I would be lying if I said that I didn't approach Cars with more than a few pre-conceived worries as to the quality of the game I was about to play. Having watched the Pixar movie of the same name beforehand, simply as research you understand, I was a little apprehensive at the prospect of having to explore every aspect of the game over the next few days. It's not that the film was bad, although it wasn't quite in the same league as The Incredibles and Finding Nemo, but considering the history of poor Pixar-licensed video game tie-ins, combined with the fact that Cars isn't quite vintage Pixar, all the warning signs were pointing towards another huge disappointment.

It was a shock then, that against mounting odds, developer Rainbow Studios has actually made a pretty solid game out of Cars. Straight from the off, it simply doesn't feel like another video game tie-in that's happy to be middle of the road just because the game will sell on the strength of the license. Instead, it seems that they have seen this as an opportunity to show what they can do to a wider audience. In this respect, they have certainly taken that opportunity by the scruff of the neck and created a very fun game that combines driving in an open-ended environment with an array of surprisingly enjoyable mini-games, wrapped in a very charming package with a fair degree of humour and heart. I'm not going to get carried away though, as Cars still has its fair share of glitches and aspects of the game that were clearly rushed to ensure the title hit the shelves in time to coincide with the release of the film. However, even with these minor issues, Cars is clearly punching quite successfully above its weight and for once gives an example of how to capture the feel and charm of a movie, while producing a game that stands alone in its own right as an enjoyable, well crafted experience.

In case you weren't aware, Cars is about a world in which cars (obviously) run the Earth, with no humans in sight, and these cars all have faces and personalities of their own. The story follows a young, cocky race car named Lightning McQueen, who ends up stuck in the car equivalent of Hicksville, Radiator Springs, inevitably learning all manner of life lessons in the process. Although it isn't essential that you see the movie before you play the game, unlike in many other video game tie-ins in which you simply retread the basic story of the movie with a few added side stories for increased longevity, Cars the video game is set directly after the movie. It features many of the same characters, all superbly voice acted by their Hollywood counterparts, so in that respect it certainly would help if you see the movie beforehand. If you have done, then Cars certainly does a very good job of successfully throwing you straight back into Pixar's beautifully realised world. As mentioned previously, this is helped hugely by the fact that all of the major cast members from the movie return for the game and all give well above average performances that really help bring things to life.

Regardless of great voice acting and presentation though, without decent gameplay all other aspects become pretty much null and void. Luckily, as with most aspects of Cars, you are going to be in for a pleasant surprise. Cars uses a free roaming environment, much like in the Need for Speed franchise. However, due to the style of play and mini-games, it feels more akin to Spider-Man 2 or The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction. You are given a free reign of the quite beautifully rendered Radiator Springs from the off, with the choice of story-driven missions to pursue and a wealth of mini-games to indulge in, both inevitably becoming more widely available the further you progress through the story. Of course, you could simply take a scenic drive, be it at 150 mph, around Radiator Springs, picking up bonus points and hidden items as you take in the rather pleasant sites.

As I'm sure you have already guessed, Cars is made up predominately of driving and racing. Luckily then, the steering of the cars is actually quite impressive. Although overly simplistic at times, the basic steering and occasional over the top moves, such as jumping without a ramp and driving on two wheels, all fit the feel and style of the game perfectly. The unlockable turbo boost also adds an extra dimension to racing, delivering a decent sense of speed when used on straights. There is of course the inclusion of handbrakes and powersliding, to give the experience a little more oomph in the turn, but generally the driving isn't all that taxing - which really is what you'd expect for a game of a kids' movie.

It gets even more basic when working up towards the big circuit races, which are pretty much simplified NASCAR races. Due to the long corners and straights you will never have to use your handbrake or powerslide, as you can simply slide McQueen through the racing pack using a slight tilt of the analogue pad. The only place you'll actually need them is in the races situated along the dusty roads of Radiator Springs. This is probably no big loss though, as the powersliding aspect of the handling is a bit of a letdown. Although quite realistic, it is here where the developers could have really gone to town with Mario Kart style powerslides, rather than sticking more closely to their tried and tested method ported across from the MX vs. ATV series. Due to the fun, free-roaming nature of the game, you always get the urge to throw your car around a corner like a maniac, but sadly it just never feels as effective as it should. This never hinders the gameplay in any way, it simply niggles at you, as you try to find the balance between braking and power-sliding without crashing into a nearby wall or fence.

In an attempt to keep the racing interesting, especially in regards to the NASCAR style oval tracks, there is the inclusion of the rather amusing pit stops, which work as mini-games within the race. The only problem here lies in the fact that these are forced pit stops and they don't have a huge effect on races. Rather than simply losing a position or two, added boost rewards for exceptional pit stops could have really increased their importance. Although largely pointless, this in-race mini-game is still fun and simplistic enough not to be deemed a nuisance and only involves the timed pressing of buttons and movements of the analogue stick.

When not racing, you are left to your own devices to speed around town. Due to the rather basic controls, this can become boring a little faster than you would like, but thanks to the inclusion of hundreds of bonus markers to find various hidden items, with more becoming available as you progress through the story, there's always something to do. The bonus markers can then be used to unlock a host of movie and game related content on the menu screen, adding further to the overall lifespan and appeal. A jump mechanic has also been included within the gameplay, which adds a different twist to the constant driving and allows you to reach areas that you really shouldn't be able to get to in a car. This simply adds to the fun of searching for the items scattered around Radiator Springs.

As mentioned previously, the free roaming world of Radiator Springs is made up largely of story-based missions and mini-games, which - especially with movie tie-ins - often feel like a poor afterthought, simply tacked on to add some much needed longevity. It's again in this department that Cars outdoes itself, with an abundance of well thought out mini-games that really break up all the driving and racing. They games allow you to play as other members of the movie's cast, including Guido, as you collect tyres, and Mater the tow truck, in which you have to tip tractors at the local farm. All are simple enough, yet very enjoyable and they work as a much needed diversion from the constant racing. Paint shops, allowing for a simplified Need for Speed style pimping of your ride, also give you something different to do, adding yet more variety into the mix.

Although all these aspects add up quite nicely and contribute greatly to the longevity of the game, most players will still get through the entirety of Cars well within ten hours. There is the added arcade mode, which allows you to race through any of the unlocked tracks in the game, plus a two-player mode for you and a friend to race against each other. This isn't going to last that long though, as Cars is definitely more orientated towards providing a full and immersive one player experience for as long as it lasts. Although quite a short game, it must be remembered that this is primarily a game youngsters who loved the film. This is very much apparent through the simple learning curve and forgiving competitors come race time.

Speaking of difficulty, one very smart aspect of the game comes from the fact that it's split into two options from the start. Although the basic game is simple enough, Rainbow Studios has taken into account the fact that many players will be very young and so they've included a simplified, shorter version of the game. This thoughtful addition really shows their commitment to include the young, budding gamers without them having to get their older siblings or parents to come and help them out all the time, and makes it a superb game for the little ones. Beyond this, it is certainly a step in the right direction, as the standard difficulty options available in most games have felt old and dated for quite some time. This still doesn't forgive the fact that the main game is far too easy though, at least until the final few races. In fact - you will have to go out of your way to actually lose a race for the majority of the time!

On the whole, the gaming experience to be found in Cars is pretty solid and always amusing for as long as it lasts and is certainly a testament to the efforts that Rainbow Studios have made to actually create a decent kids game, let alone a decent video game tie-in. This is not to say that there aren't problems though - there are signs throughout that suggest it was rushed to for release alongside the movie. This is still quite infuriating when you take into account that such minor bugs could have been ironed out with just a little more development time. For instance, the physics occasionally go a bit crazy, especially if you drive into a wall or fence the wrong way, which can sometimes leave you trapped within the scenery. There are also a few graphical glitches, while those dreaded invisible boundaries can become extremely annoying, when it looks like you should be able to drive on with ease. The loading times are also a bit longer than they should be, but again this is more of a minor niggle than a major flaw.

The overall presentation and production values certainly help to create an immersing and enjoyable experience. Although the graphics are strong throughout, with only minor glitches apparent, you only ever see the back of your car while you drive, so it's in the beautifully crafted cut scenes that you can truly appreciate the very impressive character animations through the subtle facial movements of the cars and the impressive lip-synching. And while the game does mimic the clean, cartoon style of the movie, meaning that it simply can't compare to your average racing game, it nevertheless perfectly captures the same atmosphere and looks very nice indeed.

All the major players return for the game, with stand out performances again going to the always likeable Owen Wilson as Lightning McQueen and Michael Keaton as the worryingly unstable Chick Hicks. A shock to the system also came when it dawned on me that I was listening to Paul Newman in a video game, which surely has to be a first. Although catchphrases within races become a bit repetitive after a while, it's again in the cut scenes that the Cars cast really show their worth, with performances that outdo most other games, of any genre, without breaking a sweat. Not only is the voice acting of an exceptionally high standard, but the soundtrack is one of the best I have heard in quite some time. All the songs perfectly capture the spirit of the source material and will have you humming along contently as you race your way around Radiator Springs, listening to the likes of the All American Rejects, Stray Cats and the Edgar Winter Group to name but a few. These easy listening, yet always amusing, licensed songs also make the repetition of certain catchphrases easier to bear, although I must say that I never got bored of hearing "Ka-chow" as I sailed over a jump or burst past a pack of other racers with a perfectly timed boost.

Taken as a driving game, Cars certainly isn't pushing the genre forward. However, taken as the latest big movie to videogame adaptation, it stands tall in a sea of mediocrity. The fact that this stands alone as one of the children's games for the past couple of years really shows how much effort has gone into doing the film justice, rather than simply sending out another run of the mill tie-in. Although by no means perfect, Cars certainly raises the bar, and hopefully the public's expectations of what a video game tie-in should be. For this more than anything, Rainbow Studios should be applauded.

Reviewed by Liam Pritchard for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).