In a world, where giant toasters ravage the remains of a shattered earth, and where Piggy Banks are the only signs of a once peaceful humanity, there is a hero. His name? Yaris. By Toyota.

Depending on your outlook, you may see Yaris as one of a few things, like a FREE XBLA game (which it is), or possibly something to boost that all-important gamer-score of yours! Or maybe, its just a silly marketing ploy to get people to buy a car. Regardless I played it for what it was, an XBLA game.

In Yaris (pronounced Yoris) you play as a Toyota brand car and drive through a drawn out course, shooting whatever attacks you, or even things that simply make your path harder. Either way, they pretty much all drop coins for you to upgrade your car, or if the stock one doesn’t suit you, a different car in itself! Now with your well earned coins you can purchase one of the 2 other available vehicles, a shiny new paint job, new rims, or extra armor or weapon slots. Now, sounds good, the only problem is that between the 3 cars and wheels to get, there didn’t seem to be ANY difference. As much as I love customization no stat differences really bugged me, especially when I had saved all my money to get the “best” car.

Now onto the parts that really matter. For graphics, there’s much to be desired. Imagine a plain white background, goofy 3D cartoon-like characters that remind me of a time of Gex and the 3DO.  Its not that they are necessarily bad it just feels thrown together, and definitely childish, (Motor Toon Racing anyone?) odd considering usually adults buy cars. For gameplay, its really not too bad, you move your Yaris left to right as the track comes at you, during which you move your cursor and shoot whatever gives you trouble! Now here’s my problem with the game, unless you’re either a master of video-games, or someone who spends time playing level 1 over and over again for coins; don’t plan on beating the later levels your first try. With the rather increasing difficulty, and cartoon graphics, you’re bound to get a tad bit frustrated when you lose. Oh, add in the repetitive music with the announcer often saying “Yaris,” and you’ll be about ready to kill something. Or at least, do what I did and hop onto XBL and beat some kid to make yourself feel better.

Again, its not that this game is horrible, but its free for a reason, I would never pay even 400 MS points for it, but as a free game, its not too bad. Compared to Aegis Wing, Hexic HD, Totem Ball, and Texas Hold Em’ (for some of us) this game is close in quality, but just doesn’t feel as good. Now, confusion with me was that this game was made by Toyota, for the sole purpose of advertising the Yaris. Not once playing this did I think to myself “Gee I sure want to go buy a Toyota!” Regardless, you might as well download this game and play it a few times.

Warning: Yaris can not actually shoot a laser beam at aliens.

+FREE

+Not Overran with Ads

-Hit or Miss Graphics

-Brutal Difficulty in Later levels

-Almost Fun

Score: 4.5/10