OK , let ’s get some confusion out of the way : There are two games based on Pixar ’s summer movieCarsout in circulation . One is an colonnade - style game that is exclusive to Target section store . The other is a more loosely available biz intended for untried players . This is a revaluation of that latter title of respect .

Radiator Springs Adventuresis a biz for kids ages four and up that put you in control of Lightning McQueen , the cocky race auto hero ofCars(voiced by Owen Wilson ) , as well as many of his friends . You make your way around Radiator Springs — setting of much of the motion-picture show — interacting with the characters from the flick in a series of activities and drag races .

Disney games for younger small fry have , in the past times , carry the brand of execrable “ Activity Centers ” from Disney Interactive . Typically , they were forgettable power point - and - click activity with production timber that seldom exceeded shareware level . THQ ’s gone in a very unlike focusing with Radiator Springs Adventures — these are a gang of varied and fun game , though older gamers may want to prefer for the more arcade - likeCarsgame you could buy in Target department stock .

There are a total of ten different activity small fry can dally . Each one revolves around Lightning McQueen helping or interacting with a different resident of Radiator Springs . For example , Ramone , the low passenger , leads Lightning in a dance action that ’s part Simon , part Dance Dance Revolution — you have to repeat a sequence of terpsichore moves by beseech arrow at the top of the screen , not only mate the episode but also the pulsation .

In another activity , you have to facilitate Lightning navigate through Sarge ’s kick encampment obstruction track . In Speed Trap , you ’re Sheriff , the constabulary railway car , chamfer hot rod cell prankster and attach them in a game not unlike the former classic Spy Hunter . Tow the Line put you in control of Mater , the rusty towage truck vocalise by comedian Larry the Cable Guy , in a fluctuation on the computer plot Snake — Mater has to navigate around the junkyard , picking up wreck and towing them , picking up additional towage hook on the style to snaffle more vehicle and being careful not to hit either the cars he ’s tow or other obstructions . Each activeness boast five increasingly difficult levels .

As you successfully complete each of these activity , the game unlock secret tips to help Lightning vote down challengers in the Rev It Up Drag Races . The drag wash are very bare affairs — it ’s just uncoiled - line racing ; you do n’t manipulate the guidance roulette wheel , but clicking the computer mouse button tell Lightning when to shift ( a circular gage on the screen shows you when it ’s time ) , and the shift design are unlike for each fomite you race against . you may race against the other challengers without unlock the shift caliber , if you require , but it gets sly quickly , because you ’re not incisively sure when to punch it to the next gear .

If you acquire all nine races , you ’ll get to compete against none other than Chick Hicks , Lightning ’s puckish - curse .

As the age compass of this game implies , the developer have maintain the content very secure and family well-disposed — the game rat an E for Everyone by the ESRB . The game play is on the childlike side . My six yr old , who was already sold onCarsbefore the movie was ever released , be intimate it . His older crony and baby ascertain most of the games too cockamamie or too comfortable to be challenge for very long .

Although there ’s no labeling on the package to betoken it as such , Radiator Springs Adventures is , in fact , a Universal Binary that runs natively on Intel - base Macs ( unlike the Target - undivided arcade game , which , as of this piece of writing , ply natively only on PowerPC - base Macs ) . I gave it a pass on my iMac and the game fiddle just all right . Minimum arrangement requirements for non - Intel Macs call for a 1.2GHz G4 or faster with Mac OS X v10,3 or after running with at least 256 Mbit RAM , and you ’ll need a routine more than 500 MB of voiceless disk space to install it .

Production quality is good . The game look a mo stretched on widescreen displays — the absence of any sort of anti - aliasing ca-ca the fork up characters look particularly jaggy . There are no setting to see to it solution or windowed / full screen modes .

Many of the same actor who voiced characters have reprize their roles for the game , let in some recognizable name calling like Larry the Cable Guy , Cheech Marin , and Tony Shaloub . Owen Wilson was n’t uncommitted for Lightning McQueen ’s negotiation , but a somewhat suitable soundalike is used or else .

The bottom line

Better than “ Activity Centers ” of old , Radiator Springs Adventures is a play romp in the world of Disney / Pixar’sCars , at least for younger players .