Gameloft has seen huge success with its arcade style racing game, the Asphalt series. This game has always been popularly known for its nitro infused fast game play and crazy stunts. Asphalt 7: Heat offered great improvement in the widely popular series and now we have Asphalt 8: Airborne.
Asphalt 8: Airborne takes the popular arcade style racing and adds new twists and surprises that continue to excite the player even as the racing category in the App Store already offers some of the best games. However, with Asphalt 8, Gameloft seems to have a clear goal to be a top contender for the best racing title of 2013.
The gameplay largely remains the same where you have career mode, multiplayer mode, social challenges, quick solo or local Wi-Fi mode. In the career mode you advance by winning events and gaining enough stars to unlock the next event. As you win events you also win in-game currency to upgrade your existing car or purchase new upgrades to enhance the performance of your car.
Gameloft has made the selection of cars for a particular event easy by categorising cars in D, C, B, A, S categories and assigning each car a “rank”. Sometimes it’s difficult to asses if the performance or speed of one car would make a significant difference in the race. This is where the new ranking system comes into play. In each race you will be shown recommended rank which can act as a guiding factor to decide which should be the next car you should purchase.
If the car you own has a lower rank then you might just have to perform a “near perfect” race in order to stand a chance to win the career event. That brings us to the new difficulty level in Asphalt 8. Gameloft has tweaked the way the AI works in this new version. If the AI car is faster and higher rank it won’t be easy to defeat it. The top speeds of the high-end cars won’t let you overtake them even you continue to use nitro boosts. And if you’re unlucky and your car gets wrecked then you probably stand no chance to cover the loss of time. In the previous versions even if your car got wrecked a few times it was usually easy to cover up the distance. However, be prepared to be challenged to the extreme in Asphalt 8 for iPhone and iPad.
The difficulty level is also tied to in-app purchases where you can purchase extra credits and car packs to make your virtual racing career easier. Credit packs allow you to be free to spend on any car you wish to purchase and car packs include a good mix of high end cars. Credits start as low as $1.99 and go up-to a max of $99.99. While it may be tempting to purchase more credits or cars it is not necessary to advance in the game.
While playing career mode you may not earn that many credits to unlock expensive cars however, this is where multiplayer modes comes to your rescue. The multiplayer mode in Asphalt 8 puts you against 7 other players selected on the base of your level and car selected. This is by far the most enjoyable mode of the game as you race against real players across the world as opposed to AI. If you manage to stand anywhere between 1st or 3rd you will be able to earn decent amount of credits which will help you to unlock cars and purchase upgrades faster.
So, overall I found the gameplay difficulty was well balanced. On one hand the career mode challenges you to extreme limits whereas the multiplayer mode balances the gameplay and gives you a chance to show your racing skills against real players. While for most players career and multiplayer mode will occupy the most time, it doesn’t stop there. In addition to these mode there is solo race, Wi-Fi and even a friend feed where you can race against your friends ghost and brag about defeating their best time. Also, another interesting feature added this year is the ability to race against your own ghost timing in any career event you’ve attempted before.
There are six types of racing events in Asphalt 8. These include classic, elimination, versus, knockdown, new infected mode and gate drift. Each racing event is unique and adds new twists to the gameplay. So, it always keeps the race interesting even as you advance in the career mode.
Spoiler alert:: If you don’t want to know about the all-new infected mode then skip this paragraph. In the infected mode at regular intervals the racer in last place gets “infected”. The “infected” racer has limited time before the car explodes and then spawns back into the game. In order to increase the time before your car explodes you can hit other cars and in turn “infecting” them. What makes this even more interesting is that each infected car gets unlimited nitro boost. In the end the racer finishing the race first wins the game. This mode adds new twist to the gameplay and is a welcome addition. It was both enjoyable and challenging at the same time.
Gameloft has worked really hard on the 3D game environment and it shows. The game features some of the most scenic locations worldwide. You will be able to cruise from Nevada to Iceland to Tokyo to French Guiana to London to Barcelona to Alps to Venice to Monaco. This year the 3D locations have been enhanced with natural disasters and even events like a space shuttle taking off in French Guiana. Every time you race through these locations it never gets boring to notice these events happening even as you are busy tapping the nitro boost to race ahead.
The graphics are highly detailed and the physics engine performs very well. It includes an excellent selection of cars like Bugatti, Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, Chevrolet Corvette, Mini Cooper, Aston Martin and many more. The selection of cars is great and has something for everyone. These cars have highly detailed graphics. When you view the cars in the garage you’ll be able to view even the shockers, exhaust pipes and the body of car reflecting the environment around it. When you are racing you can view the shockers in play as your car slightly bounces when you make a hard landing on the ground.
This brings us to the “Airborne” moniker. In Asphalt 8 you’ll be literally “flying” for short bursts of “air time”. The roads also include ramps to assist you in leaping into the air. Some ramps have slight turn that enable you perform rolls. Here’s a tip, don’t be in a hurry to go onto to the ramp. If your speed isn’t fast enough you’re more likely to get wrecked.
I was particularly happy about the sounds in the game. The sound effects interact with the game as you crash into public property or even as the competing cars come in close proximity you can hear the engine of other cars firing up. This year you even get to choose between three music genres while playing the game.
Camera angles certainly play a crucial role in making a racing game exciting and giving it the edge of the seat excitement. The settings menu in Asphalt 8 offers immersive, close and fixed angles. As your car races into the air the camera angle pans to show a dramatic cinematic view. However, the camera view also highlights a disappointment in Asphalt 8. There is no in-car view so you don’t get to sit in the drivers seat to experience the adrenaline rush of a real racing game. There are no side view or back view mirror assists so you just have to rely on the mini map to avoid overtakes. The game lacks in this area and this is something we’d like Gameloft to improve in Asphalt 9.
The default tilt to steer control works well however, you may notice as you buy upgrades, handling and acceleration the performance will greatly enhance. But, for those who prefer complete control there are other control options included like manual acceleration, screen controls and more.
Asphalt 8: Airborne for iPhone and iPad retains the best arcade style racing game title on the App Store. New playing modes, realistic 3D graphics, amazing sound effects and months of playing value make this game a must have for all those who love racing games and even for those who haven’t tried one yet.
[rating: 4.5/5]What we like:
What to know:
Firemonkeys have announced that Real Racing 3 for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch will be available for download on February 28th. The adrenaline rushing racing simulation has been widely popular on the App Store. The original Real Racing was developed by Firemint and then developers released the second version. The developers were then acquired by EA.
The third installment of the racing simulation will be free-to-play. Real Racing 3 features “46 licensed vehicles covering 3 classes, a 22 car grid, real world tracks, 8 varied event types and 900+ events.” The freemium model will make the newest racing title from EA free to download and then unlock content either by advancing in the game or by buying in-game content.
Real Racing 3 was designed from the ground up to be a free to play experience. We are so excited about this game and wanted it to be accessible to everyone so we didn’t want there to be any barriers to entry.
The title features “Time Shifted” multiplayer mode, where you can compete with another players race even if they’re not online at the same time. What’s interesting about this feature is that your race could impact the other users’ time as you race to win.
The developers promise to “add more free and exciting content with every update.” Real Racing 3 is certainly one of the highly anticipated racing games on iOS for 2013 and it will be interesting to see how the freemium model works out for EA.
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EA Mobile has just released the first trailer for “Need For Speed Most Wanted” for iPhone and iPad. The game is a continuation of EA’s popular Need for Speed racing franchise. With Need for Speed Most Wanted EA aims to revive the ageing racing game.
Need For Speed Most Wanted features stunning dynamic physics-based collisions, exciting cop takedowns, and realistic visual damage. Be the most wanted in incredible real-world cars like the Dodge Challenger SRT8 392, the Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale, the Porsche 911 Carrera S, and many more!
The latest iteration has been developed by Firemonkeys, the same people who were behind Real Racing, Real Racing 2 and the upcoming Real Racing 3. With NFS Most Wanted you will experience an action packed arcade-style racing game. The game will be made available for iPhone and iPad later this month.
NFS Most Wanted will add new features like “over-the-top collision mechanics” which will result in detailed view of damages that can be caused by smashing into opponents car, walls or even cops.
… players can now accrue more detailed damage to their cars than ever before: every smash into walls, competitor cars, or pursuant cops creates an adrenaline-pumping frenzy of shattered windows, cracked headlights and flying parts.
The game will also bring real-time reflections that give a view of the game world, this feature was first showcased at Apple’s event when Real Racing 3 was previewed. The game is also expected to pack social and online features.
We are expecting more details and screenshots to be made available soon. Even though details are scarce the features planned for this release could certainly bring some freshness to the arcade-style racing genre.
Following months of speculation and rumors, Apple’s SVP of Worldwide Marketing, Phil Schiller took the stage on Wednesday to introduce the long awaited iPhone 5. The media event, which was scheduled a week ago pointed to such a release and now the device has finally been revealed.
The iPhone 5, as expected has a larger 4 inch screen, and runs all pre-installed apps with a larger vertical area, and runs non-optimized third party apps letterboxed. The home screen has been stretched out a bit to hold 5 rows of apps, as opposed to 4 and the display is still the Retina Display with a 1136 x 640 resolution. The iPhone 5 now has an aspect ratio close to 16:9 now, making it great for watching widescreen movies.
The iPhone 5 now also carries faster LTE networking which will be supported by Sprint, AT&T and Verizon in the United States, Rogers, Telus, Bell, Fido, Virgin in Canada and numerous other carriers overseas. The iPhone also includes WiFi 802.11a/b/g/n, and is dual-channel, up to 150Mbps, making it much faster than the iPhone 4S. All of the networking and the larger Retina Display is powered by an all new A6 chip produced by Apple.
The A6 chip is 22% smaller than its predecessor, the A5 and has a 2X faster CPU and 2x graphics compared to the A5. During the keynote, Apple invited up EA games to demo Real Racing 3, showing off new improvements in graphics performance. Other major changes include the larger, all metal and glass design leaked prior to the event, along with a relocated FaceTime camera above the earpiece. Other features include:
The larger battery in the iPhone 5 shell now allows 8 hours of 3G or LTE talk time or 10 hours on WiFi while browsing
The iPhone 5 will carry the same specs as the iPhone 4S camera but will do so in a much thinner package. It has the same 8-megapixels and a 5-element lens as the 4S but will have a Sapphire crystal lens cover for more clarity and durability. The new A6 will provide for less noise during image captures along with a “smart filter” for better color matching. Apple, as expected prior to the event will also be including Panorama imaging, capturing images at 28 megapixels in one clean sweep.
The company also updated the front facing FaceTime camera to 720P HD and backside illuminated. FaceTime is now also possible over Cellular announced during WWDC.
The iPhone now has 3 microphones, one on the front, one in front for noise cancellation, and one on the back.
The dock connector, called Lightning, will be an all digital 8 pin design and is 80% thinner than the previous design. The Lightning charger can now be plugged in any way and does not have a designated side. There is also a converter for the new dock connector that has the ability to work with the current 30 pin connectors.
Apple’s iPhone 5, with all of its new improvements alongside iOS 6 will make this Apple’s most powerful iPhone to date. iOS 6 will be released to the public on September 19th and will ship on the new iPhone 5, and will run on the iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, 3GS, new iPad, iPad 2 and iPod touch.
The iPhone 5 will be available on contract for $199 for 16GB. $299 for 32GB, $399 for 64GB respectively. The iPhone 5 will be available for Pre-Order starting Friday the 14th and will be shipping on September 21st in the US, Canada, UK, Germany, France, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore. It will be arriving to 20 more countries later this month.
{Image Credit: Engadget}
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On rare occasions I will tell you to go and grab a game immediately and then come back and read this review…….this is one of those occasions and to be honest what do you have to lose when all you’ll be spending is 99 cents on a universal app that will work on both your iPhone and iPad should you be lucky enough to have both.
You may be thinking, especially if you already have Asphalt 6, why should I even spend more money on the next version of Gamelofts arcade racer and the simple answer is this, it’s Bigger, Better, Faster and there’s more of it, so much in fact this review may only scratch the surface of all the features that are packed into this racing game.
If you have played any of Gamelofts games before then you will know what to expect when it comes to sound and graphics, and in Asphalt7 Heat they continue to lead the way a rainbow of electric lights that illuminate 15 different tracks from all around the world and with a pumping soundtrack the game is a dream to both see and hear.
There are four control options to choose from so you are bound to find one that suits your driving preferences, from using the accelerometer, on screen steering wheel or the screen itself the controls work very well, and you can also choose from auto or manual acceleration depending on your preference.
The quality of the controls are highlighted due to the fact that you can jump straight into Quick Play mode and start winning races immediately. Quick Race is just the beginning though, as the Career, Online and Multiplayer modes are where the real value comes in.
The Career Mode is spread over 13 cups each with 4 different races and these include normal races, elimination, knockdown, paint job and king of the hill which all offer slightly different variations on driving as fast as you can around the streets of the world.
As you work your way through the career mode you’ll have the ability to unlock and upgrade a great range of licensed cars, from a Mini Cooper S to the Shelby GT 500, from a BMW Z4 to the Lamborghini Countach and everything in between. There are 60 cars in total so there should be something for everyone.
The cars handle as well as you would expect for an arcade racer, the game relies heavily on drifting but this is relatively easy to control, early on at least, only when you start to unlock the bigger, faster cars does it get a little trickier, by the time you unlock them though you’ll be well practised, right?
Of course you don’t have to work through the game and earn your racing stripes to unlock all the flash cars, instead you can purchase your in game dollars by spending your hard earned dollars via in-app purchase but it’s well balanced, meaning that if you are willing to put the time in you can achieve your rewards without the need of spending above and beyond the original $1 outlay.
The online options are really where the game comes to life and it does this in two ways. First up is the online multi-player where you can race against your friends, and enemies, in any combination of race types and locations. The online mode works well, the games come thick and fast and there is relatively little slow down, it adds a whole new dimension to the gameplay that will keep you playing Asphalt 7 for a long time to come, or at least until Asphalt 8 comes out!
If you don’t want to want to race against people online in real time you can choose the weekly event that makes up the Asphalt Academy and see how far up the world rankings you can get.
With the game being a universal app it’s good to see that your progress can be transferred between devices. Asphalt Tracker allows you to transfer your progress between devices using either Facebook, or Gameloft’s own servers and while this isn’t quite as seamless as iCloud syncing would be it works and prevents you having to play the game twice across all of your devices.
Asphalt Tracker also enables you to send offline challenges to your friends via Gameloft which just adds more depth to an already deep game and that’s before mentioning the goals are Gameloft’s equivalent of GameCenter Achievements.
After all this eulogizing you’d think that perhaps I didn’t have anything bad to say about the game, that’s not the case. Asphalt 7’s all about social gaming and this takes the form of Facebook integration, the problem with this is though that between races and for every earned goal you are prompted to confirm whether or not you want to publicize the achievement and if you don’t want to bombard your Facebook newsfeed with your progress it can get a little frustrating.
If you’ve got this far and have not been simultaneously downloading Asphalt 7 on your iOS device you have permission to do so now!
[rating: 5/5]What we like
What to know
As another holiday is here, this time in the form of Easter, many of the major App Store developers are slashing prices on their apps for both the iPhone and the iPad.
It’s great to see that iOS owners get to save money multiple times each year and not just during the traditional sales time of Black Friday and after Christmas. Now is a great time to fire up the App Store on either your computer or mobile device and grab yourself some of the games that you’ve always felt were just a little too expenses.
Many, if not all, of EA’s games have seen price reductions for both the iPhone, and the iPad some of the all time classics such as Flight Control and Real Racing 2, so if you are one of the small percentage of iPhone or iPad users that haven’t brought either of them yet what are you waiting for.
Other titles that can be snapped up for a bargain include Smash Cops, NFL Flick Quaterback, Lost Winds, Where’s My Water, Lego Harry Potter and just in time for the start of the baseball season 9 Innings: Pro Baseball.
If you looking for some bargains and ways to pass the time if you’re one of the lucky ones with a long weekend then head on over to the App Store and let us know in the comments below what you picked up.
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If you have an Apple TV and an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad running iOS 5 then you’ve been able to mirror your device on to your HD TV via Apple TV for some time now. Now, you can also mirror your iOS device to your Mac thanks to Reflection, a $15 app that can be purchased from the developers web site.
Once you’ve installed Reflection app onto your Mac and have it running you are ready to go with no additional app required on your iOS device you can start mirroring your device to your Mac immediately.
The process is the same as mirroring your device elsewhere, simple double-tap the home button, swipe twice to the right to reveal the volume control and the AirPlay button. After pressing the Air-Play button you’ll see your MacBook listed as one of the devices to mirror too and with that selected and the mirroring option enabled your device will appear on your MacBooks screen.
Only one device can be mirrored at a time and you can’t actually control the device via your Mac, but for grabbing screen shots or recording your iOS device it’s ideal. The results are very responsive too with little or no lag between anything you do on the device being reflected on the screen.
Reflection will automatically adjust the orientation of the screen as you rotate the physical device or you can force either landscape or portrait mode. You can also go full-screen and hide all other windows as well as controlling where the iOS device’s frame is shown or not.
The app works flawlessly and while it would be great if you were able to manually re-size the image mirrored image to suit your needs and even have built in screen capture capabilities it’s still a great bit of software.
If you are a developer, reviewer, blogger or just like showing of the cool stuff you can do with all your Apple hardware then Reflection is for you. The app works painlessly and very easily, and it’s also great for taking advantage of those games that utilize AirPlay for multi-player gaming such as Real Racing 2 and Gangster Rio without the need for an Apple TV.
[rating: 4/5]What we like:
What to know:
[rating: 4.5/5]
Mini Motor Racing Review: I’ve always been a fan of racing games, especially on iPhone and iPad, the realism of Real Racing 2, the frantic action of Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing and the top down rocket-fest that is Death Rally, I’ve liked them all but also always looking forward to seeing the latest thing. In this case it’s Mini Motor Racing from The Binary Mill.
Mini Motor Racing (MMR) is another top down racer where it’s all about speed, speed and more speed and small but detailed tracks in a variety of surfaces and weather conditions.
Obviously I wanted to dive straight in and after a visually impressive intro sequence I jumped into a quick race. There are a couple of control mechanisms and the first I was introduced to was a virtual steering wheel that I didn’t get on with and sadly came last in my first race. After that though I changed to the second control option and the wins started coming.
Moving into the Career Mode I choose my first car, gave it a paint job and headed out onto the track again. This time each race rewards you with a cash prize and extra money can be picked up along the way along with additional nitro’s that can help give you the edge over your 5 virtual opponents.
The tracks look great, they are full of detail and the light reflects off of the track and cars beautifully, not that you will have to much time to look at it as your speed around the track fighting for first place. The range of weather and day/night affects add extra quality to the overall look of the game too.
Each cup consists of 4 tracks, with the game containing 20 different tracks in total, and completing the cup will move you onto the next one. While I was able to progress though many of the cups without having to spend my hard earned winnings on upgrades I soon found that I was unable to keep up and had to splash the cash on both better cars and upgrades.
Each car handles differently and so a couple of races may be required to pick up the feel of the new car. Add the car upgrades and the paint jumps and you get a car the looks and handles just as you like.
As you progress through your career you’ll unlock tracks and cars inspired by Fruit Ninja and the holiday season, the Fruit Ninja tracks especially are awesome and it’s great to see game cross-overs.
While the huge career mode will keep you going for quite a while as will the local wifi and bluetooth multi-player modes which will enable you to race your dream machines against your friends for Mini Motor Racing bragging rights.
Those bragging rights can also be fought over via the Game Center integration which provides leaderboards for all 22 tracks and 16 achievements, all of which means you should find yourself playing Mini Motor Racing for quite a while.
One news new feature for those of you playing MMR on iOS 5 is the ability to synchronise your data to the iCloud so that you can play between multiple devices and not lose any progress. Unfortunately however as this is not a universal application you won’t be able to sync your data between your iPhone and iPad and with no obvious differences between the two versions that is a little frustrating.
At $1.99 Mini Motor Racing will provide a fun, challenging and entertaining addition to your iPhone collection of games and comes highly recommended.
What we like:
What to know:
ATV Madness for iPhone is a fun racing game where you ride your ATV (All Terrain Vehicles) through a variety of tracks and terrains and compete for more difficult tracks and better equipment.
This game uses the tilt-to-steer interface that is popular among other racing games such as Cro-Mag Rally and Real Racing. It’s easy enough to pick up and put down, but it’s also possible to while away the hours trying to best your competition and yourself. It’s not a Game Center enabled game and doesn’t have an online or multiplayer mode, but it’s a solid game that can be played without an active Internet connection.
ATV Madness is developed by XLab Technologies, which has a handful of racing-style games. It’s $2.99 on the U.S. app store and doesn’t have any in-app purchases. It’s a fair price for what the game offers.
You start with a basic ATV and a basic track and earn your way to bigger and better, and more difficult, things. I found the first track dark and really couldn’t play in certain lighting conditions. Other tracks got better and were easier to tell track from vehicle, and track from terrain.
Eventually you can upgrade your ATV with equipment that affects the power, brakes, or grip by using the credits you earn from racing.
The steering and acceleration are responsive enough without being squirrely. There’s also a freestyle trick function that makes for some interesting and helpful skills to learn along the way.
The graphics were smooth and detailed, which made choosing your line through the track easy to identify. The music was appropriately country-ish, but didn’t overpower the sound of the ATV, which is an important source of feedback. It also had tactile feedback when you would bump into fences, barriers, or other ATVs.
This is an enjoyable, solid racing-style game. While the options may be on the simple side, that may actually be one of the games strengths.
Pros
Cons
iOS 5 will support AirPlay mirroring which means that you will be able to mirror your iPad 2’s display using AppleTV over WiFi without any cords. This is a great feature for anyone who wants to enjoy their favorite games on a large TV screen.
Firemint, the developers behind Flight Control and Real Racing have always been quick to adopt Apple’s latest offerings for game developers. Whether its Game Center with voice chat or AirPlay, Firemint has moved quickly to adopt the latest technology and offer it as a free update.
Engadget recently posted a hands on with Real Racing 2 HD which supports Apple’s AirPlay mirroring in iOS 5. The developers have gone a little further and not just optimized the game for your HDTV but have integrated a dual screen experience.
AirPlay offered a seamless gaming experience without a single hiccup — surprising, considering iOS 5 just hit beta last week.
When you turn on AirPlay mirroring and launch Real Racing 2 HD the game will turn your iPad 2 into a controller and the entire game can be enjoyed in 1080p on your HDTV. We really like the implementation and believe that games that depend on the accelerometer can take true advantage of the new feature as you can have your eyes fixed on the TV rather than looking at your iPad which kind of defeats the purpose.
We will certainly see more developers coming forward with unique implementation of AirPlay mirroring with their games. Are you excited about mirroring your iPad’s display on your HDTV? Have your say in the comments below.
]]> https://touchreviews.net/real-racing-2-hd-ipad-2-dual-screen-airplay-mirroring-demo/feed/ 2Firemint, Australia based iOS developers, have produced some of the most successful titles on the App Store. They defined the line drawing genre on the App Store with Flight Control and then produced the best racing game on the App Store, called Real Racing. To capitalise on the widely praised racing game Firemint released Real Racing 2 which proved to be an instant hit and has been featured on most “must have games list.”
EA is gearing up to make sure they maintain the lead in digital interactive entertainment platforms like the smartphones and tablets.
No financial details were disclosed. Barry Cottle, Executive Vice President and General Manger of EA Interactive said:
The Firemint team is remarkable for its critical and commercial success,
Having them as part of EAi will accelerate our position as worldwide leader in game development for mobile devices and online gaming platforms.
This is great news for Firemint and we wish them the very best.
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[rating: 4.5/5]
“Real Racing 2 HD” is the logical evolution of what is widely regarded as the best racing game for iOS. The guys at Firemint have been beavering away since “Real Racing” first hit our mobile screens, to make the next iteration of their definitive iPad racing game take advantage of everything the iPad 2 offers, right out of the gate! How have they done?
If Firemint had just evolved Real Racing so that it took advantage of advances in the hardware of the iPad 2 (most notably more processing and graphics power) then it would have probably been a worthy successor to their original landmark iOS racer. But they didn’t stop there. Firemint also chucked in a bunch of new features that take advantage of improvements in iOS, as well as maturing their racing game so that it offers both new comers and “Real Racing” veterans some tasty new petrol head perks. Finally, the art assets and models, as well as the tracks, and even the number of cars on those tracks have all been enhanced.
Environments, from right up in the the sky to low down on the various race track surfaces, have had a lot more detail lavished on them this time around, as well as some serious rendering technology applied to the visuals we see in this full on racing simulation; full-screen anti-aliasing, building window reflections, high-detail objects and surfaces and fully-modeled vehicle interiors, to name but a few flavours of eye-candy you’ll be treated to.
The level of detail put into cars is really a very noticeable notch up from other racing games on iOS – even Firemint’s own high quality earlier efforts. And the selection of upgrades for vehicles, as well as the range of stock cars have all been updated to make this feel a little bit like a mobile Grand Tourismo. All of this factors together to make “Real Racing 2 HD” give off the unmistakable shine of a proper racing game, and not simply a game of digital dodgems – which many other hand held racing games become either by design, gameplay mechanics, or a lack thereof.
Ultimately chucking all of this into a package which is now expected to run on more than one hardware platform can lead to a few niggles. One is that the version of Real Racing 2 that runs on iPads is not the same as that which runs on iPhones. Another is that on the original iPad, Real Racing 2 HD can disappoint on occasion with graphics which aren’t as good as those on its younger sibling (the iPad 2), and the odd stutter in frame rates when things get too frenetic on track – particularly on the original iPad.
Of course another advantage that the iPad 2 (and consequently “Real Racing 2 HD”) has over the previous version is full gyroscope support. Steering control in this game is much more precise than in the previous version. So much so that it takes a little getting used to. But once you do you will not want to go back.
In our ever more connected world, people increasingly want to communicate and compete with each other online in all digital arenas. And Real Racing 2 has embraced this with not only the ability to upload and download games between each version of Real Racing, but also with the ground breaking (for mobile) feature of 16 player online multiplayer races! I’ve got to try this out a few times over the last couple of days, and whilst it was not perfect, it was certainly as good as any PSN or XBox live racing experience I have had online to date in Asia – with our sometimes up and down internet speeds. If you don’t want to put up with some of the inevitable issues of online racers and our overloaded global internet, then there is always a local WiFi race option – which is significantly more stable. A nice touch.
Another area where a lot of mobile games fall down is the amount of depth that the game offers overall to solo players. Many times we are left feeling that a mobile game is really more like a snack than a triple AAA experience. “Real Racing 2 HD” does a lot to address that, and offers a fairly comprehensive career mode, as well as a healthy diversity of tracks. There are 15 tracks in total, which include ovals as well as more European style twisty race tracks. The length of these tracks can very from three Kilometres up to almost six. And coupled with career and car development options / awards you can fight your way through around 120 races, and a bunch of upgrades and game modes to really get you your racing fix.
As Firemint themselves describe on their own product page “Real Racing 2 HD” provides “30 licensed cars from real-world manufacturers. 15 stunning locations. Over 10 hours of Cup, Head to Head, Championship, Time Trial and Elimination races await your expert skills.” Which is more than enough to keep even the most avid mobile motor racer happy for a good long time.
At around $10 “Real Racing 2 HD” is quite simply the definitive racing game for mobile devices currently available in the market-place. If you are still not sure you can always check out Firemint’s free iOS racing game “Real Racing GTI“, or the original “Real Racing” first.
I can heartily recommend “Real Racing 2 HD”. If it wasn’t for the odd graphics and stuttering issues on the original iPad, and the very few stutters on the iPad 2 – which Firemint assure us they are working to address – this racing game would get a solid 5 star rating. Just like its predecessor, “Real Racing 2 HD” is certainly worth the price tag, and the fairly hefty download size of just under 400MB!
Pros
Cons
$9.99
Category: Games
Updated: Mar 23, 2011
Current Version: 1.02
1.02 (iOS 4.0 Tested)
Size: 386 MB
Language: English
Seller: Firemint Pty Ltd
© 2010 Firemint. All Rights Reserved
Rated 4+
Requirements: Compatible with iPad. Requires iOS 3.2 or later
Today the cinematic trailer was posted on YouTube which doesn’t really tell us anything much about the gameplay however it does reveal new details about the licensed cars which will be featured.
The game will feature : 2010 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500, 2010 #33 Jaguar RSR XKR GT, 2010 Nissan GT-R (R35). Previously announced cars include : 2006 BMW Z4 M Coupe Race Car, 2010 Chevrolet Corvette C6.R
We hope that Firemint, developers of the popular line drawing game Flight Control, are able to make some more information about the upcoming game available soon.
Real Racing
It is not possible in the ‘real’ world to have a race down your local highway with your adoring fans cheering you on at the side but Real Racing developed by Firemint provides the most realistic gaming experience. There are 5 different modes. Challenge friends via local multiplayer or do a Time Trial where you can try to beat your friends and have the best race time. There is a career mode where you work your way through the game and end up being as the Real Racing champion. You can join an online league or if you don’t have much time just play the quick race.
The game offers a great choice of surroundings to drive through and a good variety of surfaces to drive on. Added to that there are great sound effects with engines revving and lots of cheering from the crowds. There is also a good selection of cars to drive and even more when you have unlocked them through out the game.
The controls can be adjusted to how you prefer to drive the car. You can touch and steer or tilt your device. If you want help with the brakes and accelerating that also can be adjusted. Great for beginners and racing pros.
The game offers lots of features and ways to play. If you want to show your skills you can even post a video of your race to YouTube. There is also Game Center integration for you to race up the leader board in the time trial mode. The graphics are very good and realistic and with the sounds and audience participation it makes you feel like it is the real thing, I guess that is why they call it Real Racing! ($4.99, View in iTunes)
Need For Speed Shift
The game gives you an unparalleled gaming experience with superior physics-based accelerated 3D graphics with OpenGL ES 2.0 integrations, which in my opinion has set a new standard in iPhone gaming and you will no longer miss the console version when you are on the move.
In Need For Speed Shift for iPhone the focus is on precision driving. Your main goal is to build your driver profile, earn enough stars to unlock events, earn cash to unlock 20 stunning cars and customize them to your taste. The game offers 3 international locations to race in (Chicago, London & Tokyo) which are packed with 18 unique tracks and various race modes. ($6.99, View in iTunes)
Fast & Furious The Game
Developed by I-play this racing game is just like the blockbuster hit with lots of noisy street car racing. There are seven different modes to play Road, Drift, Drag, GPS, Tunnel, Pursuit and Evade race. You also have the choice of 36 cars to drive, all varied in performance and giving you a different driving experience. The races are situated in different places from Mexico to Los Angeles to the Dominican Republic.
You can play with your friends iPhone-to-iPhone via wifi or choose a ghost race from another player to try and beat. This is where you download a race that as been completed by someone else and you then race it and try beat their time.
The game also offers online features to edit your profile and create custom leader boards. You can also post your best times to twitter. ($0.99, View in iTunes)
Stick Stunt Biker
The maker of Rope ’n’ Fly Robert Szeleney brings you this 2D Stunt Biker racing game and did I mention it is a stick rider? You need to guide your stick stunt driver along the track as fast as you can. Watching out for obstacles and making huge jumps. Watch out though, fall off you bike and you fall to pieces, literally!
The controls are a little different at first, it took several attempts to master it. After you get used to them though they do enable you control the bike in quite an easy manner and it becomes very natural. You use the left corner for the brake and the right for accelerating. Then you use tilt on your device to lean forward or backwards.
There is also a ghost feature where you can race with your previous time and try improve on it. Your world ranking is also displayed after each race so you can see how well you are doing. The races vary from easy to difficult which is great if you are starting out.
A good racing game that can be picked up at any time for a quick play. ($0.99, View in iTunes)
Hardcore Dirt Bike
Brought to you by Xlabtech Hardcore Dirt Bike is a great motocross racing game. From the start you will be amazed by the 3D graphics and this is straight away from when you are using the impressive main menu. Once you have selected your skill level, bike and track you are ready to race.
There are 5 tracks to choose from and all offer different backgrounds and scenery and all very impressive and realistic. You also have 12 different bikes to pick from and all with different power, grip and brake features. The sound effects are also what you would expect if you were at an actual race.
The tracks and bikes have to be unlocked as you go, so at first you have limited options. It will have you coming back and playing just to unlock each bike and offers great replay value. ($2.99, View in iTunes)
So there you have the 5 best racing games we are still playing. Which racing games are you playing at the moment? Let us know in the comments below.
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Firemint today sent us a teaser image of their upcoming game “Real Racing 2″ for iPhone. No details were provided all we got was the image above. The original Real Racing from Firemint is one of the best realistic racing games on the App Store. The game has already won many awards and was also the winner of the Apple Design Award 2010 for setting a new standard for the amazing quality and console-like performance on the iPhone.
Real Racing was one of the first racing games to feature the in-car cockpit view and the developers have been continually updating the game by adding new features. With more than 76 events in the full career mode, 5 modes of play and multiplayer capabilities the game offers endless hours of adrenaline pumping racing action.
If you seriously love racing games then you probably own Real Racing for iPhone (View in iTunes) already. It will be interesting to see what Firemint has in store for us with Real Racing 2.
Check back soon for more details.
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