Aside from optional Sixaxis motion steering, the PlayStation 3 iteration of Mater-National is more or less the same as the Xbox 360 version. Neither pushes its respective hardware, but both provide an adequate, sharply rendered representation of the source material. A slight frame rate dip in the PlayStation 3 version (especially during split-screen races) is countered by noticeably improved draw distance, but those who own both platforms can safely leave the decision to sheer preference. We're admittedly fond of a little force feedback in our racing games, but there's no shame in opting for motion controls.

Cars: Mater-National is essentially the same game as its predecessor, but with a weaker campaign and even less reason to give it a shot in this packed holiday season. Minor issues from the original remain unchanged, while online play is still missing and the single-player experience seems significantly less robust. While still quite playable for several hours, the lack of true innovation or noteworthy upgrades makes Mater-National seem like more of a rushed expansion than a full-fledged - or fully necessary - follow-up to a memorable kid-friendly racer.