The format of
Herbie Rescue Rally isn't totally wrong, but it is totally played out. To give credit where it's due, I like the fact that there are super power-ups that trigger "Herbie moments." The normal power-ups include oil slicks, shooting tires, reverse steering, and two or three you could probably guess from playing other kart racing titles. A "Cheer Boost" power-up uses the DS microphone to trigger boost according to the level of volume in the room. You can scream into the microphone as the manual recommends to create more boost. I can already see parents reaching to wring their children's necks over this "neat" feature...
Several race options exist for single-player and multiplayer modes. Up to four players can race, which is cool. The Story Mode includes some snazzy still cartoons with talk-bubbles to glue the racing segments together. Racing here will teach you the game and unlock content for other modes. The Tournament Mode opens up more of the game but mostly exists to test your racing skills. A Quick Play Mode offers you a chance to run on courses you've unlocked in the other modes or race with different cars. The other cars don't feel radically different than Herbie, so you may not find them all that compelling. You can select from a few different race types that stress quick results or collecting power-ups.