By Brad Russell
TrophyLite is a 3D racing game that uses the iPad as a steering wheel. If you
haven't seen these controls in action, it's just like holding something square
in front of your face and turning it this way and that. The gas pedal and brake
are within thumb's reach. Do you need the brake button? Not really, but by
keeping the laws of physics at a safe distance the game avoids becoming
frustrating to control. As you unlock tracks your driving skills come into play
more and more to provide the challenge.
The controls are simple and pleasant enough for anyone to jump in and enjoy
the bumpy ride. There are over a dozen tracks, three difficulties, and you can
choose the length of your race in arcade mode for a quick fix. Aside from the
arcade mode, there is also a career that unlocks tracks and lets you acquire
upgrades for your car. You can even hit up your iPad buddy(s) in one-on-one
races. There are a good number of different rally cars to drive, but it's hard
to tell them apart other than the color and the perspective is from the driver's
seat, so you may as well be picking 30+ front windows. And of course there are
achievements if you're into that.
The graphics are great for something you can bust out anywhere and play. You
won't be blown away by textures not much better than what you would find in an
old arcade rally game, but for your iPad it's not a big deal. The lag when you
see the sun and some glitchy stretches of track do drag the game down at times,
but nothing that should last for too long. And of course if you are not fond of
miles and miles of desert and mud then you may want to pass on this one.
It is a little strange to judge your progress by a bar at the top of the
screen, so there is a bit lost in the elements that make most racing games
thrilling. You won't feel like you're a real rally car racer, you'll surely feel
like you're playing a racing game on your iPad, but there's enough fun to be had
on this casual racing app to recommend to those with the cash to blow.
Final Rating: 65%
