 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Cars 2: The Video Game
- Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo 3DS
- Price: $59.99
- Genre: Racing
Common Sense Media says
Great combat racing, but loads of gunfire and explosions.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
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.
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).
What families can talk 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?
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- Teens & kids
AGE
Extreme combat racing follows the movie's main storyline!
Love it! Awesome! If you like the movie, then you'll love the game. Lots of gunfire, explosions and weapons are used. The game's storyline is almost the same as the movie. The game actually takes place after the movie. Some levels in the game don't even have to do with racing. Some have to do with hunting down "bad guys". Some also have to do with surving an attack by collecting "batteries" to keep your "shield" activated. There is also one multiplayer game called "Disruptor." The object of it is to collect "bombs" to place in the opposing team's base, to destroy it. So as you can see, it's not just a racing game. It's a spy game. Kids 10 and up can play. Anyone under 8 might find it either too hard to play, or too violent. The game has simple controls. The Wii version gives a more realistic driving experience by letting you tilt the Wii remote to steer left and right. Therefore, it is a little bit harder to steer. Although, that isn't the only control you can use. You may also use it with the nunchuk or the classic contoller. You can even use the Nintendo Gamecube contoller. If you are looking for a good action racing game, then this is the way to go.
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Kid, 11 years old
July 3, 2011
AGE
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It's Glitched at the end.
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Kid, 12 years old
July 9, 2011
AGE
Fun, exciting, then it whines down very slowly.
Now this game isn't too violent, but you can see cars flipping out of control and machine guns called machine guns and act like machine guns, and ARE machine guns... But still the racing is exciting, fast... But then slows down with the stupid controls.
I like the mariokart style wiimote tilt control, but to backwards drive you must press down on the D-pad, but you must also hold down for 3-4 seconds until it works...
CONCLUSION:
Before buying this, rent it first, I liked it but still it seemed boring (Maybe due to lack of hub world i loved in cars the game) Another thing is this game also uses internet interactions with the world of cars online, that extends the lasting appeal.
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Kid, 11 years old
July 11, 2011
AGE
Cute game!
It's actually REALLY fun! Great game for kids. Some explosions.
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Kid, 11 years old
July 27, 2011
AGE
Cars 2: the Video game! -- FUUUN!
This game is to me, VERY fun! You get to do multiple things, you can do free races, lessons, and battle races, which have weapons along the way that you can shoot at other racers to get ahead. And you can do up to 4 players in any game! I would suggest renting this game from Redbox or something because it depends on who rents it if they like it or not. I personally really enjoyed it and so did my dad, and sister. If you like any type of racing game, or enjoyed Cars 2 the movie, I would definately try this one!
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Kid, 12 years old
October 8, 2011
AGE
Cars 2 needs a refill
It's the best movie licensed game I've played (it barely escaped the barrel), but compared to others, that doesn't say much. The cars are very unstable and hard to completely control, the weapons are pretty much useless, and Lightning McQueen barely cracks a single "Ka-chow!" in the game, despite the annoying number of times he says it in the movie promos. "Bonus stages" where you have to kill cars lacks good AI, and the product placement alone (movie and game) is an unfamiliar jerk away from the classic theme in the original. I wouldn't fully recommend this game, but for desperate game-night families, it's worth a go.
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AGE
Son loves it, but too violent
I am disappointed that there are guns and shooting in this game. I told my mom to buy this for my son for the holidays because he likes cars and I was looking for a racing game for him. He instantly loved the racing part, but after a couple of rounds the races became violent with him activating bombs and machine guns and shooting down and blowing up other cars. I was so mad! I have tried very hard to monitor in what way my kids are exposed to guns and violence so that we can discuss it properly, and I was caught off guard with this one. I guess I didn't dig deep enough before making the assumption that Disney would be appropriate for my 7 year old.
On the other hand, he is absolutely in love with the game and is having a blast playing it...I just wish I could feel as good about him playing it. Of course it opened discussion about guns and violence and cartoon violence versus real world violence, but he is 7 for crying out loud...why are we having to have this conversation...kids are growing up too fast these days...and the media isn't helping us shield our children from the very real violence of our world.
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AGE
Great game!
I think this game is great! My husband, son, and I can all play together as a family and have a great time, it's fun for everyone. Yes, there is violence- shooting other cars, knocking them off track, etc. But the cars don't "die", they just lose spots in the race and have to catch back up. If your child can grasp the difference between video game and reality, if you have an open dialogue about violence in your every day lives, and if you thought the Cars 2 movie was appropriate for your kids - go for it!
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| Topics: | cars and trucks |
| Platforms: | Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo 3DS |
| Available online? | Not available online |
| Genre: | Racing |
| Developer: | Disney Interactive |
| Release date: | June 21, 2011 |
| Price: | $59.99 |
| ESRB rating: | E10+ for Cartoon Violence |
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