Cars 2

59%
Game Brain Score Based on 243 reviews
  • graphics
  • gameplay
  • story
Cars 2 Game Cover
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In Cars 2, players enter the world of Disney/Pixar's sequel, joining characters like Lightning McQueen and Mater in a global spy adventure. Players can engage in high-speed racing and explosive combat, switching between characters and using their unique abilities. The game features single-player and multiplayer modes, allowing players to test their skills in various challenges and environments.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Windows
  • Mobile Platform
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Wii
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

59%
Audience ScoreBased on 243 reviews
gameplay7 positive mentions
graphics14 negative mentions
  • Engaging gameplay with fun racing mechanics and a variety of tracks inspired by the movie.
  • Diverse playable characters that add variety and replayability to the game.
  • Nostalgic value for fans of the Cars franchise, providing a sense of fun and humor.
  • Poor graphics that resemble the Wii version, leading to disappointment compared to console versions.
  • Frequent crashes and technical issues, including black screens and audio bugs.
  • Limited multiplayer support, reduced from 4-player to only 2-player, which detracts from the overall experience.
  • graphics52 mentions

    The graphics of this game have been widely criticized for being a significant downgrade from the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions, resembling the Wii version instead. Many users express disappointment over the misleading promotional screenshots, noting that the actual in-game visuals are subpar and often plagued by issues like constant crashing and a lack of graphical options. While some appreciate the gameplay, the overall consensus is that the graphics are inadequate and detract from the experience.

    • “An amazing classic Pixar game that anyone should play, but remember it is Wii graphics; still, it's an amazing game.”
    • “The physics are spot-on, the game has a good amount of game modes, it has a good amount of characters, it has a ton of achievements, the soundtrack is good, and I always liked the Wii aesthetic, so I'm perfectly fine with having that.”
    • “However, it has a good tutorial and the cartoony aesthetic helps it stay relevant despite the downgrade.”
    • “The pictures on the store page are a complete lie; the actual in-game graphics are just HD versions of the Wii graphics. Yes, this is a port of the Wii version!”
    • “It's a fantastic game, but just buy/emulate the PS3 or 360; this port is awful with constant crashing and disgusting graphics.”
    • “I am very disappointed that the graphics and storyline of this game are worse than the first game. If you like the movies, just get the first car game; don't waste money on this one.”
  • gameplay22 mentions

    The gameplay of "Cars 2: The Video Game" is described as engaging and fun, particularly for younger players, with a variety of mechanics and multiplayer options. However, it suffers from issues such as limited depth, repetitiveness, and performance problems, including crashes and poor controller support. While it retains the core mechanics of the console versions, many players find the gameplay overly simplistic and lacking innovation, which may disappoint those seeking a more challenging racing experience.

    • “Engaging gameplay: Cars 2: The Video Game offers a fun and exciting gameplay experience.”
    • “With engaging gameplay, diverse playable characters, and multiplayer options (local and online with Steam Remote Play), it provides hours of entertainment.”
    • “It had 4 player split screen (for all modes, even the campaign), slick racing, and tons of mechanics such as drifting, driving on 2 wheels, driving backwards, jumping, ramming, and boosting that gave the game a surprisingly high skill ceiling.”
    • “The mechanics are relatively simple, and the game's focus on accessibility may leave more experienced players wanting more depth and challenge.”
    • “This lack of innovation may disappoint players seeking fresh and innovative gameplay experiences.”
    • “But really the worst issue is just the gameplay; it is unnecessarily convoluted to be played with young kids. You pretty much have to master the full control set and every single trick to have any chance to win a race, which wouldn't be such a big deal if at least the tracks were interesting in some way.”
  • story16 mentions

    The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players expressing disappointment over its lack of depth and coherence compared to previous titles. While certain missions and character interactions, like Mater's storyline, are appreciated, many feel that the overall narrative is weak and overshadowed by technical issues, such as bugs that disrupt gameplay. Overall, while there are fun elements and missions, the story does not meet the expectations set by the original games.

    • “The game admittedly is pretty fun, including tracks from London, Tokyo, Porto Corosa (Italy) and the US and a bunch of story missions.”
    • “Back in Radiator Springs, Mater tells everyone there about his story, just when Finn and Holley stop over.”
    • “It's a good game with a good story.”
    • “I am very disappointed that the graphics and storyline of this game are worse than the first game. If you like the movies, just get the first Cars game; don't waste money on this one.”
    • “I thought this would let me play through the story, but no, it's just a more aggressive version of Mario Kart.”
    • “The story is non-existent.”
  • music10 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising the soundtrack and its fitting aesthetic, while others report significant issues such as music cutting out, repetitive notes, and audio bugs that disrupt gameplay. Additionally, there are complaints about the volume levels being excessively loud, leading to an unpleasant experience for some users. Overall, while the music has its fans, technical problems detract from its enjoyment.

    • “I love it! The models, the sounds, the music—it's all awesome!”
    • “The physics are spot-on, the game has a good amount of game modes, it has a good amount of characters, it has a ton of achievements, the soundtrack is good, and I always liked the Wii aesthetic, so I'm perfectly fine with having that.”
    • “Music?”
    • “After a few rounds, the game just randomly cuts off the music and the voices.”
    • “The music bugs almost every time and plays the same note in every race.”
    • “SFX/music: Are you trying to kill my ears or what? The start is at least 90 decibels.”
  • stability5 mentions

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, with frequent crashes occurring every 2-5 levels and persistent freezing during loading transitions. Players report needing to restart their PCs due to these problems, alongside various bugs and glitches that detract from the overall experience.

    • “The game crashes every 2-5 levels, and I wouldn't mind that if it actually shut down, but instead it freezes on the loading transition, stops me from accessing my task manager, and makes me need to restart my PC every time this happens.”
    • “Ehhh, suffers from bugs and glitches.”
    • “It freezes at the same spot every time.”
  • optimization4 mentions

    The PC version of Cars 2: The Video Game has been criticized for limited optimization, with some players experiencing performance issues. However, others have reported no significant stability problems, suggesting a mixed experience among users. Overall, the game's optimization may detract from its appeal due to these inconsistencies.

    • “Some players have reported performance issues and subpar optimization on the PC version of Cars 2: The Video Game.”
    • “However, the game's limited depth, repetitive gameplay, lack of innovation, and potential performance issues on PC may hinder its appeal to a broader audience.”
  • humor3 mentions

    The humor in "Cars 2" is described as amusing, particularly in the context of its gameplay and graphics, which some users find lacking. Comparisons to other games like GTA highlight a preference for the comedic interactions with police in those titles, suggesting that while "Cars 2" has its funny moments, it falls short in overall entertainment value.

    • “Cars 2: spy car funny”
    • “Ha ha funny car go brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr”
    • “The police in this game are hilarious when they try to stop you; it's even funnier to steal my car back after they impound it.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    Players appreciate the replayability of the game, noting that the addition of a mod featuring a full roster of cars and potential new arcade courses enhances variety. Despite some graphical shortcomings, the ability to experiment with different characters keeps the gameplay engaging and encourages repeated playthroughs.

    • “There's even a mod in progress that adds the entire playable roster of cars 3: Driven to Win, and new discoveries may just lead to the addition of arcade courses, bringing this port's graphical quality up to where it always should have been.”
    • “Same game modes, same characters, just bad graphics but they are playable so they don't really bother me.”
    • “This adds variety and replayability to the game, as players can experiment with different characters to find their favorite.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized for misleading advertising, particularly through false screenshots, yet the gameplay remains enjoyable as a solid kart racer.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

70% average critic score

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