There’s no particular story or subplot in Ace Racers, players are simply introduced to four different coloured racers and are taken straight into the main action. In contrast to previous Buzz Jr. titles, Ace Racers’ core gameplay is focused on racing, though mini-games do appear from time to time to keep things feeling fresh.
The controls are extremely simple. During races players don’t have to steer their vehicle, instead they just have to press and hold the big red Buzz! button to accelerate. The main challenge comes from turns throughout the course. If players are travelling too fast their vehicle will spin out of control, so they have to time when they release the button while turning around corners. By pressing any of the other buttons on the buzzer you can also perform a boost, though you will be limited to using it for a specific period of time. Sky races are a little different from those at land and sea. Instead of racing, your goal is to fly a plane and collect balloons. The Buzz! button is used to increase the plane’s altitude, while the other buttons let you add the collected balloons to your count total. If you crash your plane, you’ll loose any balloons you haven’t added to the count total. It’s certainly an interesting idea, and the controls, while at times feeling a little underpowered, work considerably well.
Did someone say "drag race"?
Admittedly, the general gameplay will feel very simplistic for adults, and even children will get bored after a few hours. Fortunately, Ace Racers has a variety of modes on offer to keep things interesting. Multiplayer, the main gameplay mode, has three divisions: Grand Prix, Sprint and All Terrain. Grand Prix is more or less a collection of the three race types (land, sea and air) with players racing multiple laps, aiming to be the first to cross the finish line or collect the most balloons. Sprint is a little different, instead of racing multiple laps your objective is to knock out opponents by gaining a substantial distance ahead of them. All Terrain is similar to Grand Prix, however, it focuses on a specific race type. While the differences are subtle, they’re varied enough to keep players occupied.
Like all Buzz games, Ace Racers is designed as a multiplayer experience. Those wanting a decent solo session should look elsewhere, as there just isn’t enough substance to keep you interested for long. If you have a friend or family member who wants to join in, then you can team up against two CPU players or two other human players in various Team Game matches. Tag Team is similar to Sprint in that your goal is to gain a substantial distance ahead of your opponent. The only difference is you’ll take turns with your partner, so this means races will be a one-on-one experience. Relay is just as it sounds, you’ll take turns racing two laps in a race for the finish line. Catch Me is considerably different than the rest of the game. Here, you’ll take turns with your opponents trying to catch each other. The chasers will start off at the beginning of the track, while the others are further down. If the chasers can’t catch you after a few laps, then your team wins the point. Lastly is Racing, which is pretty straight forward – all players will race and receive points based on their final position crossing the finish line. The points are then tallied up and the team with the highest score wins. Again, there really isn’t a major difference between the modes, but considering these can only be played with two or more players, there’s a fair bit of content that solo enthusiasts will miss out on.
As mentioned, at random moments players will be treated to short mini-games. In total there are eleven mini-games to play, and if you wanted to skip all the racing nonsense you can access them directly via the Practice menu. Like previous Buzz! Jr. games, they all utilise the simple design of the Buzz! buzzer. One game uses the buttons to crush cars at a junk yard, while another sees you guide a helicopter to pick up toys and place them in a basket. There are varying degrees of quality across each mini-game, but they’re all at least functional and add contrast to the overall experience.
Hey chief, he splashed me.
Unfortunately, Ace Racers has a fairly bare bones presentation. The graphics just aren’t up to scratch with other kids games on the market, though that said everything is suitably full of colour. The music also tends to get repetitive over time, while the commentators only have a handful phrases. Needless to say, you’ll want to turn the volume down.
While Buzz! Junior: Ace Racers is a competent multiplayer game, it lacks substance to keep players engaged for more than a few hours. There are a variety of gameplay modes but sadly, in the end they feel a little too similar and won’t retain your interest. Also, the game is only suitable for kids. If you’re an adult or have a child/younger sibling who intends to play this alone, then it’s best if you stay away. Other than that, Ace Racers is a decent game for sleepovers and birthday parties, just don’t go expecting the little ones to play it every time someone comes over.
Information for Parents:
Buzz Jr.: Ace Racers is rated G for general expectations. The game has no violence, no bad language or any content that would be unsuitable for minors. The game is available in two packs: a bundle containing a copy of the game and four Buzz! buzzer peripherals, and just the standalone game pack. If you already own a set of Buzz! buzzers then you do not need to to purchase the bundle pack.
In the game, players race around racecourses and compete to cross the finish line. There are also a number of bonus mini-games to keep things feeling fresh. As mentioned in the review, the game is played using the Buzz! buzzers, and cannot be played with a regular controller. Players control the speed or, when flying a plane, the altitude of their vehicle by pressing the big red button. It's very simple to pick up and play, and most children should be able to learn the controls within a few minutes.
It should be noted that the game is designed for multiplayer sessions, which means your child will get the most out of it by playing with friends or siblings. The single-player experience can get dull very quickly, so it's recommended to avoid playing alone. The game is perfect for sleepovers and birthday parties, though other than that there really isn't a lot that will keep players coming back for more.
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