There’s a warranted criticism of the iPad which points out that the device is “a big iPhone that doesn’t make calls.” An app like Real Racing HD seems to help make the argument. Other than HD graphics and a bigger screen, this racing game works pretty much the same as its SD iPhone counterpart.

But there’s one problem: it’s friggin’ amazing. It’s hard to capture in a video, but once you have this huge display in your hands and you’re driving down the track, the difference between the iPad and the iPhone becomes crystal clear. And it becomes obvious, to us anyway, that the iPad is going to open up a whole new world of mobile gaming.

The game’s theme song (yes, it has one), says it all with its drugged-out sounding Eddie Vedder voice mumbling “Drivin’ through the country.  I’m drivin’ through the country.”

Yes, we are driving through the country.  Unlike most racing games, the goal of Country Driver isn’t to jump hurdles or speed off in our sports car.  Instead, we’re pushing the limits of an old pickup truck and trying to take out as many sheep (and there are a lot of them) as we can while still getting to checkpoints on time, keeping damage down, and refueling our old beater.

It sounds complicated; it’ not. Instead, the game is a great, score-based stress reliever.

[Video Review by Johnny5]

There are a few things I’d recommend to make this a little more fun.  First, change up the backgrounds a little.  Maybe make it a level based game with a story and definitive goal?  Also, why not throw in some cows or birds for good measure…maybe the occasional rogue squirrel?  Each animal can have a different point value.

Without these add-ons, though, the game is super fun and well worth the $0.99 asking price.  Check it out.

You can buy Country Driver HERE.

Enter 2XL ATV Offroad, it’s easily the BEST dirt racing game on the iPhone. If you thought the graphics and framerate was good in Supercross, you’ll be blown away with 2XL ATV Offroad. This game truly feels like a console experience and it’s got the visuals to back it up. Unlike Supercross, this feels like a full game. You’ve got outdoor racing with National tracks, indoor racing with Supercross tracks and my absolute favorite, Freestyle. Freestyle allows you to do stunt after stunt in a WIDE open environment, it’s a pretty amazing experience playing this on a portable.

[Video Review by Mr. Pence]

The multiplayer option is great, you can can play with up to 5 different racers via Wi-Fi and the Career mode is excellent. Did I mention the framerate and graphics? Believe me, the first time you change your camera perspective during a race, you’ll taste the dirt in your mouth. It’s that good. The stunts you can pull off in the Freestyle mode are both amazing and a blast to perform.

So, if you’re looking for the ULTIMATE dirt racer, look no further, 2XL ATV Offroad is the ONLY choice.

You can buy 2XL ATV Offroad HERE.

Let me reiterate: I really enjoy this game, and for the price of $0.99 it is a steal.  So even though I’m not a big fan of these two new modes, the game is definitely worth recommending.  To read the original review, click HERE.

Okay, enough disclaimers.  What’s new?

In addition to some nice little housekeeping changes (which you probably won’t notice), the app now has two extra game modes: “Cop R” and “Killdoz R.”  You can probably figure out what these are, but let’s look at them one at a time.

“Cop R” is very similar to the original game. You drive a squad car very fast around other cars.  You must avoid the other cars and make it as far as possible.   But instead of racking up points based on distance, you get points based on how many speeders you pull over.

Unfortunately, pulling a speeder over consists of that old familiar “stay in front of the blinking line” gameplay you use in the original game to avoid the cops.  This mode throws in an arrow that tells you which lane you must be in to catch the speeder, but that’s about it.  Also, it sometimes takes FOREVER before you pick up your first speeder, so for the first chunk of the game you are avoiding obstacles without racking up any points.  Very frustrating.

The “Bulldoz R” mode has a similar problem.  In this one, you are on a strict timer and you drive a pimped out bulldozer type car (that can still speed faster than all the other cars).  Your goal is literally to rack up as much damage as possible in the time allotted.

This one was a lot of fun and a nice change of pace from the original gameplay, but bulldozing other cars is only fun for a little while.  You must avoid cops, but since you don’t have to worry about running into things, it takes some of the drama out of it.  This mode would be a good way to take out some pent-up hostility, though.

In the end, though, I’ll probably end up playing the excellently designed “standard” mode.  It’s a lot of fun, so why mess with what works?  Still, I like knowing that developers will revisit their games to add new features and try new things, even if the updates are less exciting than the original app.

You can buy Speed R HERE.

All three of these titles are great racing games to showcase the horsepower of the iPhone, but Real Racing leads the pack. The graphics in combination with the customization of controls, Wi-Fi multiplayer and career mode really makes this title stand out.

The first thing you’ll notice when you are playing this game is the raw speed.  It FEELS like you are going 120 M.P.H. The graphics and sound are probably the best I’ve seen and heard on a racing game for the iPhone. This is truly a “console-quality” game on a mobile device.

[Video Review by Mr. Pence]

If you want to quick race, you can do it.  If you want to play a quick multiplayer game, it’s there as well, but the REAL beauty of Real Racing is the career mode. The career mode is an excellent addition to the iPhone, and Real Racing reminds me more of Gran Turismo or Forza than the standard racing apps out there. The folks at Firemint have done an incredible job of making a Gran Turismo like game for the iPhone. I mean, the graphics and frame-rate are absolutely incredible, but I’m telling you again the real power of Real Racing is the career mode and the Wi-Fi multiplayer.

The synch to Firemint’s server is a cool feature as well. This feature allows you to compare track times and stats with other Real Racing users around the road.

I know $9.99 is a lot of money for an iPhone game, but believe me, Real Racing is a STEAL at this price. The first time three cars bump into you to while trying to pass and dust kicks up while the sun flares inside of your car, you’ll understand. If you love Forza and Gran Turismo, then Real Racing is a must have for you. Believe me, you won’t regret it.

You can buy Real Racing HERE.

It reminds me of an old handheld game I used to play on long car trips.  Instead of a first person view, you get an overhead view of your car zipping quickly down the road.  Your goal is to pass up cars without hitting them while also avoiding cops and construction.

It’s a very familiar game, but what sets this one apart is its clever use of the iPhone tilt control.  For once, there is a quasi-driving game whose controls are well set and intuitive.  Tilt forward or back to change lanes, and tilt left and right to speed up and slow down.

What makes the controls so effective, I think, it the fact that the developer provides a custom calibration screen each time you start up the game.  This means that whether I am sitting up, standing, or laying down, I can customize the controls to reset the “center” position, and I don’t have to hold the phone perfectly horizontal or vertical for it to work.  It’s a great touch.

Another fun feature in this one is the ability to unlock new cars with different handling, speed, and durability.  When using the tilt controls, you really do notice a strong difference in how different cars handle and it adds quite a bit of personal preference to the game.

This is another simple game…the kind I’m known for adoring.  Instead of splitting the app into levels, challenges, and boards, the goal is simply to make it as far as possible (measured in miles) before hitting so many obstacles that your car becomes un-drivable.

There is even a nice little “evade the cops” feature on this one.  After you get picked up by radar, a line appears on the screen.  If you don’t stay in front of it, you get nabbed and lose.  If there is one complaint I have about the app, it is that this feature, while cool, is insanely hard and puts a limit on how far I’m able to make it.  Hopefully with practice, I’ll be able to progress further…I guess you can’t really fault a game for difficulty, but it’s a shame that the game jacks it’s difficulty level up ten fold at the same point in each run.

Overall, though, this is a great little app…not terribly original, but well worth the modest $.99 asking price.

But you don’t want to pay for this, do you?  No, you want to get it for free.  And luckily, we have a code just for you.

All you have to do is leave a comment.  Tell us about your favorite driving game of all time…and why it kicks ass.  I’ll choose one comment at random and send a code your way.  

You have 24 hours from the time this gets published to comment.  Get to it!

If you think comments are lame, you can buy Speed R HERE.

Need For Speed Underground is gonna be a hit on the iTunes App store once the word gets out. This is not a “lite” version of a console game, EA is not just name dropping a franchise title like Konami did with Metal Gear Solid Touch. Nope, this is the real deal. This game “feels” like your playing on a console.

[Video Review by Mr. Pence]

As soon as you launch this title, it screams quality. The menus, graphics, sound and cut scenes reinforce the fact you are playing a top-tier title. The actors in the cut scenes are a little cheesy, but that’s the ONLY negative observation that I have had.

This game "feels" like a console title.

Most accelerometer racing games seem to be “touchy”, or you the player seem to overcompensate to disaster. Not with NFS, EA has done a remarkable job not only with the steering controls, but with braking and boosting as well. Please take my word for it, the driving controls for NFS are the BEST I have seen yet.

The ability to customize your cars with money you have earned from racing, once again, makes this game “feel” big.

No, I'm not going through a mid-life crisis.

The framerate is FAST and the textures are incredible. Did I mention the steering kicks ass? The storyline helps to move you through this game, like most great console games do and this experience is a welcomed addition to the iPhone. I cannot stress how console like this game feels.

So to repeat, the controls are great, the graphics are great, the music is great…

What are you still doing here?

Go buy the BEST driving game for the iPhone. That honor now lies with Need for Speed Undercover.

You can buy Need For Speed HERE.

2XL GAMES

The first thing you’ll notice when you launch Supercross, is the polish of this game. The intro feels console-ish. The music, graphics and gameplay add to this

Did I mention the graphics?

overall console like experience. Well, there’s a reason for that. 2XL Games has a little bit of experience when it comes to offroad racing games for consoles. They’re the folks behind Motocross Madness, ATV Offroad Fury, MX Unleashed and the recently released Baja Edge of Control.

Yeah, I’d say these guys and gals know offroad gaming.

THE GAME

The ability to have EIGHT different control schemes, over twelve different courses designed by Supercross champion Stephane Roncada and the ability to track your times against other online players make this a solid title.

Seriously, why do I own a DS and a PSP? Games of this caliber on those systems would easily cost $39. Supercross for $7.99 is a steal.

Now, Supercross isn’t perfect. But, it’s pretty damn close. I would love a Wi-Fi multiplayer mode along with some awesome replays. However, I’m not going to complain too much, because I gotta feeling we’ll see some of this implemented in future updates. If you’re looking for the best Motocross style game for the iPhone, it’s right here. Check out the video review for full details.

[Video Review by Mr. Pence]

You can buy 2XL Supercross HERE.

That’s what Cro-Mag Rally, by Pangea Software, is.  I mean, is there anything more counter-intuitive and goofy than a racing game based around cave-men and women?  I’m not quite sure how their silly little carts work, and I don’t care.  This is a great, stress-free way to blow off some steam.

Now, I can hear the outrage building.  I gave Burning Tires Lite, another silly racing game, a bad review.  But it really comes down to two things: concept and playability.

First, concept.  Cro-Mag Rally beats Burning Tires Lite hands-down on this front.  The collection of bones and weapons throughout the game adds a whole other element of fun.  You can throw things at your enemies, set a few traps, or even collect boosters that make opponents eat your dust.  Not to mention that you can pick not only your car (a ridiculous collection of wooden and stone vehicles), but also your driver.

It’s truly a fun concept racing game.  There is no story, per-se, but there is a consistent design, tone, and feel to the whole thing.  You can race in arctic conditions, desert conditions, or even in the jungle.  Every new turn reveals something fun and silly, allowing you to relax and not worry too much if you come in third or fourth.

Second, Cro-Mag is infinitely more playable than many other racing games.  Like some other games, you can control the sensitivity of the tilt controls, but more than that these controls just seem more responsive in a way that makes sense.  There is no unnecessary sliding or delay that results in over-correction.

Also, there is no auto-accelerate.  The user pushes buttons to accelerate or even reverse, solving the “unable to turn around” problem.  If things get messed up, you can simply back up, correct yourself, and get going again.

Now, the app is not without its problems.  Load time isn’t short, and it has frozen up on me more than once.  The big problem, though, is the placement of the acceleration buttons.  They are spaced closely together on the bottom of the left side of the screen.  This goes completely against my natural hand-hold of the iPhone, and my fingers end up cramping after only a few minutes.  It would be nice to have a couple of options for size and placement of these buttons for people with bigger hands.

In the grand scheme, though, these problems aren’t enough to keep me from recommending this app. It’s a great way to blow off steam and just have some fun.  It’s not a game I can see myself getting addicted to, but that’s for the best.  God knows I am addicted to too many games, anyway.

You can buy Cro-Mag Rally for just $0.99 HERE.

I put this review off for a while.  I felt like my expectations were too high after playing Ferrari GT: Evolution.  I felt like I was biased against all racing games that used tilt controls.

But the other day I downloaded Cro-Mag Rally, and while the gameplay and graphics still don’t compare to Ferrari, I still enjoyed the crap out of it.

So now I will finally say it.  Burning Tires Lite is not a good racing game.  I know, I know, you say “but it’s just the lite version.  Try out the full one!”  I would if I didn’t already know that the issues I have with the lite version will carry over to the full version.  In short, it’s not worth it.

The game looks pretty good, with rock canyons and fun car designs.  It’s simple and there are very few add-ons, but I’m find with that.  I enjoy simple games, and I understand that the full version probably has some features that are left off here.

But the driving controls…I can’t get past them.  The tilt control on this is sooo finicky, it’s very easy to over-correct.  It makes the game not fun.

Worse than that, once you do overcorrect, your car grinds itself into the side of the road.  Tilt all you want, you’re stuck.  And if you turn around the wrong way?  The auto acceleration keeps going so you plow into the side of the road again.  By the time you finally right yourself, your competition has a half day head-start.

Maybe I am just really bad at this game.  If there is someone out there who loves this, leave a comment…I am more than wiling to admit that this negative review is based solely on subjective preferences, but if a game isn’t fun, I can’t in good conscience recommend it.

Burning Tires Lite just makes me want to chuck my phone across the room.  In a bad way.

I really dug this game.  I was cruising through boards, using my nitro boosts, taking out cop cars and never looking back.  The gameplay was phenomenal, the cars were cool, and the options were more than I’d ever hoped for on an iPhone.

Then I saw Mr. Pence’s review of Ferrari GT: Evolution (which you can find HERE).

You can be the fuzz and track down punks.

He showed me the graphics, the options, the badassity of that game, and I cried a little.  Were this a couple of dollars cheaper, it would make sense.  But Asphalt 4 and Ferrari GT are both the same price, and both are made by Gameloft. What gives? [UPDATE: Asphalt 4 is now one dollar cheaper, but I'd still recommend the slightly more expensive Ferrari GT: Evolution.]

 

You can drive a motorcycle and get run over!

This game offers only touch screen controls, which I am fine with as I’m not a fan of tilt controls.  It allows for multiple types of play, including a mode where you are the police trying to take out some speedsters.  And one thing that this offers that Ferrari GT: Evolution lacks is the ability to drive a motorcycle.

Which is badass.

I really, really want to recommend this game, but the purchase of Ferrari GT makes so much more sense.  I guess Gameloft has outdone themselves here.  I will keep this game on my phone indefinitely, but if you are a mad racing fan, go with the best.  I see little need to have both.

You can buy Asphalt 4: Elite Racing HERE.

I really didn’t want to review Ferrari GT: Evolution, by Gameloft, because I was done with racing titles for the iPhone. I’d been there. I’d done it. This wasn’t my first mobile gaming rodeo. Fool me once, shame on you.  Fool me with four pages of Racing Games, shame on me. All iPhone racing games suck right?

Nope.

MY EARLY LIFE WITH RACING GAMES

This was mindblowing when Mr. Pence was a kid. Apparently, so was indoor plumbing and antibiotics.

Some of the best memories of my life are the days of my youth spent heading down to the local arcade. For some of you young pups, “Arcades” were the dark and smokey places where geeks of the time hung out. It was where you played “real” video games; no crappy home video game systems. I mean, the Atari 2600 was cool but It didn’t have the graphic abilities of the uprights.

Merlin’s Castle had all the uprights.

One day at Merlin’s, after finally getting the highest score on Satan’s Hollow, I saw a new game called Pole Position. It was the first racing game of it’s type: it was a sit-down game, complete with steering wheel and stick shift.

I fell in love.

Since that day, and through the evolution of games and gaming systems, I’ve been an avid racing gamer. Even today, I follow the Grand Turismo and Forza franchises.

RACING AND THE iPHONE

When the app store first opened, Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D was my first purchase.  Why?  ‘Cause I’m a video game racing junkie. And, apparently, a glutton for punishment.  I was immediately disappointed. While I love the accelerometer in some iPhone and iPod Touch games, it just didn’t translate that well for me in this racing title.  The graphics were ok, but nothing like I was used to from current-gen consoles or even my DS or PSP.

Then, Cro-Mag Rally was released.  I had the same results with this title. It was disappointing. The accelerometer controls are cool, but isn’t there another way of controlling your car? Couldn’t the graphics be better? Couldn’t the frame-rate be better?

Why aren’t developers taking racing for the iPhone OS seriously?

FINALLY A GREAT RACING APP

"Hey, see that guy over there racing a Ferrari on his iPhone? He's sooo compensating for something."

And then came Ferrari GT: Evolution, by Gameloft.  First off, I was impressed with the graphics and frame-rate. Someone has done some serious software development.  Graphically, this game is better than PSP quality and totally up to par with the best PS2 racing titles.

The second thing that impressed me? Three different options for steering controls. THREE.

There’s an “Accelerometer” control if you want it, but you can also choose “Wheel” or “Screen Tap”.  The Wheel control option places a virtual steering wheel on the screen and works well.  The Screen Tap option is my favorite. However, I think I could easily adapt to the virtual steering wheel.

[Video Review by Mr. Pence.]

GAMEPLAY

Your road rage will be piqued. "GET OUT OF THE WAY!!"

There are eight different beautifully designed courses.  Weather varies on the courses, and some are driven at night.  Once you’ve full unlocked the game, there are 33 different Ferrari’s to choose from.

From the first time you rev your engine, you feel like you’re playing this on a console. It’s fast, responsive and the environments and textures are detailed and well laid out.  The glass on the cars is reflective, as are wet roadways.  The sun causes lens flare, and just wait until it rains.

Wifi multiplayer is easy to set up and fun to play, although there have been a few network hiccups in my testing.  However, Gameloft‘s promised online update may fix that, as well as introduce online head-to-heads with other iPhone OS gamers anywhere in the world.

[Multiplayer Review by Mr. Pence]

IT’S THE SIMPLE THINGS

Have you ever played an iPhone OS game only to find your palm obstructs the speaker the whole time? Yeah, I have too. Gameloft fixes this by allowing you to hold your device in either horizontal position, allowing you to free your speaker from any blockage. Kudos to Gameloft for thinking about the end-user.

CONCLUSION

If you have tried a racing app for the iPhone OS and you were totally disappointed like me, you owe it to yourself to purchase Ferrari GT: Evolution.  If you’re looking for a great racing game and find yourself on the fence about which one to buy, you’ll be blown away by FGTE.

As Grand Turismo is to PlayStation, and Forza is to Xbox, Ferrari GT: Evolution is currently the racing game for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

You won’t be disappointed.

[Course runs by Mr. Pence.]