Absurd yet amusing, “What the Car?” is a good way to spend a weekend.
The game is a new entry to the series of “What The” games created by Triband. While the game’s premise is simple, its gameplay can be quite challenging. Instead of a traditional racing game where you steer an average, everyday car, you take control of a car… with legs. This new and innovative idea allows players to run and jump around obstacles and control their momentum more effectively than if they were managing a traditional car.
The game has a unique art style that isn’t used in any other game I have played. The game is extremely cartoony, and its cell shading also helps add to its exaggerated elements. The color palette of the setting is mundane, which helps to emphasize the colorful car that you take control of. Everything has an appealing and simple design.
Additionally, “What The Car?” has excellent controls that are responsive and satisfying. The car moves automatically, but it’s the player’s job to move left and right, as well as jump by pressing the “Honk!” key, which is the spacebar. Controls in a game are always important, and “What The Car?” does a good job of making sure they feel smooth.
Additionally, the levels in the game, which all start by launching the car out of a cannon, are exceptionally creative. Similar to Triband’s other game, “What The Golf?” each level has a unique twist on the original formula. For example, one level has the car carrying an umbrella to float with, another has the car with boost pads on its back, and another has the car with HUGE legs that allow it to jump really high. The gameplay twists are all vastly interesting and can change the way that the player approaches levels.
Similarly, the game’s theming around bears is an odd, but charming addition to the game. On almost every level, there are a lot of bears. This introduces a motif into the game that makes everything seem connected, even when it isn’t. Also, the bears are just fun. They run away from the car when it approaches them and they have some weird dialogue. In short, it adds a lot of pizazz to the game.
Despite the fun controls, levels, and movement, the physics in the game can be somewhat annoying. The whole game relies on momentum, and sometimes it can take forever to change your direction when you want to. It might just be a case of what people call a “skill issue,” but it was still frustrating for me. It’s also annoying when you step on a boost pad and use your umbrella or jetpack at the same time, and the momentum that should have been gained is completely lost. It can be infuriating when it doesn’t work the way that it should.
Regardless of all the negative things I mentioned above, “What the Car?” is a surprisingly fun game. With its responsive controls, innovative ideas, and fun gameplay, this game is a good treat for fans of platformers and racing games alike. As a colorful, nonsensical comedy adventure, this game does its job incredibly well.
