If this game had pretty much in any way fit into that description, I was fully prepared to smile, check the 'I thought so' box in my head, and not like it. The whole concept of Hot Wheels racing in my mind smacks of those old plastic gold rails, the red tongues that connected them, pre-made vertical loops, funny cars, hot rods, and '70s sedans with jacked up rear ends, giant engines bulging from their hoods, with valves, smoke, and shining chrome glinting everywhere. Hot Wheels still in my mind reeks of some kids racing game, something that may have once been cool, but certainly isn't now. When I think of Hot Wheels, I instantly think of Match Box cars, which is CERTAINLY anathema to both parties, but hey, it's not my fault I collected both when I was a kid, and that over the years they melded into one in my mind.

Hot Wheels and its opponent brand, Match Box cars, are indeed different. But before I delve into that, let's get something straight, something that THQ and the folks at Hot Wheels think about all the time.