DrawRace 2 HD · Chillingo Ltd · iPad · £1.99/$2.99

Simple games are perfect for iOS devices. Angry Birds, Cut the Rope and Infinity Blade all works thanks to a simple swipe system that makes them simple for anyone to play, but incredibly addictive thanks to their clever level design. Well, another of these games has recently been released by Chillingo, and it’s absolutely brilliant.

DrawRace 2 is (as you may have guessed) the sequel to DrawRace 1, but the difference between the two games is absolutely huge. While the first game was a relatively simple, 2D top down racer, the sequel has been fleshed out into a much more rounded product. Now in full 3D, races take place on incredible landscapes of dust, ice and tarmac. The graphics are fantastic too – sure, they’re not as stunning as Dead Space HD in full flow, but the animations are smooth and fast, and the tracks and their surrounds really feel alive with flowing rivers and rubber skid-marks staying on the tracks as you race.

Draw the lines on-screen with your finger to set your car’s path

The controls are just like other successful iOS games – easy to learn, difficult to master. The principle is simple: you draw a line on the race track with your finger and your car will follow it. Draw fast and the car will accelerate, draw slow and it will brake. Skidding slows you down, so keeping in control of your speed is vital to success.You also get a boost that builds up while you’re braking, and using this at the right time can be the difference between success and failure.

Timing your Boost is vital, and cutting corners will cause things like cones to scatter across the track.

There are three main game modes: a Single-player Career Mode, a World League mode that allows you to race against others online, and a mulit-player mode that gives four players the chance to race on the same screen. The Career Mode will keep you occupied for some time, with five classes each containing twelve races . Each race will start with one opponent who you must beat over two laps. You then race the track again with two opponents, then three. You will win a medal for each, and unlock the next class when you’ve won a certain number of medals.

As you power through Career Mode you’ll unlock new cars and tracks

The game is monstrously addictive, and you can’t help diving back in after you’ve been pipped to the post for the eighth time. You curse if you draw a corner just a tiny bit wrong, or when you boost in the wrong place, but because you know it was your own fault you try again to correct your mistake. There is never a feeling that the computer-controlled racers are unbeatable, and it’s this that constantly draws (hur hur) you back in. In fact, we’re issuing you with a warning now: you will not be able to put this game down. And we absolutely love it.

Pros:

+ Fantastically simple controls
+ Beautiful tracks
+ Will last you a long time
+ Single-iPad and online Multiplayer modes

Cons:

- Will suck away your life
- A ‘Single Race’ mode would have been great.

Verdict:

Developer: EA Mobile
Category: Games
Price: £2.99

Proving that when done right, we all have the need!

The most interesting aspect about games being developed for the iPhone is how radically different they can be. One moment you could be playing an app someone made in their bedroom and five minutes later experiencing an entry with a serious amount of polish the PlayStation Portable would be proud of. Of course, injecting a lot of money into a project doesn’t always ensure a perfect product. Need For Speed is evidence of just this.

EA sure knows how to apply that extra sheen to its creations. The visuals and overall presentation present in Undercover are incredible, boasting a level of quality above and beyond what’s expected. It’s easily the title to show off when those who defy the iPhone pipe up… just don’t let them play it.

Need For Speed is certainly not a bad game but it suffers from controls that are slightly too twitchy for their own good. Although the car accelerates automatically, it’s up to you to steer by tilting left and right. There’s certainly enough scope to get comfortable with it, but getting to that level can be a challenge; it’s a little too sensitive. This gets worse when Undercover asks you to drift. To turn the car sideways, it’s necessary to flick the iPhone, signalling you’re ready to glide. The problem is, you’re required to give it such an almighty thrust that it’s not uncommon to lose your in-game bearings and crash. However, as already mentioned, given enough time this becomes less of a frustration; those that get here will find themselves being sucked in thanks to Need For Speed’s style. Races are intense, cars over-the-top and it’s frantic from the off. You’ll have to watch out for the beyond awful cut-scenes and soundtrack, but we highly doubt anyone thinking about purchasing this is doing so for either of those reasons. Not the best racer on the iPhone (that award goes to Real Racing) but a damn fine alternative for those who want to get the most out of the genre.

Longevity: 6.5
Fun Factor: 7.6
Practicality: 5.7
Value For Money: 7.7
Kung Fu Verdict: 7.0

Developer: Gameloft
Category: Games
Price: £0.59 $0.99

As this game is an official game and has the full blessing of Ferrari, we had extremely high hopes for it. And we weren’t disappointed. This is without doubt one of the slickest, most realistic racing games on the App Store. You get to drive Ferraris, of course, and you can then choose to play in a Quick Arcade mode or opt for the more satisfying Career mode where you take a lesser Ferrari and accumulate victories to afford better vehicles. Controls are pretty standard – you use the accelerometer to turn left and right and on screen there is an accelerator and a brake pedal. The physics used are very realistic and feeling of speed is exceptional. The graphics are also really good and it’s this finishing touch that makes this a standout favourite.

Longevity: 9.0
Fun Factor: 9.0
Practicality: 4.0
Value For Money: 7

Kung Fu Verdict: 9.0

Developer: Richard Shearman
Category: Sports
Price: £2.39

If you are a keen racer at your local track and want to get some detailed information on your lap times then this app can do it for you. It measures acceleration, G-force, horse power and distance travelled. It customises itself to each individual phone by running diagnostics on the device before starting and once again the first time you use it in a new car. The interface is slick and the technology used is excellent and accurate. Once you’ve completed your test run, whether that’s a lap of a track or a 0-60mph test, you can view zoomable graphs of your car’s performance and compare them with other runs you’ve completed. If you’re serious about driving then this app is definitely worthy of a buy. It’s a testament to the technology build into the iPhone that it can do what it does – it’s extremely impressive.

Longevity: 8.0

Fun Factor: 8.0

Practicality: 8.0

Value For Money: 8.0

Kung Fu Verdict: 8.0

Developer: Gourmet Pixel Ltd
Category: Sports
Price: £3.99 (Sale price £2.99)

If you have a passion for F1 racing then you have to have this application now the new season is underway. It is, without doubt, one of the best sports apps out there. Brilliantly made with slick interfaces, easy navigation and all the content you’ll ever need, F1 2009 is a must for those looking to stay on top of all the season’s Formula 1 action, as it happens. Upon starting the app you will be told when the next race day is, which is a cool touch, and inside, there are five tabs along the bottom of the interface. These enable you to navigate to different sections, the main one being news, which gives you up-to-date stories on everything F1 related. You can then pick from Races, Teams, Drivers and a More to drill down right to the info you require. You can also get videos from the teams as they prepare for race days. This app is a shining example of how sports apps should be built, incorporating passion for the sport as well as impressive detail and a wealth of information. Covering what could be the most exciting F1 season to date, this app takes pole position in the iPhone sports category.

Longevity: 7.5

Fun Factor: 7.0

Practicality: 6.4

Value For Money: 5.8

Kung Fu Verdict: 6.8