What’s your favourite mobile arcade racer? Need for Speed: Most Wanted? Asphalt 8? Horizon Chase?
All excellent responses, but none would be my choice. The award must go to Ridge Racer Slipstream from 2013, a superb mobile adaptation of the well-known Namco Bandai console series.
So I approach Ridge Racer Draw and Drift, which has been in soft launch on the Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Philippines App Stores since October, with much interest—and not a little anxiety.
These are some observations I made after using the most recent pre-launch version.
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Call it a draw
Sadly, this isn’t the Ridge Racer Slipstream sequel I was hoping for. It’s something else entirely, to the point where I could imagine (Drift Hunters) a true sequel co-existing with this effort.
So what is Ridge Racer Draw and Drift if it’s not a true Ridge Racer game? It’s all spelled out in the second half of that name.
Rather than steering your car around the track directly, you must draw a path for it to follow prior to each race. Then in the race proper, you tap the screen as your car approaches corners to initiate a drift (risking a late tap for a ‘perfect’ slide), and hit the nitro button when it becomes available to you.
If you’re hoping that this is some kind of return to the brilliantly novel – and sadly missed – line-drawing racing system of DrawRace and its sequel, it’s not. Your car seems to follow a smoothed-out approximation of your route (I tested this with some deliberately squiggly efforts).
Meanwhile the speed at which you draw simply determines how small those powerslide points will be, with tighter windows yielding superior nitro rewards. Right now, the whole drawing section feels a little superfluous.
Max Verstappen or Lance Stroll?
The rhythmic drift-tapping portion, though, has a pleasing quality. The fact that it is more reminiscent of the timing-based gameplay of games like CSR Racing than any other Ridge Racer you may have played is not necessarily a negative thing. Getting many “Perfect” corners right is quite fulfilling.
To assess how this skill-based system compares to the typical freemium grind of acquiring upgrades and saving up for random vehicle drops, we’ll need to spend more time with the game.
What I can say at this early point is that Ridge Racer Draw and Drift looks very pretty indeed, with smooth 3D races that move along at a fair old lick.
When a game invokes memories of not one but two of the finest racing experiences on mobile (Ridge Racer Slipstream and DrawRace 2) though, it’s natural to expect great things of it. It’s still early days, but I have my doubts that Ridge Racer Draw and Drift will be able to keep up with such racing pedigree.
Beecarbonize
You can help preserve the earth by reducing carbon emissions while playing this adorable card strategy game that is completely free to play (that’s right – there are no advertisements or microtransactions here). In all, there are 120 cards that may be unearthed as you make your way through the game, in addition to a plethora of environmental disasters that might spring up at any moment based on the choices you make.
For instance, the decisions that you make now might have repercussions for the future, such as increasing the likelihood of a nuclear accident by making investments in nuclear energy. You’ll need to start again with the game and pick up new information as you go through it.
Not Not 2 – A Brain Challenge
Based on the simple premise of “Simon Says”, this minimalist brain teaser challenges your ability to follow directions under pressure. The game puts your orientation and logic skills to the test, as well as your brain prowess when it comes to colours and double negatives.
There are also new game modes in this sequel along with daily challenges, plus leaderboards where you can pit your own brain cells against others’. There’s a handy accessibility option for colourblind gamers as well.
Pickle Pete
You play as a pickle on a mission to rescue the planet in this survival role-playing game, which provides a fresh perspective to the current trend in the genre. In order to improve your equipment and aid you in combating the never-ending enemy hordes, you may mix various builds and shop around in between waves.
The game’s appeal is enhanced by the bright hand-drawn visuals, and if you want to push yourself, you may do so in the endless mode by competing with other players on the leaderboards.
Tacape
This roguelite deck-builder tasks you with saving your little brother Lucas across a mysterious forest, but it also lets you play as the wayward brother who’ll have to face the dangers of the woods to reach his sister Lorena. You’ll encounter mystical creatures from Brazilian folklore along the way, and enemies can switch up their positions to spice up the combat.
The game features over a hundred cards as well as more than 25 enemies to discover across four playable areas.
Street Fighter Duel
This highly anticipated game blends aspects of role-playing games (RPGs) with card battles that include strategic decision-making as you work to discover a conspiracy in Shadaloo City. The game brings back all of the memories that fans of the brand have come to know and love, and it also has a convenient auto-mode that should appeal to lazy gamers. Also, the game includes famous combinations and techniques that players have grown to know and love.
You will not only Hadoken and Shoryuken your way through enemies throughout missions, but you will also be able to play fan-favorite characters like Ryu, Ken, and Chun-Li across PvP and PvE modes while ranking up in the Arena for the ultimate bragging rights. In addition, you will be able to play as multiple characters at the same time.
