History VideoGame / Cars

** Monster Truck races are handled differently: there's only one monster-truck specific track rather than several, Monster Trucks can be used in most (though not all) regular tracks but are relegated to their exclusive tracks in later games and Count Spatula is a playable character (he's an NPC in the other two games) while Monster Mater and [[WesternAnimation/MonstersInc Sulley]] are completely absent.

* MinigameGame: The UsefulNotes/NintendoDS version of the game features 13 different minigames.

* ReformulatedGame: The console and PC versions are open-world racing games, the PSP version eschews the hub worlds and has a completely different selection of tracks, and the DS version is a MinigameGame.

* AnnouncerChatter: During the Piston Cup races, Darrel Cartrip comments on what's going on, specifically if Lightning is in the lead or has fallen back. Also expect something to say from the car you're playing as throughout the game.

Released to coincide with the [[WesternAnimation/{{Cars}} movie]], ''Cars: The Video Game'' takes place after it, detailing Lightning [=McQueen=]'s mission to win the Piston Cup and beat [[ClassicVillain Chick Hicks]] once and for all.

* AndNowForSomeoneCompletelyDifferent: In story mode, certain races and minigames allow you to play as Sally, Mater, Luigi, Sheriff, DJ, Boost and Wingo as opposed to Lightning.

* AscendedExtra: The tuner cars (DJ, Boost, Wingo and Snot Rod) who unintentionally got Lightning lost in Radiator Springs have a race dedicated to them, Wingo is a playable character and [[spoiler: they have their own mission where they steal Lightning's gear.]] They also play a big role in the story mode of the PSP version, serving as the main antagonists and bosses throughout.
* AwesomeButImpractical: Backwards Driving (not to be confused with braking and reversing) looks cool and is a nice way to taunt your opponents, but it doesn't provide any in-race benefits save gaining points and only serves to reverse your controls.

-->'''Mater (movie)''': I didn't get to say goodbye to him...
-->'''Mater (game)''': Wow, and I didn't even get to say goodbye.

* AdaptationExpansion: Radiator Springs, Ornament Valley and Tailfin Pass have all been expanded on with new landmarks:

* AndTheAdventureContinues: [[spoiler:After defeating Chick Hicks and winning the Piston Cup, Lightning, Mater, and Sally decide to celebrate by leaving Radiator Springs to go on a journey, in Lightning's words, "Wherever the road takes us."]].

* CanonForeigner: Fletcher, Gerald, El Guapo, Papo, Vince, Sonny, Lenny, Barry, Count Spatula, Ginormous and The Crippler haven't appeared in any of the ''Cars'' movies, though most of them would return for ''VideoGame/CarsMaterNationalChampionship''.

** The playable roster features some odd decisions; only nine characters are fully playable in the arcade mode[[note]]Lightning, Mater, Sally, Doc, Ramone, Flo, Sheriff, Wingo, Chick Hicks[[/note]] with Monster [=McQueen=] and Count Spatula being usable in most (but not all) of the road races while Darrel Cartrip and The King are restricted to Piston Cup races, there are a '''lot''' of characters that can't be used by the player such as Sarge, Fillmore and all the {{Canon Foreigner}}s barring Count Spatula, and Luigi, DJ and Boost can't be played as in the Arcade mode even though they're actually fully playable in certain minigames (leaving Wingo in the odd position of being the only playable tuner car of the four). Later games would go out of their way to avert this: ''Mater-National'' has a larger roster with more established characters (though there are still plenty of [=NPC=] racers) and no minigame-exclusive characters, and ''Race-O-Rama'' followed that up by making almost every character in that game fully playable.

* AbsenteeActor: Despite the rest of the Radiator Springs townsfolk appearing, Red is completely absent.

Released to coincide with the [[WesternAnimation/{{Cars}} movie]], ''Cars: The Video Game'' takes place after the movie, detailing Lightning [=McQueen=]'s mission to win the Piston Cup and beat [[ClassicVillain Chick Hicks]] once and for all.

* BerserkButton: Following his CharacterDevelopment from the movie, Lightning now has one: don't mess with his friends. [[spoiler: When DJ, Boost, Wingo and Snot Rod rob Mack in the middle of the highway, [=McQueen=] ''immediately'' chases them down for revenge.]]

* AnnouncerChatter: During the Piston Cup races, the offscreen announcer comments on what's going on, specifically if Lightning is in the lead or has fallen back. Also expect something to say from the car you're playing as throughout the game.

* AwesomeButImpractical: Backwards Driving (not to be confused with braking and reversing) looks cool and is a nice way to taunt your opponents, but it doesn't provide any in-race benefits and only serves to reverse your controls.

* TookALevelInBadass: The entire Radiator Springs crew are capable of keeping up with [=McQueen=] in the races.

** Lightning uses his piston cup paintjob rather than the "casual" paint he wore at the end of the first movie.

** Losing the current chase target in Sheriff's Hot Pursuit: Sheriff sadly returns back to his sign and contemplates getting another tune-up from Doc.

** This game [[RoleReprisal uses the movie's voice cast]] while the following games use [[TheOtherDarrin substitutes]].

* BrokenBridge: Ornament Valley and Tailfin Pass are initially blocked off by walls of sand and safety barriers until you win their respective races.

* IdiosyncraticDifficultyLevels: The story mode has two difficulty levels: "Full Size", which features five chapters, and "Compact", which features three, being designed for younger players.

** Monster Truck races are handled differently: there's only one monster-truck specific track rather than several, Monster Trucks can be used in regular races but are relegated to their exclusive tracks in later games and Count Spatula is a playable character (he's an NPC in the other two games) while Monster Mater and [[WesternAnimation/MonstersInc Sulley]] are completely absent.

** The playable roster features some odd decisions; in particular, there are a '''lot''' of characters that can't be used by the player such as Sarge, Fillmore and all the {{Canon Foreigner}}s barring Count Spatula, and Luigi, DJ and Boost can't be played as in the Arcade mode even though they're actually fully playable in certain minigames (leaving Wingo in the odd position of being the only playable tuner car of the four). Later games would go out of their way to avert this: ''Mater-National'' has a larger roster with more established characters (though there are still plenty of [=NPC=] racers) and no minigame-exclusive characters, and ''Race-O-Rama'' followed that up by making almost every character in that game fully playable.

** Monster Truck races are handled differently too: there's only one monster-truck specific track rather than a full set of several, Monster Trucks can be used in regular races but are relegated to their exclusive tracks in later games and Count Spatula is a playable character (he's an NPC in the other two games) while Monster Mater and [[WesternAnimation/MonstersInc Sulley]] are completely absent.

* DreamIntro: The game begins with Lightning participating in the Radiator Springs Grand Prix...which is really a dream he is having. By the time the event is over, Sally wakes him up.

** Tailfin Pass now has an abandoned mine.

* AllJustADream[=/=]DreamIntro: The game begins with Lightning participating in the Radiator Springs Grand Prix...which is really a dream he is having. By the time the event is over, Sally wakes him up.

* ChekhovsGun: At the start of the story, Lightning has a dream about competing in a grand prix set in Radiator Springs. [[spoiler: Near the end of the game, Lightning challenges Chick to said Grand Prix.]]

* GottaCatchEmAll: There are 20 of Lizzie's letters scattered throughout the 3 hub areas, though they aren't necessary to progress through the story.

* LateArrivalSpoiler: It's mentioned near the start of the game that [[spoiler: Chick Hicks won the Piston Cup and Lightning sacrificed his victory to help The King finish.]]