For those who spent their afternoons in the late 90s watching PBS Kids, Arthur was likely a familiar face. The aardvark and his Elwood City friends weren’t just on television; they were everywhere, from books to toys. It was inevitable that Arthur would make his way into the world of video games. In 2000, that happened with Arthur! Ready to Race for the Sony PlayStation, a game that, while simple, offered young players a chance to dive into Arthur’s world and even build their own soap box derby car.
Arthur! Ready to Race immerses players in a charming, if compact, 3D rendition of Elwood City. Reminiscent of the town exploration in River City Ransom, this small game world serves as the central hub for missions and activities. It’s here that players, controlling Arthur himself, navigate through the game’s two levels, each packed with simple yet engaging tasks.
The core gameplay revolves around completing four missions per level. These missions, designed for younger audiences, include collecting tomatoes for Muffy, a slightly spooky cemetery stroll for Binky’s lost item, chasing after Pal the dog, and locating baby Kate in the library. Success in these tasks isn’t just about helping Arthur’s friends; it’s the key to acquiring Soap Box Derby Car Parts. Each completed mission rewards Arthur with essential components, piece by piece, to construct his dream derby racer.
Once all the soap box derby car parts are gathered, the excitement culminates in a race with the newly assembled vehicle. This race isn’t the end, though. The game loops back, challenging players to repeat the missions, this time earning parts for a slightly upgraded car. This progression, while repetitive, provides a simple sense of achievement for young gamers eager to see their soap box derby car parts transform into faster machines.
Beyond the main objective of building soap box derby car parts and racing, Arthur! Ready to Race offers additional, albeit less compelling, activities. Scattered throughout Elwood City are Bionic Bunny cards to collect, coins to purchase largely cosmetic soap box derby car parts, and CDs for the candy shop’s jukebox. Players can also engage in minor side quests, like finding lost pets and parcels, earning small coin rewards. These elements, while adding a bit of extra content, feel more like filler than integral parts of the gameplay experience.
The game’s simplicity is undeniable. Controls are basic, primarily using the D-pad and the X button, with an optional horn controlled by the circle button. The pause screen cleverly doubles as a blueprint, showing players the soap box derby car parts they’ve collected so far. However, this simplicity is sometimes overshadowed by frequent loading screens. While loading times are short, the sheer number of them, triggered by almost every transition, can interrupt the flow of gameplay.
Despite the simplicity, the missions are straightforward and easy to complete. The challenge isn’t in complexity but in the minor distractions, like collectibles, intended to slightly divert players from the main path. Even after completing missions, players can replay them indefinitely, primarily to gather more coins for those extra soap box derby car parts or to hunt down any missed Bionic Bunny cards.
Visually, Arthur! Ready to Race is surprisingly well-rendered for a PlayStation game. The 3D Elwood City and character models are bright and appealing, particularly impressive for the console’s capabilities. The ability to render rounded objects smoothly was a notable achievement. In contrast, some interior locations, like the pet shop and post office, are pre-rendered and appear noticeably less polished compared to the free-roaming outdoor areas. A definite highlight is the voice acting, which seems to feature the original voice cast from the animated series, a treat for fans of the show.
However, the game’s constant hand-holding and overly simplistic nature can be a bit off-putting for older players. Arthur’s constant explanations and the ease of most tasks might feel patronizing. Even minor challenges, like the occasionally stubborn tomatoes in Muffy’s mission, are more of a slight annoyance than genuine difficulty. Ultimately, Arthur! Ready to Race isn’t a game designed for seasoned gamers; it’s squarely aimed at a younger audience, particularly fans of the Arthur series.
For young children and Arthur enthusiasts, Arthur! Ready to Race offers a gentle and engaging introduction to gaming. The thrill of collecting soap box derby car parts and building a car to race, combined with the familiar charm of Elwood City and its residents, provides a simple but enjoyable experience. While it may not offer deep gameplay or challenge for older players, its retro charm and focus on soap box derby car parts within the Arthur universe make it a nostalgic and perhaps worthwhile experience for its intended audience.
