This is one of those games, which makes you smile from beginning to end. I remember when the Smurfs first came on the scene and they are charming now as they were then! Those little blue men with baker’s hats have hit the racing circuit and giving its players some fun and giggles along the way.

The game open up with a mini film clip featuring three Smurf racers and evil cat Azrael. With Azrael looking on, the racers zoom past him except for one fourth racer who decides not to race past him but over him. This little clip is hilarious and really starts the game off with a bang!

You are given two levels of race play, easy or expert. After choosing the race level of choice you are then asked to select Race Mode, which is a one or two player game. Your choices are Single, Championship or Flag. I recommend that your younger players choose the easy level to start with, as although it is very age appropriate at either level, the easy level helps to give them a better idea of just how the race can be won. It also lets them in some extra fun time.

As individual as the Smurfs themselves, so are their special racecars. This is another feature I really enjoyed.  To slow your opponents down, you can throw objects at them, but not ordinary objects mind you, but objects perfectly matched to the driver. King Smurf’s objects are crowns, Painter Smurf a smurf of paint and Harmony Smurf? You guessed it! Musical notes! These are examples of just a few but I guarantee you that the others are just as perfectly matched as these are! The races are run in fours, yourself and three opponents.

You will find yourself racing through Smurf Village, The Big Castle and gasp!! The Forbidden Zone, which contains that evil and dastardly villain Gargamel and his boiling Cauldron!  There is a secret level, which can only be entered once you have successfully completed the other three. One of my favorites, among many, is Astro Smurf’s Challenge. Think outer space here and Neil Armstrong! The sky is not the limit at this level!  To win your way to the ultimate level you can use all the tricks in the book, Smurf book, that is. From dropping objects from your car, everything from Paint to Chestnuts, you can slow down your opponent to a crawl. But beware, your opponent can do the same thing and will, at times throwing your car into a tailspin.

Each race has its own special challenge and fun and each one also has its own special humor which is sure to put a smile on either the eldest of long time game players. The Smurfs are just, well Smurf and what more can you can? Smurf on fellow gamers!

Install: N/A

Gameplay: 9.1
Besides the fact that this game is based on beloved cartoon characters, which always adds a special charm, the game itself has enough of a variety of racers to choose from as well as obstacles to put forth, to keep the game moving very nicely.

Graphics: 9.4
Absolutely beautiful when it comes to the graphics. The Smurfs themselves are perfectly recreated as the original characters and still have they original charm. From mushrooms to castles to water in the dam, everything is so finely detailed that you can almost believe that somewhere in this world there really is a Smurf Village. Very bright and vivid colors only lend to the beauty of the scenery of the game.

Sound: 9.4
I would be remiss if I did not mention the theme song here. That wonderful song, which we all remember, form Saturday morning opens the game. Hints and tips from Brainy Smurf as he flies overhead is very clear and audible.

Difficulty: 9.5
No matter what level you choose or mode, the challenge and fun are equally balanced. Unlike some race games, this one has enough characters, cars and obstacles to give the game a different feel each time you play, even if you play the same level over and over. Rare and refreshing.

Concept: 9.1
While the concept of familiar characters made into a game has been around for quite a while, gamers know that this does not mean that a game will be a winner. In this case, though it does. It has put the two together and created a racing game, which can be enjoyed by all ages as well, as introduce a new generation to a much-loved group of characters at the same time.   

Multiplayer: N/A

Overall: 9.3
I fell in love with the Smurfs almost twenty years ago. There is something so appealing about them, whether it is the fact that all have their unique personalities or their own language or just the fact that they all seemed to stick together. Smurfs have endured because of one or all of the above reasons. To create a game which can perfectly capture their charm is a job in itself, but the publishers of this game have managed to do it and do it brilliantly. Not only can those of us who remember the Smurfs from long ago enjoy the game but also new generations that will fall in love with them as we all have. This game is one of those games, which will be played for hours, and after played leave you with a good feeling for no apparent reason. But then, isn’t that what Smurfs always do??