Gaming On-The-Go is a weekly series that explores the mobile gaming industry, as well as uncovering current trends, with hands-on guides for the latest smartphone and tablet games.
In my pre-teens, I spent many an afternoon playing Driver on PlayStation. Although I am now an adult who has a license but never gets behind the wheel, I still can't get enough of racing games.
That's why I downloaded Cie Games' Racing Rivals, a real-time racing game that lets you pimp your ride and take it to the streets to drag-race against opponents online, making you feel as bad as Vin Diesel.
First launched for iOS in August 2013, and for Android in October of the same year, the game's most recent update was pushed on August 4, removing some bugs and making small improvements to the game's performance.
After downloading the mobile game, the player hits the streets of L.A. to unlock new cars and complete driver's challenges, entering the campaign mode for tournaments and challenging others in the Multiplayer mode.
What Is Working
The most appealing aspect of this game is the graphics, which make you feel like you're actually on the road. But it's the cars that steal the show, and rightfully so. The cars are sleek, sexy and they can go really fast — with some upgrades. The brands featured in Rival Racing include McLaren, Subaru, Dodge, Bentley, Mitsubishi, Ford, BMW and Acura — to name a few.
While the cars are simply gorgeous to look at, the engines purr — adding another realistic dimension to the game. Players have the ability to add updates to their cars, which impact the performance and/or appearance of the vehicle.
Racing Rivals became the highest-grossing racing app for iOS in two short months of its release, setting itself apart from other racing games with its multiplayer races.
While single-player mode is fun, multiplayer is ten times better. You can bet on races by putting in money or your car to see who will return with the victory. Spending more time playing multiplayer races will also increase the number of coins you earn, so you will then be able to upgrade more quickly.
What Is Missing
It does take some time to advance in the game, so you have to be committed to completing a decent number of races to level up and unlock more car options for purchase.
As far as the gameplay goes, you must launch the car when the light goes green — making sure to avoid a false start. Once the race begins, you have to shift at the perfect time as the car speeds down the street. I was disappointed that all I had to do was tap the shift, instead of being able to press on the gas and steer the car. I also noticed that every second counts for shifting. While this makes the game realistic, I was often frustrated enough to quit playing for a few minutes, just so I could recharge my competitive juices.
Some players have complained that the avatars of certain users are a bit too racy, considering that this app is popular among kids.
Cases have also been reported of players losing their cars because of a race glitch that rules the outcome a tie. This means they would win some serious cars, such as the Lamborghini Murcielago. I would file this under a huge win — but it is in unfair to other competitors, so bugs likes these are a major concern.
According to the game's forum, there are also quite a few people who are out to scam players by "befriending" them, and then ripping them off after expensive trades. The moral of this story: trust no one when in drag racing.
Game Hacks
In order to win a race, make sure you pay attention to the blue lights underneath the launch button, waiting for the change to green before shifting. Rev the engine by tapping on the gas pedal before the race starts, to get an extra boost. But watch that the light doesn't go red, because this will cause engine problems.
As far as upgrades go, apply them to the engine first, as not doing so will increase engine damage. You will want to focus on increasing horsepower and torque, and making small upgrades such as tires and turbo kits to increase speed.
Players will also need Nitrous Oxide to win races later in the game. Make upgrading your NOS a priority, as it's expensive and will need upgrades.
In Pink Slip races, players can win cars, but they can also lose them if they are defeated in the race. Make sure you have at least two cars (an entrance requirement) with one to spare when you going in. They will also need to be upgraded to enter, so make sure you take them for a few test drives before putting them on the line.
Final Thoughts
If you are a fan of Fast and Furious, then this is a game you should check out. The multiplayer mode makes the game, while buying new cards might break the bank, as they require diamonds to purchase. It does take a while to advance, so you will need to devote some time to playing Racing Rivals. Nevertheless, with its unique betting, chat features, and real-time racing against other players, this mobile game is well worth taking a spin for those with a need for speed.
Rival Racing is free to download with in-app purchases for iOS and Android.
