by Cat Sentz

Created on: May 21, 2008   Last Updated: May 22, 2008

A raucous good time, Calling All Cars is an original counter to the library of the Live Arcade. It truly is multi-player buckets of fun, and even with dwindling online participation Calling All Cars it still holds its own as a fantastic party game.

You play as a copper against up to three opponents with the very narrow goal of nabbing the criminal and transporting him to the local jail. All but one of the levels has a handful of ways to achieve this, from a straightforward jail drive-through to transferring him to a paddy wagon to even getting him picked up by helicopter. The jail has multiple entrances as well, and the more difficult the criminal disposal is the more points you get. Certain entrances to the jail may open, close or even freeze over leaving players with only the speedy paddy wagon or helicopter to deposit the goon in before time runs up and he is forcibly removed from your care.

It isn't likely you will run into the time limit problem very often, though, with three other people desperately trying to nab the fiend right from your car. Ignoring creator David Jaffe's expletive-laden defenses, multi-player is what the game is about. With online participation not at its heartiest right now, you will want to enlist those real life friends of yours. Don't fret, it's more fun anyway.

Your opponents are just as eager to snag the jailbird as you are, and by using tactics most akin to a brutal round of bumper cars they will knock the criminal right out of your car. Then, the vehicle nearest to the target zone beneath the falling convict nabs him, and off you go again. These sort of handoffs can happen mere pixels from the Jail entrance, with some truly maddening collision-based exchanges even occurring as two players collide with-in the Jail entry.

There are also offensive tools at your disposal which you can pick up around the map, but only one at a time. The hammer, magnetic ray or a torpedo enable plays from a relative distance, though the success rate varies. Once you have the criminal you forfeit your weapon and are left only with evasive tactics. It all sounds so simple, but when you add three other players to the mix all racing for the same objective things get tricky fast.

The four available maps are fun, but definitely limiting. While environments aren't what makes the game, they could certainly make the game better. Well designed and in 1080p Cars is easy on the eyes, however minimalist. The cars look and feel like wind-ups on crack, and that is a compliment. Cartoon styling at its best, gameplay is most like demolition derby with Irish narration.

Tournament mode actually works by forcing you to win each successive round in order to advance. If you love Arcade style progression, you won't be nearly so troubled by this system as, say, I was. There's a few car unlockables for you to snag, the downside is you need to play in single-player to get them. The AI is beastly talented, and will handle all the weapons perfectly which will have you screaming "No fair!" lightning quick.

Map limitations aside, Calling All Cars delivers some truly great multi-player. With four levels, a handful of car equip-able weaponry, and ten vehicles to pursue your bounty you are guaranteed many hours of fun. A worthy download, Calling All Cars is an excellent addition to the PSN library.

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