As an old-timer who’s been around the gaming block more times than I care to remember, I must say What the Car? has managed to bring out the childish giggle in me like no other game has in quite some time. It’s as if this game was specifically tailored for my jaded palate!
Recently, I’ve found myself adopting an old-timer’s scowl, turning away from games like Anger Foot and Crush House at Shacknews, and even the wobbly, whimsical titles such as Human Fall Flat left me with a silent squint at home with my little one. Yet, I recall the good times I had with games like Gang Beasts years ago. Was it me growing stodgy? This thought didn’t exactly keep me awake, but it served as a decent icebreaker. Fortunately, What the Car?, a game from Triband, landed on my desk this week, and it reminded me that I can still chuckle at silly humor.
What the car? A miserable pile of feet, and garbage, and other stuff
In “What the Car?”, the story begins with a quirky car featuring a face reminiscent of a human’s, accompanied by a bear friend. The car initially honks its horn and sheds its tires, growing human legs instead. Unfazed by this transformation, the bear simply lounges around as the car continues to evolve, adding rocket boosters or umbrellas in place of its legs before blasting off from a cannon into humorous scenarios that also serve as time attack challenges. The gameplay essentially consists of choosing a level, launching yourself out of a cannon into a witty joke or stage setup, and then racing against the clock to solve the level as quickly as possible for the next several hours.
The fun thing about the game is how the joke informs the play experience for each level. If your car comes sailing into the air covered in wheels, then you can expect the challenge to be about trying to push the car into the goal while it’s doing more bouncing and tumbling than driving. If the car comes out looking more like a bench, you’ll be careening around corners and trying to position each tire on either side of a gaping hole in the road. It’s almost like a “wiggly game” version of Nintendo’s WarioWare series, where each moment is about quickly deciphering some kind of visual gag and how it informs the gameplay. It’s a lot of fun for the most part!
The mileage always varies
Occasionally, there are instances when I find myself shaking my head due to the fact that humor doesn’t always hit the mark equally. At times, you might even get caught up in a joke that didn’t work well initially, only to have it repeated multiple times. Other situations involve gameplay elements that can be more irritating than entertaining or difficult, like when strong winds keep pushing your character and the absurd physics lead to having to restart a level several times. The humor of watching your clumsy vehicle tumble to its doom is amusing initially, but it loses its charm after the second or third consecutive occurrence.
One intriguing aspect of What the Car? lies in its ability to offer richness and diversity within its core idea. Despite occasional roadblocks in the form of repetitive jokes, you’ll soon stumble upon fresh content that might be vastly distinct, such as a segment blending elements from Kirby’s Dream Course and Foosball. The game also provides tools for designing your own levels and sharing them with others. Additionally, there are various optional side activities to discover, which may seem like mere jokes but also include mini-games where the car chops vegetables or sells pool floaties, disrupting the usual scoring system for a touch of silliness.
Additionally, you’ll find a multitude of bears and other creatures casually milling about throughout the game, contributing to its whimsical ambiance without any particular purpose. Unlike giving off an “amusing because it’s unexpected” vibe, the entire world seems harmonious. It’s not unbelievable that the bears are playing tennis or spinning records as DJs! After all, why should the treasure chests be anything but quirky characters who exclaim “bleaugh” and stick out their long tongues to award prizes or new bear companions? All these eccentric elements that don’t pertain to the core gameplay feel like they’re part of a larger, cohesive picture. While it may not be traditional world-building, it’s a delightful touch that I can genuinely appreciate.
In hindsight, the jumping shark section is a good bit
One element I’m curious about that exists in a space adjacent to this review is plans for What the Car? to continue on after release. For a silly comedy/puzzle game, being able to go in and leave satisfied after three or so hours feels like a sweet spot. With more content planned to release later on, such as new features and levels, I have to wonder how much mileage this concept has. Sure, there were times when I groaned and wanted to just get on with it, but plenty of other times I was mesmerized by the ingenuity on display when a joke and stage design combo succeeded. Would I come back for more? Maybe, but I feel like I’d need some convincing. It’s hard to say!
Over the jam-packed summer, swarmed with heavy-duty games that drained my gaming hours and energy, What the Car? brought a refreshing burst of silliness. This game managed to crack my usually tough critic’s grin on several occasions, even when it had just been annoying me seconds before. I’m not rushing to pound the “wobble game” drums quite yet, but it’s heartening to know that there’s still room for this kind of video game tomfoolery in today’s market.
On September 9, 2024, the game titled “What the Car?” will be playable on personal computers. At present, it’s already accessible on iOS devices through Apple Arcade. The publisher generously offered a code for the PC version for this particular review.
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2024-09-06 16:27