'Cars 2' provides fun new takes on classics like Monopoly and Sorry

With the nationwide release of "Cars 2" on Friday, Disney and Hasbro teamed up to design a whole line of Cars-theme board games for fans of the movie. The lineup includes Sorry! Sliders, Pictureka! card game, Operation, Trouble with Mater, Monopoly and Memory Match Motor Speedway.

I'm a fan of classic board games, but to really catch my interest, a theme game has to offer a unique twist you can't find anywhere else. From the lineup of "Cars 2" games, the two that caught my eye were Sorry! Sliders and Cars 2 Monopoly.

Ages 5 and up

2 to 4 players

Now I know Monopoly comes in hundreds of different variations with little difference other than the cosmetics, but I guarantee you've never played it like this. There's no need for dice because Cars 2 Monopoly has a circular racetrack covered in numbers that surrounds a circular board (which looks like a wheel). On your turn, place a toy Lightning McQueen car on the track and give it a sturdy push. Whatever number the car comes to rest on determines movement for the turn.

Cars 2 Monopoly is a simplified version of the classic game, and play time is much faster. Maneuvering colorful little playing pieces of favorite Cars characters around the board, players collect properties (cars) and avoid other players' spaces. The game ends when the first person goes bankrupt.

My 9-year-old daughter loved Cars 2 Monopoly because it was a new take on her favorite game. My wife liked it because it didn't take as much time as the classic. I liked it because it looks so cool when it's set up. If you love Monopoly or are looking for a version with younger kids in mind, don't pass this one up. I must admit there's something satisfying about pushing the Lightning McQueen car as fast as you can around the outside track. Ka-chow.

$24.99

Ages 6 and up

2 to 4 players

The cream of the "Cars 2" game crop is Sorry! Sliders. It's so different than the traditional Sorry! game, you wouldn't recognize it if it was set up on a table. Sorry! Sliders is a racing game complete with a customizable racetrack, sliding game pieces, oil slicks, cones, obstacles and a winner's podium. It's oozing with the "Cars 2" theme. To play, a participant designs a racetrack by assembling curves and straightaway pieces that click together. Obstacles like tires, cones and oil slicks can be added to customize the track. When it's your turn, you slide your playing piece as far as you can around the track. Complete four laps first and you win!

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