Race 'N Robots assumes a certain background understanding of the show, but a short history is given in the manual. Seems a robot creation named Cubix was damaged in an accident caused by his creator, leaving a non-functioning robot and a missing doctor. Even though the doctor's daughter tries to fix
Cubix, only a new kid on the block named Connor is able to work the magic needed to bring the big robot back to life. So,
Cubix forms a bond with Connor and they set out to win Bubble Town's robot racing championship. Dr. K seems to have other plans for the robots and their humans, but you'll find out more on that as you play the game.
This would have made a crackerjack action game punctuated by racing sequences, or even an adventure game for kids that used racing to propel the story, such as in the excellent LEGO Racer 2. Instead, we have the recurring cut-scene narrative that describes all the exciting stuff happening before and after you do the only thing available to do in Race 'N Robots. You race. So, we begin by selecting the mode we wish to play and picking a robot and rider. Only 4 robots are available at first, but playing through all nine races (effectively beating the game) will unlock other robots. As you complete each track, you'll earn points that can be cashed in to buy equipment that dramatically increases your robot's potential. So dramatically that by the final 2 or 3 tracks, you won't have to do much more than push forward on the stick and enjoy the pretty pictures.
In the racing category, Cubix Race 'N Robots is similar to a title like Micro Machines, where you watch from a top-down perspective and see the track scrolling across the screen. Micro Machines worked because the cars were tiny dots with simplified controls and the environments inevitably stole the show. Here, the result is somewhat less effective. There are 9 tracks. Not long tracks, either. So, any gamer worth her salt will sit down and polish off the basic Story Mode in an afternoon. Sometimes, the movie that plays after the track is complete lasts longer than the time it took to beat the track! Obstacles like crushers and pits and puddles of water or oil can slow you down or divert you as you move toward the finish line, but a nifty (is it?) feature brings you back in about the same position you were in before. This is strange... After Story Mode is complete, those Cubix loyalists will still be able to get mileage out of the game in competitive modes that allow 2, 3 or 4 players to complete. Multitap is required for anything beyond 2. Versus Mode and Coin Race are the multiplayer options, and each is fun but fraught with the same limitations as Story Mode. At least with human opponents, you'll have some real competition.