Back in the mid 2000s, movie tie-in games were absolutely everywhere. Most of them were rushed out to cash in on popular films and usually ended up being forgettable. But every once in a while, a licensed game actually surprised people by being genuinely fun. One of the best examples of that was the original Cars video game released after the Pixar film in 2006. Because that game sold so well, THQ and Rainbow Studios decided to make a sequel called Cars Mater National Championship.
Released in 2007, the game continues the story after the first Cars movie. Mater decides to host a huge racing festival in Radiator Springs called the Mater National Race Festival, bringing racers from around the world to compete against Lightning McQueen.
At first glance, the game honestly looks more of the same, but for fans of Cars, that is not really a bad thing. Mater National keeps the relaxing open world feeling of the first game while adding new characters, races, and mini games that make Radiator Springs feel alive again.
Development
Cars Mater National Championship was developed by Rainbow Studios and published by THQ alongside Disney. The game released across loads of platforms including the PS2, Xbox 360, Wii, Nintendo DS, and PC.
Rainbow Studios already had experience making arcade racing games, and you can tell because the driving still feels smooth and easy to pick up. Instead of trying to completely reinvent the first game, the developers focused more on expanding Radiator Springs and giving players more things to do.
The game was clearly aimed at younger audiences, but honestly it still had charm for older fans as well. A lot of people who grew up during the PS2 and Wii era still remember these Cars games because of how relaxing and fun they were compared to other movie tie ins.
The developers also tried to make the world feel more connected to the Cars universe by introducing international racers and new events. It almost feels like a playable mini sequel to the movie rather than just a random spin off.
That said, some critics felt the game reused too much from the original Cars game. A lot of the map, gameplay structure, and mini games feel extremely similar to the first title.
Gameplay
The gameplay is very simple, but that is part of why the game works so well.
The gameplay has to be simple because you will be selling this to children. You drive around Radiator Springs completing races, mini games, challenges, and side missions while unlocking new paint jobs and content. The game mixes arcade racing with open world exploration, which was honestly pretty ambitious for a kids game back then.
Driving and Racing
The driving is probably the strongest part of the game.
Cars control smoothly and drifting around corners feels satisfying without becoming too complicated. The game is easy enough for younger players to enjoy but still fun for older players who just want a casual racing game.
The races themselves are fast and simple. You are not dealing with realistic physics or deep customization systems like Gran Turismo or Need for Speed. This is pure arcade racing.
One thing I actually like is how relaxing the game feels. Driving through Ornament Valley or Radiator Springs while listening to the soundtrack gives the game a weirdly nostalgic atmosphere.
The boost system also keeps races exciting because it rewards drifting and aggressive driving. It is simple, but it works.
Open World Exploration
The open world aspect is what made these Cars games stand out from other movie games at the time.
Instead of just selecting races from a menu, you actually drive around Radiator Springs interacting with characters and discovering activities naturally. That makes the world feel way more alive.
There are garages, stunt areas, hidden shortcuts, and small side activities scattered across the map. Even though the world is not massive, it still feels enjoyable to explore.
Some fans were disappointed because parts of the map from the original game were removed or made smaller though. A lot of players still prefer the original Cars game because its open world felt larger and more explorable.
Mini Games
There are loads of mini games throughout the game, and honestly some of them are surprisingly fun.
Things like tractor tipping, rhythm games, countdown challenges, and stunt missions help stop the gameplay from becoming repetitive.
Not every mini game is amazing, but they fit the goofy Pixar tone perfectly. The game never takes itself too seriously, and that helps keep everything enjoyable.
Multiplayer
The multiplayer is simple split screen racing, but it is honestly one of the best parts of the game if you have someone to play with.
Like a lot of Wii and PS2 games from that era, it is just fun sitting beside someone racing around ridiculous tracks for hours.
Aesthetics and Atmosphere
This is probably the most nostalgic part of the game.
The graphics obviously look dated now, but for 2007 they were actually pretty solid. The cars look accurate to the movie and Radiator Springs still captures that warm desert atmosphere really well.
The environments are colourful and relaxing. Ornament Valley especially still looks great because of the sunsets, canyons, and old Route 66 style scenery.
Even though the game was designed for kids, the atmosphere has this weirdly calming feeling that makes it enjoyable even years later.
Sound Design and Music
The sound design is solid overall.
Most of the voice acting sounds close enough to the movie characters, and hearing Mater constantly talking nonsense never really gets old.
The soundtrack is also pretty catchy. It mixes country music, rock, and energetic racing themes that fit the Route 66 atmosphere perfectly.
One thing that disappointed some fans though was that the music selection felt weaker than the original Cars game.
Still, the overall audio presentation does a good job making the world feel alive and energetic.
Story and Characters
The story is simple, but honestly it does not need to be anything more complicated.
Mater creates the Mater National Race Festival and racers from different countries arrive in Radiator Springs to challenge Lightning McQueen.
That setup gives the game an excuse to introduce loads of new characters and race types while still keeping the small town atmosphere from the movie.
Lightning McQueen
Lightning is basically the same confident racer from the movie, but the game shows him enjoying life in Radiator Springs more instead of only caring about racing.
Mater
Mater completely steals the show honestly.
Almost every funny moment in the game comes from him saying something ridiculous or accidentally causing chaos. The entire festival idea feels exactly like something Mater would come up with.
The New Racers
The international racers are fun additions even if they are not deeply developed characters. They help make the festival feel bigger and more important.
Critique
Even though I really enjoy Cars Mater National, it definitely has problems.
The biggest issue is that it feels extremely similar to the first game. A lot of content feels reused, and some critics called it more of an expansion pack than a true sequel.
The map also feels smaller in certain areas compared to the original game, which disappointed some longtime fans.
The racing itself can become repetitive after a while too. Since the gameplay is fairly simple, older players might eventually get bored if they are not already fans of Cars.
Another thing is that Sarge is a 1941 Willys Military Jeep. Lightning McQueen is based of a nascar built for races
How does he have better handling and acceleration than lightning McQueen?
One of the questions that mankind will never be able to solve.
Loading times were also annoying on some versions of the game, especially on older consoles.
Still, despite all those flaws, the game succeeds because of its charm. It is one of those games where the atmosphere and nostalgia honestly carry the experience.
Final Verdict
Cars Mater National Championship is not a masterpiece, but it is one of the better movie tie in games from the 2000s.
The arcade racing is fun, Radiator Springs is enjoyable to explore, and the relaxed atmosphere makes the game weirdly comforting to play even today. It feels like a proper continuation of the first Cars movie and captures the charm of Pixar’s world surprisingly well.
It definitely reuses too much from the original game, and some parts of the map feel smaller and less interesting. The gameplay can also become repetitive after long sessions.
But honestly, if you grew up with Cars or enjoy simple arcade racers, Mater National is still a really enjoyable time.
It might not be as strong as the original Cars game, but it still has loads of personality and charm that most licensed games completely lacked.
Rating: 8/10
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