Looks like a great game. But as the others have said: this current IAP scheme while asking 3 bucks simply won't fly in my book. It puts unnecessary stress on the player that they must succeed in order to avoid more costs for something they already initially paid for... Aren't games suppose to be fun?
Goodness, people. I gave it a try. You earn a star in the first track for making two slight turns and not holding the brake for 12 seconds. You can repeat this for more stars. Out of all the paywalls, timers, and currencies I've seen that take advantage of your psychology, this one is pretty tame. There's plenty of really good reasons to not prefer a game, but this IAP molehill is overblown big time.
Just my two cents, but I notice in Jared's initial impressions that he states it is totally doable to complete the mod tracks with the Stars that are awarded for completing the campaign tracks. He also mentions that campaign tracks may be played without limit meaning that replaying tracks and getting similar good times on tracks (made easier to do once tracks are more familiar) awards more stars which can be used for playing more mod tracks. If I understand correctly earning a fast enough time on mod tracks also awards stars for additional replays? Seems like a reasonable incentive to play well on each race in order to "unlock" a chance at completing another mod track. It kind of seems like a lot of people have jumped on the comment that mod tracks can only be played with stars which either are awarded for fast race times, or which may be purchased with IAP as some kind of sneaky bait and switch cash grab. I am in total support of premium games with no IAP and that is almost exclusively what I buy. The only IAP I have purchased is for additional episodic content and permanent upgrades like expansions or skins/characters etc... The pricing model does seem a little unusual considering the premium cost up front with the additional consumable IAP potentially affecting gameplay. Seems like the dev might have had a warmer reception with a "Stars" method for unlocking mod tracks rather than making them playable only when stars are available. I agree that this game will need to either update to a premium total package game or will likely go free before too long due confusion over the pay model. Either way, gameplay looks a lot like Track Mania and with some additional side paths through tracks which looks interesting. Along with Total Drive mode providing opportunities to dominate on tracks with occasional access to enhanced versions of cars to mix up the play style from time to time... I want to like this.. I may bite. Imps to follow if I do.
I have to agree that it may have been easier to swallow if you unlock tracks in the second mode permanently with each star earned. Requiring a star every time you play them just once is pretty steep and has a more F2P feel to it. I don't want to grind stars just to keep playing what I feel is the meat of the game. Unlock? That's fine. But making it essentially consumable is overkill. The game is decent but the Basic mode is just that ... Basic. I want to be playing the other mode, without having to grind a star each and everytime I do.
I'm finding the controls and control options disappointing. Nothing for me here. Deleted, $1 less rich. Lol
Yeah, the controls aren't great either. Tried both touch and accelmeter. Also hate that it's auto accelerate. I don't mind it as much in games like Asphalt 8, but this kind of game needs more control over speed (and no the brake doesn't cut it).
You can turn off auto accelerate, but only with tilt steering. And, for what it's worth, the breaks work as expected for me. My main issue with the game is the inconsistent sound effects -- they make the jumps and crashes feel kind of weightless and empty, even though the physics are okay. Overall, though, this is pretty decent, especially for a buck.
