Speed Racer Merchandise

Uh-oh. Anytime a licensed game comes out in time to tie in with a big blockbuster movie, it's usually a groan fest for serious gamers. Companies seem to push this shovelware out the door as fast as they can to capitalize on box office, seemingly disregarding whether of not the game is actually any good. However, the Speed Racer game for the Nintendo Wii doesn't suffer from most of the common problems that plague licensed properties.

Speed Racer for Wii is not going to win any game-of-the-year awards- any racing game would have a tough time trying to earn that distinction. Where this title sets itself apart is in its adaptation to the Wii's unique control scheme (which, by the way, is compatible with the Wii Wheel (Whiil?) recently released for use with Mario Kart Wii). Budget gamers won't have to worry about buying extra nunchucks so their buddies can get in on the action either- the game really requires only the Wiimote to play.

This is not a hardcore game for hardcore gamers, evidenced by the fact that you can't even really drive your car off the track, an interesting choice considering that in the movie none of the drivers can really manage to keep their cars ON the track. Remember all that so-called "car-fu" from the movie, with cars jumping, flipping, sliding, and spinning? Well that's what the focus is on here, too, with the majority of the acrobatic driving moves being executed by tilting, shaking, or rotating the Wiimote along with pressing in different directions on the directional pad. The more you manage to keep from slamming into the invisible walls on the side of the track, the more tricks you do, and the more "boosters" you run over, the faster your car will go. If you manage to build up enough momentum, you will be able to activate a special power that renders you virtually invincible and blindingly fast called "In the Zone". This special power is often the deciding factor in your placement in the race, and may be necessary to overcome the rubber banding (cheating) AI.

The game looks beautiful, especially when viewed using Hi-Definition component cables and an HDTV. The colors and animation capture the brilliant scheme used in the movie, as well- I believe one reviewer called it "like having molten Starburst poured in your cornea"- that description is accurate here, too. Also, even though there is no real story arc to speak of beyond "win races to advance through the circuit", Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci and Matthew Fox provide voiceover work. It's too bad that they weren't given more to say beyond one-liners; however, Trixie (Christina Ricci) figures heavily into the tutorial.

It's refreshing to see a licensed game that doesn't suck, and while the game is not very deep (only three modes, no online, no story arc to speak of) it's also nice to see a lack of the extraneous mini-game/collecting fluff that often weighs these licensed titles down. What this means is Speed Racer for Wii is a cohesive package that both young and old alike can enjoy (just like the movie!)

If you're watching the new Speed Racer cartoon on Nickelodeon you have probably realized that the Mach 5 (the original Speed Racer ride) is no more, having been destroyed in the second episode and replaced with the Mach 6. The Mach 5 of the new generation featured several "special powers" not seen on Speed Racer's rides before, such as the holographic dashboard display and the ejector seat. So, what is the history of the Mach 5 anyway?

The Mach 5 first appeared in the Japanese manga in the 1960's and looked a lot like the Mach 5 in the new live-action movie looks. It's a white car that looks a lot like a Chaparral 2C- which is an actual racecar designed by Jim Hall- with tail fins and a large red "M" on the hood. The car is named the Mach 5 (in the American versions of the show), but that's not really accurate, as the Mach 5 isn't really capable of supersonic speeds. In Japan, the word "go" means "5"- so it's a pun, and in Japan, the car is simply known as the Mach. On the show, Speed Racer races in a class of cars designed for maximum speed and minimum weight.

In all of its different reworked designs, the Mach 5 features a lettered set of buttons on the steering wheel (and one on the center console). Each button corresponds to a different secret feature of the car. Speed deploys these features as needed, as the races he's in aren't exactly contested under normal rules, nor are the other racers above blatant cheating through the use of such devices. Translated from the original Japanese comic book, they include:

1. Auto Jack- A series of 4 jacks that can be rapidly deployed. Ostensibly, these jacks are so that the car can be repaired quickly but in practical use, Speed usually ends up using them to jump over obstacles in his way. 2. Belt Tires- A special tire grip is activated, allowing Speed to keep control on icy or uneven terrain. When this power is activated, 5,000 extra horsepower are also evenly distributed amongst the 4 tires; the power is drawn from secret auxiliary engines. 3. Cutter- Two huge rotary saw blades pop out of the front of the Mach 5, enabling obstacles such as trees to be cleared out of the way with ease. 4. Defensor- Seals the driver in a waterproof, bulletproof cockpit. The driver inside is basically invulnerable once the Defensor is deployed. 5. Evening Eye (or Illuminating Eye) a special illumination system allowing the Mach 5's driver to see much further down the road than normal. This system can also interface with the goggles on Speed Racer's helmet to give infrared vision assistance. 6. Frogger Mode- essentially submarine mode, this allows the Mach 5 to serve as a submarine, complete with periscope, for 30 minutes- that's when the air runs out. 7. Gizmo Rocket- activates a small homing rocket, controlled by a joystick on the center console. This rocket can be used to carry messages, take aerial video, or for self defense. 8. Button H is located on the center console and activates the Gizmo Rocket's homing device, sending it to a pre-programmed location automatically. There was a short-lived remake of Speed Racer on Nickelodeon in 2002 called Speed Racer X. In that series, the names and functionality of several of the secret powers were changed- for example, the jacks were replaced with compressed air and rockets, the tires were replaced with special tires that allowed the Mach 5 to float, the cutter blades were replaced with lasers, and the night vision feature was replaced with a grappling hook that allowed Speed to get out of tough situations. The car also made a full transformation into a submarine during Frogger mode, and the Gizmo Rocket was redesigned to look more like a peacock than its original dove configuration.

In the live action movie, several other changes were also made. Frogger mode was abandoned altogether along with Evening Eye mode. Jump Jacks and the bulletproof cockpit were retained as features and also figure prominently in the plot. The car also has had tire shields added, and Speed has the ability to control them via a remote in the center console. Other added features included instant-inflate spare tires, in case an original tire gets shredded, and crampons that emerge from the tire treads when things get too icy or slick.

While the Mach 5 in the movie IS an actual physical car, sadly, no one drove it. It was suspended from a crane and moved using hydraulics to get the necessary shots for the movie, then inserted into the digital footage using green screen technology. In the year 2000, a special prototype Mach 5 was build- it featured functional concealed cutter blades! As you can imagine, this car was not street legal, so in 2002, 100 street-legal versions of the Mach 5 were produced, built on a heavily modified Corvette chassis. If you want to drive one of these 345 horsepower beasts, first you've got to find one. Then, you've got to shell out from $75,000 to $125,000 to afford it!

Speed Racer's New Merchandise

We all know that Speed Racer is one of the most successful anime franchises in the USA- the ancillary marketing of Speed Racer merchandise has been very successful, as well. From DVD's to comics to toys, video games and now, a feature film, people want to own a piece of the Speed Racer legacy. So whatSpeed Racer merchandise is out there?

Artisan/Lion's Gate Entertainment have released the first 5 seasons of the series on DVD, comprising a total of 52 episodes. DC Comics have released issues of the Japanese comic book series that started it all as Speed Racer: The Original Manga. In 1985, NOW Comics released The New Adventures of Speed Racer, which lasted for about 40 issues and included the phenomenal airbrush work of artist Ken Steacy. In 1991, Wildstorm productions also released a new Speed Racer series, and IDW is re-releasing this series as well for the new movie.

So, what non-comic-book Speed Racer Merchandise is available? Well, Lego has released toys, and Mattel holds the master license for the new film. JADA toys has the rights to reproduce die-cast models of the Mach 5 and have also released plastic model sets of Speed's ride. Barbie Collector is also releasing Trixie and Speed dolls to coincide with the live action movie. Toynami is releasing large-scale reproductions of the cars (also timed with the release of the movie) and Art Asylum is also releasing a set of Mini Mates!

Speed has also made numerous appearances in video games, from 1992's Speed Racer in the Challenge of Racer X in DOS format (by Accolade), and the same company released Speed Racer in My Most Dangerous Adventures for the Super Nintendo. Namco also created an arcade game in 1995, and Jaleco produced a Playstation Speed Racer game in 1998. There will also be a game based on the live action 2008 movie that will appear on Wii, Nintendo DS and Playstation platforms, with the stars of the movie reprising their roles for the film.

As for apparel, there is lots of classic Speed Racer merchandise available to purchase. T-shirts, hats, ties, boxers, and all forms of Speed Racer merchandise are now available, both in classic form and "re-imagined" for the new live action movie.