Real Racing

When EA’s Need for Speed finally made its debut after months of delays, I declared it the best arcade racer available at that time for the iPhone/iPod Touch platform. Well, I can safely declare Firemint’s Real Racing from Firemint is the BEST overall racer, arcade or otherwise, available on the platform that blows away everything else. The game is impressive in all aspects of the word for controls, graphics, and gameplay. It is truly a racer that not only sets a high bar, but tears it down and creates a new set of rules.

Depthwise, Real Racing has 12 race tracks, 36 cars, and 3 car classes (sedan, hatchback and muscle car) and 9 championships. The load of content by itself would be enough to make most racing fans salivate. But I haven’t even discussed the local online play where you can against other players for the title of the best real racer. You can compete either in online leagues or in local online only multiplayer races. Some will be disappointed by the local online only play to compete with others, but when you see the graphics, it’s a good bet that the game in this case is ahead of the connectivity.

Visually this game will easily draw comparisons to PSP-quality racers because the high-resolution graphics/animation and framerate are that smooth. From the details on the cars to the explosive sounds of revving engines combined with a high-velocity soundtrack, Real Racing delivers an immersive racing experience. Don’t let the pre-release videos fool you…the colors pop, and you’ll be amazed. Also, in the upper right corner during a race, you can alternate between third-person and cockpit view. Seriously, the game is so well implemented, you can feel the speed in this game.

Firsthand, I will tell you that the accelerometer controls with auto calibration are responsive but they tend to be shaky making it difficult to see what’s happening around you which can be distracting. The touch steering works like a charm for me and seems to stabilize the image for whatever reason, although I like manual acceleration instead of auto acceleration. In Real Racing, whatever control scheme you choose, you’re in complete control in how much or how little you turn, and I can’t say that about too many racing games.

The other great option is the Brake Assist System which automatically brakes your vehicle when it approaches other cars or turns corners. As with the accelerometer sensitivity, you can also adjust the Brake Assist System, and it’s terrifically implemented which I recommend you use early on as you familiarize yourself with the race tracks or for quick casual play. Other options include the ability to flip the screen (a great option that too many devs ignore),

Real Racing has three modes of play: career, single races and time trials. In Career mode, you have to qualify and unlock races which have names such as the Hatch Qualifier, Monacato 500, NrGee Super Sprint and Touring Qualifier. In terms of single races, you have a number of tracks to choose from and it tracks your fastest lap based on Hatch, Sedan and Muscle. You can choose to race solo or with competitors as well choose the number of laps. In Time Trial, you can also choose from a number of tracks, track by class of vehicle, and then upload the best time online. In each, there are 3 divisions based on difficulty: Division C, Division B, and Division A. B and A are unlocked once you successfully complete races in Division C.

Another significant differentiator is the AI which significantly adds to the realism. The “human-like AI” is noticeably apparent and saying that it adds to the racing experience would be an understatement. In other racing games, the level of difficulty can vary from being too easy to too hard where you can either lap competing racers or you get bombarded by other racers to the point of absurdity (e.g. Days of Thunder). You won’t have that problem with Real Racing, and in fact, you better have your driving gloves on and know the race course. The AI offers challenging gameplay and is not afraid to show who the boss is. This is how good Real Racing is.

Real Racing or NFS? If you’re into arcade racers with arcade physics (you know what I mean by that), and you want more of a storyline regardless of how shallow, then go with NFS. However, for those who want a realistic sim racer with real feel for speed, and a good amount of depth in terms of race tracks and cars, and most importantly a career mode, Real Racing is a no brainer.

If you loved Gran Turismo 1 & 2 as much as I did, this game is that and then some in the palm of your hands. I would state that if you have the $5 to spend on a racing game, this is your game right here. The graphics, the handling, the control schemes and music are all stellar. Firemint put a lot of work into the game, and they keep it fun by letting you adjust the game to your tastes and desires. Tweak what you want, when you want, and compete over the web to boot. There are 0 other games like it. Great game, great price, and great fun on the go.

This is the best racing game on the iPhone, and with more depth would make a run at the best racing game ever (mega plus at 10 bux at it clocks in at just over 60 megs.) Still, it's plenty deep, deeper than Asphalt 4. If you call it a sports game then it's the best sports game on the iPhone (SMASHES Tiger, real tennis and soccer and the best of the rest). If you buy one game this year, buy this.

How to better put it? Um, if it weren't for the controls, you wouldn't know this were on the iPhone. AKA the game is immersive, the controls are ideal, the graphics are sick, the AI and gameplay are insane . The controls make you feel like you a driving a car more than any console game unless you bought a wheel. All this for less than the price of a console's wheel....UM, GET THIS GAME! It's an autopark on the first page or better yet, the bottom bar.

All this plus, editable controls! Turn up/down the CPU assistance (breaking and gas assistance for an arcade racer feel), adjust the tilt (wheel) sensitivity.

I've downloaded a lot of 3D games for the iPhone, racing in particular, with high hopes. Sad to say I've been let down many times, but now I am finally at peace. This game is a perfect 10 in all aspects. Graphics, Audio, Presentation are awesome. You'd pay at least $40 for a PSP game of this caliber, so $10 is a steal!

Period. Now that the price has been reduced to $4.99 you just have no excuse to not get this. Even if you're not necessarily a racing fan, this game will still entertain you for hours. Try the lite version and see it for yourself.

This game is so realistic, and it also runs smoothly for such a high quality game. I have been playing this game since it first came out, which was in June I think. Also, thanks for putting VW on this version I didn't want to get the other version.   P.S. I bought it for $10 and now it's 6.99!!!!!!  Still worth it though Needs: Minimap Even more tracks Ability to customize cars More cars Dents when u run into other cars Let us use pitstops too if our car is distroyed This is a must buy game get it now!

Great app! Just wish I was a better driver.

Personally, I did not like this game. I couldn't keep the car on the track on the curves. For me, Need for Speed was 100 times better than this game. A big waste of money for me.

I've played most of them by now and this is the best serious racer on the app store. The graphics are great, the play is fluid and smooth, the controls are just about perfect and the game has plenty of depth. It is console quality without question. This game used to be much more expensive, at $4.99 it is a steal.

Casual player as I have a life. Can't even unlock the "B" class cause I came in 2nd on one race. I'd LOVE for the oppurtunity to drive all the cars without dedicating many many hours to a GAME. I bought this and can only use about 10% of it. So can I get a refund for the other 90%? Seriously, unlock everything for quick races!!!! Amazing in every other way.

This is almost definitely the best racing game out there, but it is TOO DAMN HARD. I am but a casual gamer; I have a life.
This game simply needs too much time to be able to beat even the "B" levels.

Best graphics of any racing game, best controls of any racing game, tons of content, coolest cockpit view in a iphone game, & umm...well I just got it so that's my first impressions. I've played nfsu & this easily tops that! Just 1 minor complaint, where's the optional mini-map?

I heard of this game through an internet show called Co-op. This was one of the main reasons I bought an iPhone. (didn't have the phone at the time). Who would have thought an iPhone game could be anywhere near as good and real as a console game? If you like racing games and accelorameter driving, then you'll like (if not, love) this game. Well with the price.

This is the best racing game I've played so far. I own a lot of racing games from the first I bought, crash nitro cart and asphalt to the ones I've played recently like need for speed, this is by far the best gameplay. I have to say that NFS's graphics were superior to RR but the graphics would lag and drive me crazy when i was racing. This game has much better frame rates and doesn't Sacrifice much. Unlike NFS's bland race tracks RR's feature pretty scenery and great sounds. The in car view (the view I choose to race in) is very nifty with the speedometer and the shifter which you can watch the driver use. Although I've completed the game on the easiest difficulty i've gone back numerous times to play in the harder difficulties to unlock new cars, play in online leagues and submit time trials. Overall on of the best games I own. Although the game is pretty expensive for iPhone game standards, $10 in any other handheld gaming device's market would be pretty much a steal and this game gives many other ds and psp games a run for their money so it's well worth the money. Things I would like to be add/fixed: 1. The AI although I don't think it wants to kill me can be pretty obnoxious. Try to program the ai to try to avoid hitting other cars and running them off the road or make them easier to psuh around. I like the first idea because it's more realist and this is RR after all. 2. Why can't I customize my cars??? Please add in a graphic customizer. 3. What about a track meant for speed? Like an oval to see the top speeds of these cars. 4. Liscensed material??? How about some actual racing venues from around the world or atleast similar ones in actual locations. How about some real cars with real interchangable parts ( NOT LIKE NFS who think that they know how to customize cars with their little packages for speed and acceleration etc.) 5. I like the incorperation of the music library from in game but can you make it so you can deselect music you've previously selected to play? Thank you for this wonderful game! 10/10 Michael Williams.