DreamWorks All-Star Kart Racing is no run-of-the-mill tie-in

I’m just as surprised as you, but DreamWorks All-Star Kart Racing is actually quite entertaining. It even brings its own unique mechanics to the overpopulated scene, iterating on a genre with loaded expectations.

It’s no Mario Kart or Crash Team Racing, sure, but that’s not what I’m asking for. The Dreamworks racer manages to capture plenty of lovely little details I love about its worlds, and they’re worth a highlight.

It’s the little things

More often than not, these tie-in games read like a cheap cash grab, leading to a disappointing result: Garfield Kart, anyone?

However, DreamWorks All-Star Kart Racing really plays like it has some love behind it. Each kart is decorated with references to the movies these characters come from. Race tracks are quite charming and take place in locations you remember from the flicks, like Far Far Away from Shrek 2 or Berk from How To Train Your Dragon.

Funnily enough, the DreamWorks mascot even rescues drivers with his fishing rod when falling off the stage. Developer Bamtang Games clearly took cues from beloved implementations of other kart racers, but less so in the typical ways that feel like cheapened crossover soup.

However, what’s most important is how the driving feels, and I’m happy to report it’s mostly smooth. Drifting around a corner at the end of the race gave me the boost I needed to win. It’s also thrilling to pull off while you’re in narrower sections of a track.

Admittedly, it does feel a bit slower than other kart racers in the market, but it still manages to deliver a rush of speed as you zip through a piano-like boost pad and edge out the win.

DreamWorks Kart Racing travels down a magic pathway

DreamWorks All-Star Kart Racing surprised me. It could have just been a run-in-the-mill kart racer, but it folds in a few interesting quirks to the gameplay. Among my favorites were the magic pathways.

Similar to mechanics in F-Zero 99, you can form a rainbow path above the typical track. Navigating the path perfectly makes it an effective shortcut. However, others can jump on the magic pathway, too, and it comes with hazards as paths fade over time. There’s a risk/reward system that’s captivating on the track.

The track design is inventive, too. In one track, you’re trying to avoid perilous dragon flames while twisting and turning through a castle, and another has you bouncing up and down in a trampoline room. There’s good variety in the mix, shaking things up between the typical stretches of road.

You’ll see all manner of sights and sounds, shaping up to something surprisingly spectacular as you see familiar dragons from the franchise flying in the sky. There’s also a starry Rainbow Road-like track inspired by the intro that plays before every DreamWorks film. It’s complete with a glowing moon and bouncy purple clouds, making it my go-to pick.

While the items are a little lackluster, there are references to Dreamworks movies, like Shrek‘s onions. That was one of my bigger qualms with Disney Speedstorm, as it lacks those touches and uses generic items instead.

All-Stars get a little chatty, too

Prior GameMill Entertainment tie-ins like Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl and Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2 lacked voice acting at launch. However, DreamWorks All-Star Kart Racing takes advantage of this feature. You’ll hear Shrek calling out Tigress on the track. Some even have some witty banter between them, and there are even references to famous lines in the movies. While Shrek’s voice actor sounds like he’s never visited Scotland in his life, most of the performances are decent.

Overall, I’ve enjoyed my time with DreamWorks All-Star Kart Racing. While it’s certainly not as polished or fun as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe or Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled, I’d still recommend this to any kid or DreamWorks Animation fan. Now, where’s the Rise of the Guardians DLC?

[A review code was provided by the publisher to the writer]