Cartoon Network Racing

Cartoon Network Racing provides gamers with endless hours of fun with 24 different racing circuits for players to zoom round. Racing zones include Spooky Mine and the Theme Park, plus -show-themed- locations such as Dexter's Laboratory and the Aron City. Players can enjoy the game alone in single player mode, or go head-to-head with an opponent or race as driver and co-driver in the two-player mode.

Released: 28 November 2006
Platforms: Nintendo DS PlayStation 2
Genres: Crossover Racing
Developers: Firebrand Games The Game Factory
Publishers: The Game Factory
Modes: Single-player Local multiplayer
Perspective: Third person
Themes: Comedy
Engine: Firebrand Games
Country: United Kingdom
Age ratings: PEGI 3 ESRB E
Languages: English, Norwegian

About

Cartoon Network Racing is a racing video game developed by Eutechnyx for PlayStation 2 and Firebrand Games for Nintendo DS, published by Danish video game developer The Game Factory, and released on December 4, 2006, in North America, and on February 9, 2007, in Europe. The gameplay is similar to Nintendo's 2003 game Mario Kart: Double Dash, but the characters and racetracks are all from six of Cartoon Network's original animated television series: Courage the Cowardly Dog, Cow and Chicken, Dexter's Laboratory, I Am Weasel, Johnny Bravo, and The Powerpuff Girls.

Keywords

based on - tv show
crossover
kid friendly
cartoony
licensed game
anthropomorphism
tie-in
sponsored by a tv network

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

There are two characters the player must choose: a driver, who drives a go-kart, and a co-driver, who uses all weapons and has two "toon powers". There are tournaments which players must race a series of races and win with the most points. Battle modes in arenas let two teams battle in different modes, and Cartoon Eliminators are endurance races where last kart in each lap is eliminated. The karts have three stats: acceleration, speed, and handling (if chosen as driver). If co-driver, they have two toon powers that fall into four categories: Shield, Attack, Boost and Flight.

All characters in the DS version are single-racers in separate karts. Each character's toon power can be used when their toon power bar is full. There are 1-8 players available in this version, and two bonus games can be unlocked.

Reception

The DS version received "mixed" reviews, while the PlayStation 2 version received "generally unfavorable reviews" according to video game review aggregator website Metacritic.

Lucas M. Thomas of IGN criticized the DS version for its similarities to the Mario Kart series, especially Mario Kart DS, as well as for having no characters from other Cartoon Network shows that were airing new episodes at the time. GameSpot's Aaron Thomas pointed out the same version's resemblance to Mario Kart, but he explained that a younger audience would find the game more enjoyable than an audience of serious gamers would.