten playable characters from the film, (16 in the PSP version) all voiced by the original voice talent. The game also features a number of minigames and items for the player to collect.

## Development

On May 8, 2002, video game publisher THQ acquired the rights to the next three titles from Pixar Animation Studios, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, and Cars. Cars was announced on February 7, 2006, and was later announced for Wii and Xbox 360. On June 6, 2006, THQ announced that the game would be shipping out for all platforms except Wii and Xbox 360. The Wii version was released on November 19 as a launch title for the console. The current-generation and 360 versions were developed by Rainbow Studios, while the Wii version was developed by Incinerator Games.

## Reception

Cars received generally positive reviews. GameSpot gave 7.0 out of 10 for Xbox 360 and Wii versions, 7.6 out of 10 for the GameCube and Xbox versions, and 7.4 out of 10 for the PSP version. Metacritic gave 65 out of 100 for the Wii version, 54 out of 100 for the DS version, 73 out of 100 for the PC version, 71 out of 100 for the PlayStation 2 version, and 70 out of 100 for the PSP version.

The PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS releases of Cars each received a "Platinum" sales award from the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA), indicating sales of at least 300,000 copies per version in the United Kingdom. In total, the game sold more than 8 million copies as of May 2007.

The GBA version was criticized as being "the worst version of the game" because of its incredibly short length, zoomed-in camera, a lack of a multiplayer mode, and a lack of any depth.

**Films:** Cars | Cars 2 | Cars 3
**Short Films:** Mater and the Ghostlight | Miss Fritter's Racing Skoool | Unparalleled Parking | Dancing with the Cars
**Television:** Cars Toons | Cars on the Road
**Books:** Disney's Wonderful World of Reading
**Locations:** Radiator Springs