Cars: Fast as Lightning

Template:Infobox Video GameCars: Fast as Lightning is a customizable racing game that was released on iOS, Android and Windows Phone on October 9, 2014, featuring the characters from the Cars franchise.

Gameplay

Cars: Fast as Lightning combines elements of several different games, including Disney Infinity, Clash of Clans, CityVille, and many others, and combines them into a customizable racing game using characters from the popular franchise. Players have a town that they can customize by constructing buildings and decorations that will provide them with coins. Coins can be used to purchase new buildings, as well as upgrade cars. Additionally, gems serve as a rarer type of currency, obtainable via real money, daily challenges, or the Gem Mine.

In addition to the town, race tracks are customizable as well, with more tracks being unlocked as players progress through the game. Tracks can be customized with different types of road pieces, including curves, hills, and more. These road pieces will give the player opportunities to perform tricks during races, awarding the player with a short boost.

In races, the player can do many different things to make themselves successful, including boosting, boost starting, performing tricks, or gaining XP. The XP meter will fill as the player gains XP, and when it fills, the player will be moved to the next level, unlocking new buildings and decorations.

Daily and weekly challenges are also featured as a way to obtain currency, and friends can be added through social media or by sharing friend codes.

Controls

Cars: Fast as Lightning uses a very simplified control scheme, consisting primarily of simple taps. When a player's car drives over a blue circle on a track, it will provide the player with a short boost if the screen is tapped while on one. Tricks can be performed by sliding a finger in the direction the arrow is demonstrating.

The pedal in the bottom right of the screen must be held in order for the player to accelerate. At the start of the race, if the pedal is tapped when the "Go!" appears, a boost start will be awarded to the player.

Game modes

Town

The town is where all of the buildings are stored, each one awarding coins to the player. As more buildings are placed, more currency will be awarded when the player opens the game up. In order to expand the town, a fee must be payed in order for Bessie, the cranes, pitties and bulldozers to pave a new road. Each time an extension is bought, the next extension will cost higher.

All of the players' cars will be seen driving around town, alongside Sarge and Lizzie. Occasionally, a car will want to go to a certain building, and when they are brought to it, the player will be awarded with either an XP star, a coin, a fuel can or a gem.

Various unique buildings can be built to, including the Dinoco Tent, Gem Mine, Car Wash, and Movie Theater.

Race

In order to progress in the game, the player must continually race against various different opponents. The ones that will award trophies are displayed next to the finish line of whatever track the player is playing on, with various different cars driving around the track. These cars can be raced against for additional XP, as well as a chance to earn a sticker for a new paint job.

The practice cars can either be AI characters or human players, with computer characters using the image of the character, with human players having a blue "friend" icon.

Characters

Playable characters

There are 20 playable characters in Cars: Fast as Lightning, consisting of 13 Cars characters and 7 Cars 2 characters. Todd Marcus is the only car that is unlocked after the tutorial, and all other cars must be unlocked by earning their stickers.

• Todd Marcus "My sponsors gotta love this!"

  Todd Marcus "My sponsors gotta love this!"

• 

  Chick Hicks "Show me the love. Come on."

• 

  Fillmore "Flower power, man!"

• 

  Tow Mater "Hey there, buddy!"

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  Flo "Like what you see?"

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  Luigi "It is-a time for the speed!"

• 

  Guido "Pit stop!"

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  Sheriff "Now we're talkin'!"

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  SnotRod "Achoo!"

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  Wingo "Ha ha! Excellent!"

• 

  DJ

• 

  Boost

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  Miguel Camino

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  Carla Veloso

• Shu Todoroki

  Shu Todoroki

• 

  Raoul CaRoule

• 

  Holley Shiftwell

• 

  Finn McMissile

• 

  Francesco Bernoulli

• 

  Lightning McQueen "No problem. I can do this with my eyes closed."

Unlocking criteria

Unlike previous Cars games, Cars: Fast as Lightning uses an orderly unlocking system. Once every race is won as one character, the next one will be unlocked, and so forth. Winning these races will provide the player with a "sticker". Once all of these are collected and every race is the won, the next character will be unlocked.

Each character has 2 extra paint jobs, which can be unlocked by earning stickers in practice races.

Other characters

• Sarge
• Lizzie
• Tractors
• Frank
• Bessie
• Bob Cutlass
• Darrell Cartrip
• Dexter Hoover
• Rotor Turbosky
• Dinoco Girls
• Chuck Choke Cables
• Nelson Blindspot

Tracks

• Lightning's Track (is also a tutorial track too)
• Todd's Track
• Chick's Track
• Fillmore's Track
• Mater's Track
• Flo's Track
• Luigi's Track
• Guido's Track
• Sheriff's Track
• SnotRod's Track
• Wingo's Track
• DJ's Track
• Boost's Track
• Miguel's Track
• Carla's Track
• Shu's Track
• Raoul's Track
• Holley's Track
• Finn's Track
• Francesco's Track
• Max's Track (from the Christmas-themed update)

Buildings, Decorations and Track Pieces

Town

Buildings

Name	Cost	Unlocking criteria
Luigi's Casa Della Tires	500 coins	Go to Radiator Springs
Radiator Springs Curios	500 coins	Go to Radiator Springs
House of Body Art	500 coins	Go to Radiator Springs
Flo's V8 Cafe	N/A	N/A
Todd's Pit	1,000 coins	Unlock Todd Marcus
Cozy Cone Motel	100 gems	N/A
Chick's Pit	1.500 coins	Unlock Chick Hicks
Nightclub	200 gems	N/A
Fillmore's Taste-In	300 gems	N/A
Mater's Towing & Salvage	400 gems	N/A
Shu's Pit	500 gems	N/A
Francesco's Pit	600 gems	N/A
Courthouse	TBA	Reach experience level 4
Mrs. Piston	TBA	Reach experience level 7
Guido's Italian Ice Shop	TBA	Unlock Guido
Rusty Bumper	TBA	Reach experience level 9
Police Station	TBA	Reach experience level 11
Wimpy's Wipers	TBA	Reach experience level 14
Emporium Repair	TBA	Reach experience level 16
SnotRod's Gym	TBA	Unlock SnotRod
Office Building	TBA	Reach experience level 21
Wingo's Digs	TBA	Unlock Wingo
Hospital	TBA	Reach experience level 24
Pop 'n' Patch Tire Repair	TBA	Reach experience level 27
Boost's Nitro Shop	TBA	Unlock Boost
Visitor Center	TBA	Reach experience level 30
Miguel's Pit	TBA	Unlock Miguel Camino
Sparky's Spark Plugs	TBA	Reach experience level 33
Carla's Pit	TBA	Unlock Carla Veloso
Fire Station	TBA	Reach experience level 37
Raoul's Pit	TBA	Unlock Raoul ÇaRoule
Racing Museum	TBA	Reach experience level 41
Holley's Hideout	TBA	Unlock Holley Shiftwell
McMissile's Pad	TBA	Unlock Finn McMissile
Sarge's Surplus Hut	TBA	Reach experience level 45
Ornament Valley Airport	TBA	Reach experience level 49
Lightning's Pit	TBA	Unlock Lightning McQueen

Decorations

Name	Cost	Unlocking criteria
Mega Screen	280 coins	Unlock Chick Hicks
Neon Sign	20 gems	N/A
Radiator Spring	40 gems	N/A
Street Light	60 coins	N/A
Flame Fountain	80 gems	N/A
Spy Relay	100 gems	N/A
Arcade Games	120 gems	N/A
Organic Oil Stand	TBA	Unlock Fillmore
Red Flowers	TBA	Reach experience level 5
Mailbox	TBA	Reach experience level 7
Mator Statue	TBA	Unlock Mater
Motorama Girls Billboard	TBA	Unlock Flo
Blue Flowers	TBA	Reach experience level 11
Gear Statue	TBA	Unlock Luigi
Wind Turbine	TBA	Unlock Guido
Water Tower	TBA	Reach experience level 18
Graffiti Wall	TBA	Unlock Wingo
Clock Tower	TBA	Reach experience level 24
Super Subwoofers	TBA	Unlock DJ
Weather Vane	TBA	Reach experience level 30
Solar Panels	TBA	Unlock Miguel Camino
Vending Machines	TBA	Unlock Boost
Cherry Blossom Tree	TBA	Unlock Shu Todoroki
Well	TBA	Reach experience level 39
Poster Kiosk	TBA	Unlock Raoul ÇaRoule
Turbo Fan	TBA	Reach experience level 47
Parasol	TBA	Unlock Francesco Bernoulli
Doc Hudson Statue	TBA	Unlock Lightning McQueen

Races

Track Pieces

Name	Cost	Unlocking criteria
Hot Springs	20 gems	N/A
Steep Curve	200 coins	Reach experience level 3
Oil Field	100 gems	N/A
Surplus Storage	500 gems	N/A
Pretzel Loop	TBA	Reach experience level 8
Desert Curve	TBA	Reach experience level 12
Barrier Turn	TBA	Reach experience level 15
Oil Spill	TBA	Reach experience level 19
Whipsnap Raceway	TBA	Reach experience level 25
Steep Hill	TBA	Reach experience level 43
Bumpy Road	300 coins	Beat Fillmore as Todd Marcus
Cliffhanger	20 gems	N/A
Construction Site	100 gems	N/A
Stunt Cannons	500 gems	N/A
Zigzag	TBA	Reach experience level 5
Toll Booth	TBA	Reach experience level 10
Car Wash	TBA	Reach experience level 17
Rocky Loop	TBA	Reach experience level 20
Rock Half-Pipe	TBA	Reach experience level 31
Corkscrew Loop	TBA	Reach experience level 35
Geyser Jump	TBA	Reach experience level 40
River Jump	TBA	Reach experience level 46

Decorations

Name	Cost	Unlocking criteria
Souvenir Tent	10 gems	N/A
Blue Blimp	100 coins	Beat Mater as Todd Marcus
Inflatable Arch	100 coins	Reach experience level 3
Dinoco Tent	20 gems	N/A
Dinoco Sign	40 gems	NA
Piston Boulder	30 gems	N/A
Skybox	60 gems	N/A
Japanese Arch	80 gems	N/A
Flaming Arch	100 gems	N/A
Big-O-Vision	120 gems	N/A
Loudspeakers	TBA	Reach experience level 4
Bleachers	TBA	Reach experience level 6
Gear Balloon	TBA	Reach experience level 8
McMissile Banners	TBA	Reach experience level 10
Gearsley Banners	TBA	Reach experience level 12
Rust-eze Tent	TBA	Reach experience level 16
Grand Prix Banner	TBA	Reach experience level 19
Floodlights	TBA	Reach experience level 20
Paris Banners	TBA	Reach experience level 21
Francesco Balloon	TBA	Reach experience level 23
Leaderboard	TBA	Reach experience level 26
Gameloft Tent	TBA	Reach experience level 29
V8 Café Sunset Banner	TBA	Reach experience level 32
First Aid Tent	TBA	Reach experience level 34
Rocky Arch	TBA	Reach experience level 37
Tokyo Banners	TBA	Reach experience level 39
Lightning Balloon	TBA	Reach experience level 42
Francesco Banner	TBA	Reach experience level 44
AV Tower	TBA	Unlock Shu Todoroki

Races

Each character comes with a number of races, each against a different opponent. Winning a race will award the player a sticker for the next unlockable car.

Todd Marcus

1. Fillmore
2. Tow Mater
3. Flo
4. Chick Hicks

Chick Hicks

1. Tow Mater
2. Flo
3. Luigi
4. Guido
5. Sheriff
6. Fillmore

Fillmore

1. Todd Marcus
2. Flo
3. Sheriff
4. SnotRod
5. Wingo
6. Tow Mater

Tow Mater

1. Rookie Green Todd Marcus
2. Chick Hicks
3. Sheriff
4. SnotRod
5. Wingo
6. DJ
7. Boost
8. Flo

Flo

1. Chick Hicks
2. Fillmore
3. Sheriff
4. Golden Champion Todd Marcus
5. DJ
6. Boost
7. Miguel Camino
8. Luigi

Luigi

1. Purple Rage Chick Hicks
2. Todd Marcus
3. Tow Mater
4. Tie-Dye Fillmore
5. SnotRod
6. Wingo
7. Carla Veloso
8. Guido

Guido

1. Fillmore
2. Flo
3. Tow Mater
4. Golden Champion Todd Marcus
5. Chick Hicks
6. DJ
7. Boost
8. Sheriff

Sheriff

1. Flo
2. Mater the Greater
3. Luigi
4. Flower Power Fillmore
5. Wingo
6. Miguel Camino
7. Carla Veloso
8. SnotRod

SnotRod

1. Luigi
2. Guido
3. Todd Marcus
4. Chick Hicks
5. Fillmore
6. Flo
7. Tow Mater
8. Wingo

Wingo

1. Tow Mater
2. Luigi
3. Guido
4. Sheriff
5. Miguel Camino
6. Carla Veloso
7. Shu Todoroki
8. DJ

DJ

1. Sheriff
2. Flo
3. Fillmore
4. Chick Hicks
5. SnotRod
6. Shu Todoroki
7. Raoul ÇaRoule
8. Boost

Boost

1. Todd Marcus
2. Tow Mater
3. Guido
4. Luigi
5. Wingo
6. Carla Veloso
7. Raoul ÇaRoule
8. Miguel Camino

Miguel Camino

1. SnotRod
2. Wingo
3. DJ
4. Boost
5. Sheriff
6. Shu Todoroki
7. Holley Shiftwell
8. Carla Veloso

Carla Veloso

1. Todd Marcus
2. Chick Hicks
3. Tow Mater
4. Fillmore
5. Flo
6. Raoul ÇaRoule
7. Finn McMissile
8. Shu Todoroki

Shu Todoroki

1. Luigi
2. Guido
3. Wingo
4. Sheriff
5. Boost
6. Miguel Camino
7. Francesco Bernoulli
8. Raoul ÇaRoule

Raoul ÇaRoule

1. Fillmore
2. DJ
3. Flo
4. SnotRod
5. Tow Mater
6. Miguel Camino
7. Carla Veloso
8. Holley Shiftwell

Holley Shiftwell

1. Tow Mater
2. Luigi
3. Todd Marcus
4. Guido
5. Sheriff
6. Shu Todoroki
7. Francesco Bernoulli
8. Finn McMissile

Finn McMissile

1. Tow Mater
2. Fillmore
3. Flo
4. Sheriff
5. Boost
6. Carla Veloso
7. Raoul ÇaRoule
8. Francesco Bernoulli

Francesco Bernoulli

1. Luigi
2. Guido
3. DJ
4. Wingo
5. SnotRod
6. Shu Todoroki
7. Miguel Camino
8. Lightning McQueen

Lightning McQueen

1. Tow Mater (only at Training Mode)
2. Todd Marcus
3. Chick Hicks
4. Boost
5. Miguel Camino
6. Shu Todoroki
7. Carla Veloso
8. Raoul ÇaRoule
9. Francesco Bernoulli

Max Schnell

1. Mater
2. Boost
3. Miguel Camino
4. Carla Veloso
5. Shu Todoroki
6. Raoul CaRoule
7. Francesco Bernoulli
8. Lightning McQueen

Updates

1.0.1

This update included some minor bug fixes and overall improvements created from feedback that the game recieved. In addition to these fixes, a new feature was added, allowing certain buildings to go on sale for a limited amount of time.

Development

Development for the game was most likely started sometime in late 2013/early 2014, with the game being confirmed and shown off at E3. Initially, the release date was simply known as "Q3 2014", but an official date was set three days prior to the game's release.

Promotion and adverstising

YouTube trailers

On October 6, 2014, Gameloft released a teaser trailer to its official YouTube channel, showing off some minor gameplay elements, alongside the official release date of October 9, 2014.

A launch trailer was released on the same day the game released, showing off more features that the game contains, including various clips of races on different tracks, as well as the town.

Reception

Cars: Fast as Lightning received generally positive reviews, its main praises being its smooth and detailed animations and the way it combines city-building elements with Cars characters. The game was criticized, however, for its simplistic gameplay, with some reviewers stating "It's probably too simplistic for anyone except youngsters."

On Metacritic, it has been met with postive reviews, though it is still awaiting two more reviews for an overall score to be posted.

References to other media

• Cars - Flo mentions her life as a Motorama Girl, a deleted plot element for this film. Lightning McQueen and Chick Hicks also use their Dinoco paint schemes from this film.
• Cars: Mater-National Championship - Ornament Valley Airport re-appears in this game, its previous appearance only being in Mater-National.
• Mater the Greater - Mater uses his Greater paint job from this short, while the Stunt Cannons trick animation is similar to Mater's stunt, but with a Lightning McQueen design.
• Tokyo Mater - Mater uses his attire from this short. The trick animation for Construction Site is similar to the way Mater and Dragon McQueen slide through the halfpipe.
• Cars 2 - Luigi and Guido have their Lightning Fan attire as alternate paint jobs, and the Oil Field trick is rather similar to the stunt Finn McMissile pulls in this film.

Places where cars sleep

• Todd Marcus - Todd's Pit
• Chick Hicks - Chick's Pit
• Fillmore - Fillmore's Taste In
• Tow Mater - Mater's Towing and Salvage
• Flo - Flo's V8 Cafe
• Luigi - Luigi's Casa Della Tires
• Guido - Rusty Bumper (sometimes) and Guido's Italian Ice Shop
• Sheriff - Courthouse

Gallery

For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Cars: Fast as Lightning.

• File:Cars fast as lightning.jpeg
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• Guido sleeping in Rusty Bumper

  Guido sleeping in Rusty Bumper

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• File:Dinoco Chick Hicks.jpg
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• File:Ranger.jpg
• File:Retro.jpg
• File:640px-Neon Snot Rod.png
• File:640px-Neon Wingo.png
• File:640px-Neon Boost.png
• File:640px-Neon DJ.png
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• File:Screenshot 2014-12-03-18-53-51-1-.png
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Beta elements

Main article: List of Cars: Fast as Lightning beta elements

As not very much information was known prior to its release date, little was changed in the final product, the only difference being the music, which was originally the Cars: Race-O-Rama main theme, but was instead changed to an entirely new music track.

Media

Main article: List of Cars: Fast as Lightning media

Glitches

Main article: List of Cars: Fast as Lightning glitches

Cars drive through one another

This glitch is common when the player is looking at their town. Whenever a car is sent to a building, it will go straight to said building, driving through another car if there is one in its path, rather than driving around it like they normally would.

Staff

Main article: List of Cars: Fast as Lightning staff

Gameloft is the primary developer of Cars: Fast as Lightning, with some of the voice actors being Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy, Jerry Trainor, Katherine Helmond, and many more.

Trivia

• While in build mode, the song playing is the main menu theme from Race-O-Rama.
• Snot Rod's name is spelled as "SnotRod".
• Several construction cars bear resemblances to certain characters. The pitties are identical to Muggsy Liftsome, while the bulldozers are identical to the ones seen in El Materdor and the cranes are identical to the ones in Tokyo Mater.
• Guido's home is at Rusty Bumper in this game, rather than the Italian Ice Shop for no apparant reason.
• When Chick Hicks goes on Luigi's track with his Purple Rage paint job, it reveals that he starts being nice to his opponents.
• A Chrismas-themed update has Max Schnell to be unlocked as a playable racer.

External links

• Cars: Fast as Lightning on the App Store
• Cars: Fast as Lightning on the Google Play Store