Speed Racer returns to gaming

By Brendan Sinclair, GameSpotPosted Aug 8, 2007 11:16 am PT

Warner Bros. and Sidhe Interactive prepping Wii, DS, and PS2 adaptations of Wachowski brothers' upcoming film; game to be part of company's plans to drastically increase development.

The new version of the Mach 5, Speed Racer's ride.

Ever since 1998's Speed Racer for the original PlayStation crashed and burned, the classic anime series has been absent from the North American gaming scene. That's going to change next year, as Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment today announced that it is developing Speed Racer games for the Wii, DS, and PlayStation 2, all based on Larry and Andy Wachowski's upcoming feature film based on the franchise.

As one might expect, the game will put players in the driver's seat of the film's garage of combat-ready rides and see how they fare in "car-fu style" action. The console editions of the game will be developed by New Zealand-based studio Sidhe Interactive. No stranger to the notion of cars with unusual abilities, Sidhe was the studio behind the racing/platforming/puzzle game GripShift for the PlayStation Portable and PlayStation 3.

The Wachowskis are providing assets and direction to the development team, and one of the film's visual effects supervisors is also working with the studio to ensure a faithful adaptation of the film. There's no word yet on whether the film's cast will be lending their likenesses and voices to the project. The star-studded ensemble includes Emile Hirsch (Alpha Dog) as Speed, as well as Matthew Fox (Lost), Christina Ricci (Black Snake Moan, The Addams Family), Susan Sarandon (Dead Man Walking, Rocky Horror Picture Show), John Goodman (The Big Lebowski, Blues Brothers 2000), and Richard Roundtree (Shaft, Corky Romano).

The Wii and DS games will be available next year alongside the theatrical release of Speed Racer. The PlayStation 2 edition will follow and be timed to coincide with the DVD release of the film.

Gamers can expect to hear more from Warner Bros. on a regular basis. According to a report in Develop, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment is in the midst of ramping up its development efforts. The publisher told the magazine that it is looking to produce up to six times more games than normal in the next five years. Helping it achieve that mark will be WB Games, a new studio being established near Seattle, Washington.

64 Comments

  • Clank17

    Posted Aug 8, 2008 12:08 pm PT

    does somebody here know why do some people insult the ps2 just because it hasn't been killed ?????? it pissess me the f*** off }:-(

  • puppybone

    Posted Apr 9, 2008 4:19 pm PT

    Well if they really wanna produce more games, then why is there no mention of a PC version of Speed Racer? I'd be all over it, if they would make it, but I stopped buying consoles after the Dreamcast got killed!

  • LittleDuck

    Posted Mar 20, 2008 3:52 pm PT

    Something tells me this just isn't going to be as good as f zero. Speaking of which, where is it for the WIi?

  • Morbid_curios

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 4:55 am PT

    My friend works for Sidhe, He tells me that the PS2 version is going to be a pack in with the movie, so I will get it with that.
    Nice Idea that.

  • FallenOneX

    Posted Aug 9, 2007 10:51 pm PT

    I remember going to a gym and getting on a "new" bike machine around 1995. It had a SNES styled controller and an interactive screen. Much to my surprise, there was a Speed Racer game. With your speed pretty controlled by how fast you peddalled, and the buttons activating oils slicks and buzzsaws on the tires, you could choose from Racer X or Speed. Since I wrestled in high school, that was the way to lose weight ever. I had to go down one weight class and spent a week there. I was on the leader board even after I graduated in '96. I hope the new games are actually good this time.

  • comthitnuong

    Posted Aug 9, 2007 9:47 pm PT

    It shouldn't be too hard to make a decent racing game...I'm not expecting spectacular things from this but I am expecting decency.

  • ryanstoy91

    Posted Aug 9, 2007 6:36 pm PT

    I wasn't a fan of the show, so I'll probably pass on this one.

  • thug_angel123

    Posted Aug 9, 2007 6:22 pm PT

    well I would care less about the game but atleast make the movie right...

  • bigmick07

    Posted Aug 9, 2007 6:20 pm PT

    i hope its good because i always seemed to continue to watch speed racer as i flipper through the channels. If its a good game i will buy it, but if its another crappy movie/comic game i'll pass.

  • lamprey263

    Posted Aug 9, 2007 3:22 pm PT

    For the Wii, PS2, and DS? Well, regardless if it's any good, it'll probably sell a lot.

  • KBABZ

    Posted Aug 9, 2007 1:18 am PT

    If anyone doubt's Sidhe's ability to make a good game, Gripshift is a nice example of showing how they actually LEARN from their mistakes. The PSP Gripshift was a fun game, but had flaws on th handling side. They fixed this for the PS3 version. I have faith in what they can do, and bringing in one of the guys from the movie team is a smart move: Look what it did for Peter Jackson's King Kong.

    As for the movie, we'll have to wait and see.

  • Lord_Daemon

    Posted Aug 8, 2007 11:56 pm PT

    I am such a Speed Racer nerd that for better or worse I am on board. Take your best shot Sidhe Interactive, I have an army of horrific games and nothing you can do will sway me from a purchase.

  • Dreski83

    Posted Aug 8, 2007 9:34 pm PT

  • CT-Link

    Posted Aug 8, 2007 8:48 pm PT

    Well the Wachowski brothers are very creative when it comes to artistic design and whatnot (they even inspected the actors hair in The Matrix), so, they, being fans of all these cartoon shows and comics (therefore anime *Animatrix lol*), they should make a good movie...I suppose.

  • F1sTDaCuffS

    Posted Aug 8, 2007 8:04 pm PT

    no one cares. its just something ,nobodies claim to be somebody, and it turns into a horrible fad. pass.

  • fanboy-buster

    Posted Aug 8, 2007 7:48 pm PT

    He is a demon on wheels!
    My Dad and I love the original show, but now the remakes are overly anime which is bad.
    And please maake the movie good Hollywood!

  • xgalacticax

    Posted Aug 8, 2007 6:25 pm PT

    its a shame how hollywood lacks creativity, and game developers follow them making movies and games out of comics and anime.......wats next hollywood..........voltron??? or battle of the planets. the simple fact that this game is going to be rushed to make it available b4 the movie comes out means im not wasting my money on it. id go and watch the anime instead. at least it will bring back memories of the early nineties.

  • clawboy

    Posted Aug 8, 2007 4:12 pm PT

    Oh come on people speed racer for the ps1 wasn't that bad of a game. I got it off ebay for only $20. I love how when the game comes on and you don't know whether you're watching the cartoon or watching the game load up. GO SPEED RACER! GO SPEED RACER! GO SPEED RACER GO!

  • remaGloohcSdlO

    Posted Aug 8, 2007 3:52 pm PT

    Umm... no 360 or PS3 versions? Do they realize it's 2007?

  • Esteban011487

    Posted Aug 8, 2007 3:36 pm PT

    When Is it coming out!.

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