The idea behind the TouchArcade Game of the Week is that every Friday afternoon we post the one game that came out this week that we think is worth giving a special nod to. Now, before anyone goes over-thinking this, it doesn’t necessarily mean our Game of the Week pick is the highest scoring game in a review, the game with the best graphics, or really any other quantifiable “best" thing. Instead, it’s more just us picking out the single game out of the week’s releases that we think is the most noteworthy, surprising, interesting, or really any other hard to describe quality that makes it worth having if you were just going to pick up one.
These picks might be controversial, and that’s OK. If you disagree with what we’ve chosen, let’s try to use the comments of these articles to have conversations about what game is your game of the week and why.
Without further ado…
Pako – Car Chase Simulator
The crazy thing about the App Store is that even if you think a particular week is a “bad" or “weak" week, there’s always at least something quirky and interesting being released, even if there aren’t any heavy-hitter, big-name games in the mix. This week there actually was a pretty big release with Ace Attorney 5, but it was one of the quirky, little games that has hooked me more than anything else. That game is Pako – Car Chase Simulator ($1.99), and as you might imagine, it’s a car chase simulator. Well, sort of.
The game uses an isometric view similar to something like Smash Cops, though in Pako, the goal is to NOT smash into anything. You’re set free in one of five different areas, each putting you behind the wheel of a unique vehicle. The vehicle has no brakes, so once the game begins you’re off and running with tapping either side of the screen to steer being the only thing under your control. It’s a high-scoring game, so you simply drive around each area for as long as possible avoiding all obstacles as more and more police chase you.
It’s a simple game, but nails that “one more go" feeling that high score games thrive on. It also looks and sounds great, with a very slick visual style. My favorite part of Pako though is how different each of the environments and vehicles feel from one another. From the all-around good compact car in the mall level, to the heavy and sluggish hearse in the Cemetery level, to the insanely nimble three-wheeled “meter maid" vehicle in the Square level. There’s just a lot of variety and a lot of ways to build up your skills to earn high scores on each level.
Players in our forums have been enjoying Pako too, though a few minor issues like frame stuttering and Game Center not always working right have cropped up. I’m sure they’ll be ironed out quickly though, and for a buck, there’s really a lot of fun to be had with Pako – Car Chase Simulator, tiny flaws and all.
