Stock car racer Days of Thunder [App Store] from Freeverse is based on the 1990 film of the same name and places you in the role of main character Cole Trickle (played by Tom Cruise in the film), a hot-shot auto racing rookie seeking to win on the NASCAR curcuit. Other characters from the film are also represented, such as crew chief and mentor Harry Hogge who quips words of advice both during and between races and love interest Dr. Claire Lewicki.
NASCAR tracks are generally oval or triangular in shape and, as such, the game’s 12 tracks (across six different circuits) present a relatively simplistic and repetitive tour as compared to street racers such as Fastlane Street Racing, Fast and Furious: Pink Slip, or the like, which is something those unfamiliar with NASCAR racing should be aware of. The goal is, of course, to cross the finish line first, but to truly excel in the game requires a bit more of the driver.
Winning a NASCAR race involves much on-track strategy. In order to save fuel and pit less frequently, drivers seek to ride closely behind another vehicle in a technique known as “drafting" which dramatically reduces the aerodynamic resistance of the rear vehicle. In Days of Thunder, as soon as your car is in the draft zone, a hammer bar on the right side of the screen begins to rise. Once you’ve drafted long enough, you can “drop the hammer" and receive a boost in speed and invincibility to help push your way to the front of the pack.
In climbing the ladder to first place, quarters get rather tight on the track. You’ll do a lot of “paint swapping" as you slam your way through the crowd. Above each car is a damage indicator– a car can sustain only so many impacts with other vehicles and the wall before theatrically exploding into oblivion. Damage to your own vehicle can be repaired in the pit, but at the price of precious track time.
In each race your charcter has a particular rival that’s pointed out at the start of the race. Hunting him down and sending him “to the wall" unlocks new cars (14 in all) to add to your garage. Overall performance in the race, both in placement and on-track carnage, will unlock various achievements including new tracks and even a date with the lovely Dr. Lewicki.
Days of Thunder features accelerometer-based steering with touchscreen control of the accelerator and brake peddals (both either up or down). The game’s control mechanics make keeping the car on the track pretty easy. It wasn’t long before I was cornering at full throttle / no brake. This makes the main challenge of the game staying in the draft zone until the right moment and balancing your own damage levels (and pit frequency) with that of the other cars on the track while huntinf down your rival.
While the game maintains a solid framerate, it breaks no new ground in the area of iPhone 3D graphics. Though the layouts and backdrop scenery of each track vary, the overall look from track to track is much the same and aren’t what one would call a lavish affair. The vehicle graphics are simplistic and don’t change to reflect damage taken on during the race until the final explosion.
Being a much bigger fan of street racers than track racers, my first reaction to Days of Thunder was that it was too basic and monotonous for my tastes. As I spent more time with the game, however, I started to enjoy the challenge of knocking out my rival, successuflly drafting, and “swapping paint" with the rest of the pack. Earning achievements along the way and seeing my progress reflected in the race-to-race cut scene dialog turned out to be a nice draw. I think racer fans who enjoy a little destruction derby and who aren’t particularly thirsty for groundbreaking visuals might find Days of Thunder a fun way to spend some track time on the iPhone, particularly at its introductory price of $0.99.
See the developer’s teaser video:
Days of Thunder keeps its limited time introductory price of $0.99 until Sunday, after which it will be available for its standard price of $4.99.
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NOTE: Freeverse has submitted a v1.0.1 update to the App Store that corrects a localization issue non-U.S. users were experiencing.
I can easily say this game lives up to my personal expectations and so far beyond, this is perfection.
A great review for a great game. This is the way iPhone games were meant to be!
That was a great review of this game and fully deserving it's accolades.
However, I would just say to those who are brought up on fighting or shooting games only, driving by adrenaline only, do NOT buy this.
I can't stand to see such great games get trashed on App Store reviews with a one star comment saying "Dumb. All you do is wrap string around wood."!!!!!
That's what it's all about!!! Don't tell me you were expecting machine guns to shoot it down??? Gets me so angry.......
Thanks for the thorough review and THANK YOU for the disclaimer at the end. I really think you guys need to keep us lowly readers informed about any possible conflict of interests with your reviews, and the disclaimer here was greatly appreciated.
That said, the game sounds stellar. I'll be buying it as soon as I can find some wifi. :)
great game. the reviews of the game are really very consistent in their praise.
I only wish the iphone had higher screen resolution for these beautiful visuals
can someone please explain to me whats the big deal to this game?
The review already explained what the big deal is.
This game sucks (1-star) for the following reasons:
* No goal or action - I want to see explosions and crunching punches, enemies flying, and blood smeared across the screen.
* This game is not like Monkey Ball - monkey ball is so much fun and this game is not.
* No multiplayer - the iphone has wifi for a reason, use it. The game needs more enemies and I want to play with my friends.
* Music and sounds suck - The music is just gay and outdated. Where 's the heavy death rock metal music?
* I can't show this to friends - The funny thing about fart apps is the group can all have fun with it.
* No high scores - What's the point of going up through the levels if there's no global high score list to compare my skills with?
* I just hate it when one person hacks up something and call it a game and sells it for $4.99. I wouldn't even download this if it were free.
:)
Don't forget the zombies with laser beams that you decapitate with the string...
I have the game, it's not my favorite game but the review was spot on.
I didn't understand the x-plane craze either, but it's a sim and thats it. No guns nothing. I just could get on the rolando bus either, and while sway made me giggle, it's still to adolecent for my taste.
So the "big deal" (and it was hard for me at first too) is that for the puzzle genre in the appstore this game is the best in immersive (get lost in thought) gamplay.....and quite possibly the whole store.
Yes it's simple, and it doesn't boast a lot of high octane.
So it's simplicity is what makes it beautiful not to mention it's graphical detail. Combine that with the perfect control scheme and hypnotic music and you got a near little package that can melt Siberia.
No glitches, no missing sections no hiccups. It's pretty damn complete.
I think thats the "big deal"
no hype just a pefect game and proper do's being payed
mine opens fine, starts, fine, can be used, fine... until you actually try and start a level WTF, i'm resyncing and trying again
^^presnter i realllyyyy hope you're just doing that to be a jerk, if not i feel sorry for you ):
i agree with ^ except for the first (2nd really) paragraph, as i enjoy all the games mentioned
I really think Presnter was being sarcastic :)
This game is truly the climax of iphone apps/games so far. A flawlessly executed inovative meditative perfection. Thank you for reminding me why i own an iphone.
If you dont like this game you have no brain
i haven't played the game long
but i can say that here we have a masterpiece
a defining experience for the itouch that only the likes of
supermonkeyball, snailmail, fastlane and rolando can match
all hail zenbound!
all hail plankton!
Hands-down best game for the iPhone. The review explains it perfectly, thank you.
Secret Exit did a great job with this. Kudos to the whole team!
Well, I was looking forward to buying this game (have been for the past 3 months) but thanks to Apple changing their ToS so that those of us with American credit cards but not currently IN america can't buy apps or music or do anything with the app store....well then.
I don't think I've been this angry with Apple as a company for a long time. No, it was probably when they took Firewire of of iPods, that was the last time.
I'll have to live vicariously through you guys...
i love to play it in bed before sleeping (amongst almost any other possible occasion).
@Zach: odd, I haven't had any problems (American in Japan) ... Of course I use gift cards ... Maybe that's it?
yup, game is amazing, music also. everyone should try this game!
The "goal" is clearly marked in each stage... 70%, 85%, 99%.
My personal goal is to get 100% in every level. I'm doing well so far :)
The graphics are STUNNING.
The sound is STUNNING.
The Gameplay is fantastic.
This is pure iPhone perfection!
i have become addicted to this game. it's very immersive and fun.
i will say it's a little frustrating when i am at like, 75% complete and accidentally hit the glowing nail, thus ending it. i guess that's part of the challenge though...
but my BIG question is: in the video, where did the tree of nostalgia come from? is that something that's unlocked after you finish both trees or something??
prestner...hahaha reeeeeally funny but i hope he isnt THAT stupid as he uses to be
So, when it says on the page before this one "Only on iphone" does that mean they won't work on the ipod touch? I'm confused....
OK, honestly this web site article may not be anything ...
you know ... earth shattering however I have been faithfully following your web site for awhile now and never ever commented and I read one more article in your blog site somewhere .
.. dang, can't seem to come across it now but as I was reading the submissions following that one seriously connective one I thought to myself, "Self, you should comment on this dudes website. But not this weblog post the following one." And here I am. Hope to get a lot more shares from you in the future! google search engine optimization