Cars 2: The Video Game

***Cars 2: The Video Game*** is a racing game for the Xbox 360, Xbox One (Backwards Compatible), Xbox Series X/S (Backwards Compatible), PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 (With a PS Now Subscription), PS5 (With a PS Now Subscription), Wii, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation Portable, and PC. It is the fourth installment in the main *Cars* series, and the sixth overall. Similar to every other *Cars* game, includes new features such as tracks and game modes. New items and characters were included, as well as improved multiplayer experience. Returning game modes are also present, such as the primary racing elements.

## Gameplay

### Changes

Up to four players can race in the game, which players can choose from more than 20 different characters and train to become world class spies. As part of their international training, players can participate in simulated hazardous missions using high-tech gadgets to evade and slow down adversaries.

*Cars 2* used to feature connectivity with the *World of Cars Online* – a free-to-play browser-based, virtual world based on the hit Pixar animated *Cars* universe. Players were able to discover a new world beyond Radiator Springs with Mater, Fillmore, Sarge and others as they gain rewards in the video game and then use them to unlock new items in the *World of Cars Online*. It was suitable for children with ages from 9-17. It does not work now, because the *World of Cars Online* closed.

On the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, there are several other characters that the player can download and play in the game. However, some of those characters are from the first *Cars* movie and *Cars Toons*.

### Controlling

There are several different control schemes that can be used, depending on what iteration of the game the player is playing. Xbox 360, PlayStation and Wii controllers can be used for their respective consoles, while the handheld versions each utilize controls that are built into the system.

#### Basic controls

* **Accelerate**: The car will begin to pick up speed until it has reached its top speed.
* **Turn**: The car will turn the desired direction, whether it be left or right.
* **Drift**: The car will take turns sharper, and fill up the turbo meter.
* **Boost**: Once a section of the turbo meter glows yellow, the player can perform a quick speed boost to help them gain a lead.
* **Jump**: The car will hop to jump over other cars or obstacles.

#### Advanced controls

* **In the Zone**: Once all four sections of the turbo meter are filled up and glowing yellow, the player can perform an "In the Zone" ability. A force field will surround the car as it advances at remarkable speeds, pummeling anyone or anything that stands in its path.
* **Tricks**: During a jump, the player can have the car perform a trick by moving the control stick. If a trick is successfully performed, the player will land on the ground with a small turbo meter award. However, if the player does not land correctly, no boost will be awarded, and time will be lost as the car is reset. Multiple tricks can be performed while in the air.

### Modes of play

* **C.H.R.O.M.E. Missions**: Divided into 6 clearance levels, this mode is similar to the story mode from past Cars games, though it lacks an open world. There are five different types of missions - races, battle races, hunters, survivals, and attack. In order to advance to a different clearance level, a certain number of spy points are required.
* **Free Play**: Any unlocked C.H.R.O.M.E. missions can be played here, with a friend or in solo mode. Every category of mission can be found here.
* **Awards**: Badges and crests serve as an achievement system, being awarded every time a player makes a significant accomplishment in the game. Receiving a badge or crest may also award a new character or alternate skin.
* **Settings**: The game's settings can be modified here, including screen display and audio distribution.
* **Garage**: Here is where the unlocking criteria for every character can be viewed. Once a character is unlocked, their profile can be viewed, displaying a short bio, as well as their weight class and statistics
* **The World of Cars Online**: Until the World of Cars Online services were discontinued, *Cars 2: The Video Game* could connect to the online game. Doing so would open an additional world, with badges and crests unlocking new items.

## Items

*Cars 2: The Video Game* introduces an item system, something that was not present in any of the previous *Cars* video games. Most of them are spy-related weapons like machine guns and missile launchers, but there are some additional items like oil and leeches.

## Playable characters

There are a total of 35 characters to be unlocked in the game, ten of which are accessible at the beginning of the game. To unlock more characters, the player must earn badges or crests, or advance to the next clearance level.

### Starting characters

Lightning McQueen.Mater.Finn McMissile.Holley Shiftwell.Francesco Bernoulli.Raoul CaRoule.Jeff Gorvette.Shu Todoroki.Sarge.Luigi.
### Unlockable characters

Carla Veloso.Nigel Gearsley.Miguel Camino.Max Schnell.Fillmore.Guido.Professor Z.Grem.Acer.Miles Axlerod.Tomber.Chuki.Daisu Tsashimi.Radiator Lightning.Carbon Fiber Lightning.Materhosen.Finn - Union Jack.Racer Holley.Midnight Francesco.Brand New Fillmore.Camo-Sarge.
Team Lightning Luigi.Team Lightning Guido.Gunner Acer.Young Professor Z.

### Downloadable Characters

On the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game, there are a total of 23 downloadable characters available for download. Most are skins of different characters. With the exception of The Queen, who can be downloaded for free, all characters are $1.00 each and some bundles of 4 characters are sold for $3.00 each.

Rod "Torque" Redline.Rod Redline: Undercover.Dragon Lightning.Tokyo Mater.Cherry Blossom Holley.Finn - Airport Security.Mater the Greater.Daredevil Lightning.The Queen.Lightyear Lightning.Francesco Hot-Rod.Flo.Sheriff.Ramone.Chick Hicks.Wingo.Snot Rod.Boost.DJ.Uncle Topolino.Mater Ivan.Mater Kabuki.Victor Hugo.

## C.H.R.O.M.E. Missions

There are six clearance levels, each one consisting of 5-8 missions. There are five types of missions - races, battle races, hunters, survivals, and attacks. You have to receive a certain number of spy points in order to make it to the next clearance level.

### New Agent Training

* C.H.R.O.M.E. Basic Training
* When Life Gives You Lemons
* C.H.R.O.M.E. Energy Technology Training
* Road All Night
* C.H.R.O.M.E. Advanced Maneuvers
* Oil Rig Invasion

### Clearance Level 1

* Unwelcome Aboard
* In Plane Sight
* Fast Friends
* Airport Invasion
* There's No Place Like C.H.R.O.M.E.
* Oil Rig Showdown

### Clearance Level 2

* Hit the Road
* World Grand Prix
* Runway Invasion
* Porto Corsa Invasion
* Objects in Mirrors
* Airport Showdown

### Clearance Level 3

* Burning the Midnight Oil
* Coastal Invasion
* Runway Runaway
* Harbor Hassle
* Power Surge
* London Showdown

### Clearance Level 4

* Foe Interior
* Hit or McMissile
* Unfriendly Competition
* Air Power
* Rush Delivery
* Italy Showdown

### Clearance Level 5

* Tokyo Invasion
* Save the Queen
* Sour Lemons
* Lightning the Mood
* Home Security
* Tokyo Showdown

### Clearance Level 6

* London Invasion
* Casino Run
* Ginza Invasion
* Trial in the Timbers
* Rumble in the Red Rocks
* Return to the Rig

## References to other media

* *Cars*: Some of the Radiator Springs elements depict features such as Willy's Butte and the Tractor Tipping fields.
* *Cars: The Video Game*: The main Radiator Springs town layout is similar to the open world from this game.
* *Cars 2*: Several characters that debuted in this film are present in the game, many along with their respective voice actors. The game is also based around the film in general.

## References in later media

* *Disney Infinity*: The racing controls and many items are reused for this game.
* *Disney Infinity: 2.0 Edition*: The racing controls and many items are reused for this game.
* *Cars: Fast as Lightning*: Several characters' recording are reused for this game.
* *Disney Infinity: 3.0 Edition*: The racing controls and many items are reused for this game, although the items are different to the ones in the previous two *Disney Infinity* games.
* *Cars 3: Driven to Win*: The gameplay of this game is very similar, with tons of items, moves and a total of 5 recycyled racetracks returning.

## Reception

Despite the film's negative reviews, the game has received positive reviews, with a score of 76 on Metacritic for the Xbox 360 version. IGN gave the title a 8 out of 10 rating. Stating that "*Cars 2 is a great multiplayer game that rivals Mario Kart. Playing alone isn't quite as fun, but it's still a solid solo experience. The fact that there's little story doesn't really matter because you won't miss it, and don't let the license scare you off. Under all the Pixar beauty is an extremely fun game.*" The Official Xbox Magazine gave it a 7.5 out of 10 rating. Praising fun and polished racing but criticizing the fact that online play was missing from the title. Gameinformer gave the title a 7.75 out of 10 rating, Calling it a satisfying racing experience.
Christopher Healy on Common Sense Media awarded the game 5 stars, and called it "*Great combat racing, but loads of gunfire and explosions.*", stating "*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 theme 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).*"

## Gallery

*For this subject's image gallery, see Cars 2: The Video Game/Gallery.*
## Beta elements

Main article: Cars 2: The Video Game/Beta elements

## Glitches

### 1. Hyde Tour Spawning

Occasionally, the race will spawn a character on the train part of the race, not allowing the character to accelerate, only allowing side-bashing.

### 2. Nigel Gearsley laughing

On some occasions, Nigel Gearsley's laughing sound clip will be stuck on repeat until the race ends. Until the finish line players will hear Nigel laughing over and over again which covers most of the sounds and even the races' music.

### 3. Game Lock-Up

Occasionally during Races, Battle Races, Attacks or Survivals, the game's soundtrack will begin to stutter and the character's voice clips will be stuck on repeat until the events ends. When the player restarts the event and try to exit it, the game will show a black screen and lock up the only way to get out of this screen is to reset the console this glitch only occurs on PS3, Xbox 360, and PC versions.

### 4. Game Freezing

Sometimes as the character select screen loads up, the game will freeze and make a loud-buzzing noise.

### 5. Hyde Tour Spawning #2

On the PC version of the game, if the Player decides to Restart the race on the jumping to the boat part of the track, the game will spawn the Player on the jumping on the boat part of the race.

### 6. Disruptor Base Impenetrability

In certain rare circumstances, one player's base may seem to have invisible walls around it, keeping the opponent from entering it to gain points. If the player to whom the base belongs is still inside it when the glitch takes place, then he/she will be permanently stuck inside it for the rest of the game (which will never end and must be exited, given that one player is stuck in their own base and the other player can't get points).

### 7. Dead Car

Sometimes on the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of the game, Flo and Snot Rod's eyes on the character selection screen will be closed and they will stop moving until the player selects them.

### 8. Frozen ''Go!" Sign

Sometimes in Races and Battle Races, the ''Go!'' sign will be frozen, and it will only disappear if the player restarts the event or finishes the race.

## Staff

Main article: Cars 2: The Video Game/Staff

## Media

*For a complete list of media for this subject, see List of Cars 2: The Video Game media*.

## Trivia

* In the developer diaries, a few of the "cameras" were labeled "Camera A113."
* A plug-n-play version of the game by Jakks Pacific was also released.
* Many of the World Grand Prix racers who were muted in the movie have speaking roles in the game.
* Characters such as The Queen and Uncle Topolino can only participate in races only.
* In 2015 The game was ported to PlayStation 4, however it can only be obtained by purchasing a PS Now Subscription.
* PC version multiplayer has only two players, PS3 & XBOX 360 version multiplayer have four players.
* This is the first *Cars* game not to be published by THQ.
* This is the first *Cars* game to be developed by Avalanche Studios.
* This is the first and last *Cars* game to be published by Disney Interactive (not including Disney Infinity).