The developers of Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart have released a new racing title to the App Store called Raging Thunder [App Store]. The $7.99 title claims to be a “coin-op style racing game” and boasts having “the most breathtaking 3D graphics on the iPhone yet.”

Features listed by the developer include:

• WiFi multiplayer
• State-of-the art 3D graphics
• Boost, draft and tackling physics
• Customizable controls

There is a lot of competition amongst racers in the App Store. We had felt that Nitro Kart offered the best “kart racing” experience on the iPhone, so we’ll be interested to see their take on a more traditional racer. Raging Thunder has existed for some time in Jailbroken form.

Amongst the other racers currently available, we favored Asphalt 4 Elite Racing over GTS World Racing, Pole Position Remix, and Moto Chaser (formerly Moto Racer). Another notable upcoming title is Need For Speed: Undercover.

We’ll provide a full review once we have spent some time with this title.

EA is starting to experiment more with price flexibility by putting Scrabble [App Store] on sale for $7.99. The app is normally priced at $9.99 but is on sale for “a limited time.” EA had similarly dropped Tetris from $9.99 to $7.99 (though on a permanent basis).

The most recent Scrabble update has introduced Wi-Fi networking as well as improved game stability and sound quality.

Scrabble is popular word game in which players form words from individual lettered tiles. Words are formed in horizontal or vertical rows with scoring based on which letters are used.

The iPhone version of Scrabble has been reasonably well reviewed, so the discounted price and Wi-Fi option may provide some additional incentive for readers to make the jump.

Gyrocade has released a futuristic 3D take on the classic game of Pong with a distinctive Tron feel through the iTunes App Store.  Vector Pong uses the iPhone’s accelerometer to control the player’s paddle, enabling him/her to serve, deflect, and spike a puck down a 3D corridor against a computer opponent or another (human) player thanks to WiFi-enable network play.

The game features three levels of difficulty, but even at the “Easy” setting the game is quite hard and the “Pro” level is apparently designed for robots.  However, due to the fluid gameplay and pleasant retro-future feel of this title, I feel compelled to keep at it in hopes of eventually getting a few consecutive victorious matches under my belt.  An “Easier” setting would be welcome, though.

Vector Pong has a feel reminsicent of the 80s classic Shufflepuck Cafe (which, incidentally, exists for the jailbroken iPhone as remake tuxPuck) and provides the player with the same satisfying sense of “WHACK!” with each successful deflection of an incoming volley.  Despite the game’s difficulty, it’s a lot of fun and seems well priced at $1.99.

Game Details

Name: Vector Pong
Developer: Gyrocade
App Store Link: Buy
Price: $1.99
Compatibility: iPhone and iPod Touch