WHAT THE CAR? is the upcoming game from developers Triband. Following the sports-comedy game WHAT THE GOLF? and the VR game WHAT THE BAT? Set to release on September 9, 2024, the game puts players in control of a car and simply asks you to reach the end of each different level. However, the different “upgrades” the car gets may make that more challenging.
This is just a demo, so it can’t properly be compared to WHAT THE GOLF? Though the spirit of that game is alive and well here. Even if it seems to have more variety in levels than WHAT THE CAR? It’s a fun and fast-paced level-based platformer good for a couple hours of entertainment.
The WHAT THE CAR? Demo is available on Steam for free.
Story – Where We’re Going, We Don’t Need Story
If you like games for their unique ability to tell stories thanks to the interactivity of the medium, this is not the game for you. But that’s not an indictment on the game. And there’s every chance the game has a rich story full of world-building and deep lore that is being hidden from the demo. Though I highly doubt it.
This is Car
Not every game needs to be The Last of Us or Alan Wake. And not every game needs a story. As far back as the arcade days, some games were just made to be fun. Who cares why Pac-Man is trapped in a labyrinth and being chased by ghosts? WHAT THE CAR? is in a similar vein. The game doesn’t need a story. Because it’s all about having fun.
Gameplay – Instructions Unclear
Almost every level in WHAT THE CAR? has the same objective. Control the car and reach the goal at the end without falling off or otherwise failing. The main differences come in the different wacky “cars” you take control of in each level. Like a car with giant legs, a car with water-powered boosters, or a car with giraffes. Each controls slightly differently and comes with its own set of challenges.
There are also some other kinds of levels with unique gameplay. Like one where you have to chop vegetables. As cars do. On top of that, each level has two collectibles to obtain. A golden crown for completing the level fast enough, and a trading card found somewhere in the level. Though some levels are way more generous with their golden crowns than others.
These legs get caught on everything
There’s a lot of replayability and diversity in gameplay here, especially for just a demo. The big issue I came across was a total lack of proper balancing or pacing. Some of the early levels you come across will probably give you more problems than a lot of levels later down the line. Though that could just be down to it being a demo, with the levels not in proper order. Only time will tell.
Graphics & Sound – Rainbow Road
All of the games in the What the Games? series have the same look and sound to them. Very simple graphics with bright colors, usually either yellow or green. It almost looks like something you’d see on PBS Kids. The simple visuals are enhanced by the floppy movements of the different NPCs and other entities that inhabit the world. It really adds to the wacky vibe of the game.
Beary bright overworld
The music and sound effects are nothing special, though the main theme playing on a near-constant loop can get annoying for some people. As can some of the sound effects if you’re replaying a level over and over again and have to hear the same explosion sound effect over a hundred times.
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- Accardion
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- Sharcar
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- Is your car running?
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- Chopping Car-rots
WHAT THE CAR? was reviewed on PC with a key from Future Friends Games.
