Cars 2: The Video Game

Did You Know?

• The game was first shown to the public at E3 2011.
• It was also unveiled at the American International Toy Fair in New York City.
• Producer John Day said they wanted to create a good family racing game and add things perhaps no one had seen before.

Gameplay

Cars 2 is a third-person racing game offering 25 characters and spy training missions with high-tech gadgets. Players earn bronze, silver, and gold trophies, with points varying by vehicle class. Characters are divided into heavy, medium, and light weight-classes. Emblems unlock new cars, tracks, and missions. Drop-in/drop-out multiplayer supports up to four players. Free roam mode does not return.

Synopsis

Based on Pixar's animated film, the game follows Lightning McQueen and Tow Mater as they train at CHROME (Command Headquarters for Recon Operations and Motorized Espionage). They join British Intelligence agents Finn McMissile and Holley Shiftwell in becoming car-equivalent spies. Characters from the film appear, with additional characters from the first film and Cars Toons available as downloadable content.

Reception

Cars 2 received positive reviews, scoring 72 and 74 on Metacritic for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 respectively. IGN rated it 8 out of 10, calling it a great multiplayer game that rivals Mario Kart. The Official Xbox Magazine gave a 7.5 out of 10, praising fun and polished racing but noting missing online play. Game Informer scored it 7.75 out of 10, calling it a satisfying racing experience. GameSpot's Justin Calvert gave a 7.5 out of 10, praising career mode and track designs while noting no online mode and no free roam.