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Review: “Need For Speed” Races Onto iPhone

Review: “Need For Speed” Races Onto iPhone

An undercover cop finds himself dragged into the seedy world of underground street racing in an attempt to take down a notorious smuggling ring. But in order to prove himself to the crooks, he must first prove himself behind the wheel through a series of car chases, competitions and high-speed escapes.

It sounds like the plot to another “Fast & Furious” movie, or some macho car racing video game. Well, that’s because it is the plot to a macho car racing game, but there’s no Vin Diesel here. “Need For Speed Underground,” based on the popular franchise, has raced onto the iPhone with a fury in hopes of nudging every other racing game out of the way.

That cookie-cutter story is mostly told through a series of live action cinematics. It looks nice, and adds to the game’s epic feel, but the scenes themselves are groan-inducing.

But “Need For Speed Underground,” as with all racing games, isn’t about the story details. The only thing that matters is what’s under the hood — the game engine, if you will. And what we find is a brilliant-looking iPhone app that raises the bar on what we should expect from this gaming platform.

As with most racing titles on the iPhone, steering is done by tilting the device left and right. The sensitivity is neither too loose nor too tight, so it doesn’t take long to make adjustments and find a groove. The car auto-accelerates, and a single finger tap hits the brakes. Swiping up on the screen activates a nitro boost. The use of finger gestures, rather than virtual buttons, helps clear the screen of clutter and lets the player hold the iPhone on the edges, out of screen view.

My only major complaint about the control setup is in executing the drifting technique, done by jerking the iPhone in one direction or another. This is far too difficult to pull off consistently, which means you spend most of your time slamming into walls or on-coming traffic. Ultimately, drifting is often not worth the risk, making the later races much harder (and more frustrating) than they need to be.

But when the going gets tough, the tough get upgrades. Cash is earned based on performance during the races. That cash can be used to pimp your ride and purchase a new one altogether. This personalization, a staple in the “Need For Speed” franchise, along with a best times and statistics list, extend the life of the game beyond the story. Work your way through challenges, upgrade, then try to improve your time.

However, the most impressive thing about “Need For Speed Underground” is, without a doubt, the 3-D graphics. This game looks stunning. Absolutely jaw-dropping. It’s almost something you’d expect to find on the PSP. The vehicles are rendered accurately. The environments are surprisingly detailed. The fast-paced motion effect is believable. You can actually tell when you’re driving fast. And game slowdown is rare and minor. It’s hard to believe that such a beautiful game is being played on an iPhone.

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