Every so often, a game comes with a simple premise that keeps casual iOS gamers engaged for hours on end. Reckless Getaway is just such a game. What makes it so addictive? Read on to find out.
Reckless Getaway places players in a top down getaway car to follow along a prescribed path at a set speed, avoiding other cars, road obstacles and aggressive police car chases. Coins and power-ups can be collected along the way to boost your star ratings. Demolitions, trick maneuvers, spectacular ramp jumps and various forms of mayhem also add to your score. Avoid large obstacles like building walls, deep ravines, oncoming locomotives and chronic collisions with other vehicles lest your getaway car gets destroyed. Doing so removes a star from your overall ranking. Star rankings are important to qualify for access to more levels in the game (a total of 17 tracks overall).
Car animation is bright and colorful, controls are responsive and easy to use, and the variety of obstacles keeps the game compelling and engaging. Speed of motion is a little on the slow side to keep the game from becoming an exercise in instantaneous obstacle frustration. Some speed-freak gamers may prefer a faster, crazier pace but I found the constant scroll to be set just right for my casual gaming abilities. Game physics are a bit on the spongy side, though these exaggerated responses heighten the playfulness of the subject matter much like exaggerated expressions of cartoon characters heighten the entertainment of that art form.
Achievements can be posted to the Game Center, though multi-player is not available in the game. However, developer Pixelbite and publisher Polarbit Games promise more chapters and game modes to come, akin to the Angry Birds franchise of keeping the game relevant for new and existing Reckless Getaway players alike.
Overall, Reckless Getaway is a typical top-down cops and robbers racing game that has been beautifully executed for colorful, addicting gameplay fun. Check out this YouTube video for a quick demo of the game in motion. Even if you're not into the top-down racing genre, you may find the ease of controls and the quick levels an entertaining way to wind down after a long day.
Product: Reckless Getaway
Publisher: Polarbit Games
Price: $2.99
Rating: 4/5 stars
Polarbit sent me the just
Polarbit sent me the just released Android version of the game, and it looks and plays identically to the iPhone release. I haven't had the chance to try it on an Android tablet yet, but playing on an Android phone is as silky smooth as the iPhone original. Nice to see how developers like Polarbit can master two very different mobile platforms and deliver the same entertaining gaming experience on each.