Gameproducer Gameloft has got their hands on another movielicense. The company has released an official iOS game for Universal Pictures’ new action-thriller “Fast Five.” Recreating the high-speed action from the movie, the game puts players in the role of Brian O’Conner, a wanted fugitive who must build a team of top drivers to avoid capture.
The explosive energy of the Fast and the Furious movies is exactly what Gameloft’s aging Asphalt series needed. With each new Asphalt game, Gameloft has pushed the boundaries of what’s technically possible on the system, but lately it’s been missing its muse. Fast Five the game introduces cinematic hazards like exploding buildings, the ability to rewind from crashes, and a more realistic aesthetic that matches the Burnout series on consoles.
These spectacular features, on top of Gameloft’s already finely-tuned racing engine, make Fast Five one of the most exciting racing games on the App Store. Set mainly in Rio de Janero, the plot closely follows the film as driving experts from around the world conspire to steal from a South American crime lord. The Brazillian setting means that you’ll be racing through jungles, plains, freeways, shanty towns, and gleaming downtown districts.
The default controls use the accelerometer, and we found that they were just perfect. Acceleration is automatic, letting you focus on making precise turns and knocking the competition out of the way. Normal races are only part of the game– you’ll also have to compete in drift, timed, and elimination modes, which should be familiar to anyone who’s played an Asphalt game.
There’s also a new mode, drag racing, which we have mixed feelings about. They’re more hands-off than the other modes, because steering is automatic and you control the acceleration through timed gear shifts. These races have a much less white-knuckled feel about them, but they’re good as a mental palate cleanser between the bigger races.
To advance through the game, you’ll alternate between story missions, which introduce new characters and tracks, and side missions, to earn street cred. With ten story chapters and several side missions for each, this is a huge amount of content. The story is told through still-image cutscenes, and they’re engaging enough to make you actually care about what happens next.
Another exciting feature is that you can race online against other players, and earn XP to unlock new cars. You can earn virtual currency in the main game, too, with the option to pay real money for extra cash if you want to immediately unlock the flashiest rides. It’s too bad that Gameloft charges extra on top of the $5 initial download, but buying the extra cash is completely optional and the game has the right level of challenge without it.
Gameloft has implemented a multiplayer mode that lets you share the action with your friends or go online in races for up to 10 players. You can also customize your vehicle with tuning packs and fire up its performance, and take advantage of the “Rewind Time” feature, which allows you to quickly replay after a crash.
If you like racing games, this game features great graphics and for sure will get your heart pumping. Fast Five the Movie: Official Game HD is available now for $4.99.
[ttjad keyword=”ipad”]
