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Released: 08 Sep, 2011

Reviewer: Andrew Nesvadba

Version: 1.1.0 Size: 11.8 MB

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Grand Prix Story

$3.99

Save: 80% Was: $1.99Racing Games1.1.0Kairosoft Co.,Ltd

PROS

Unique gameplay focus on vehicle prototyping; like Game Dev Story with cars.
You get to watch your vehicle in action.

CONS

No skipping races if you're just after the cash.
As with other titles, 'fast' mode not available until you've completed a full playthrough.

VERDICT

Even though you may be suffering from Kairosoft-fatigue, Grand Prix Story is a fantastic sim that harkens back to the developer's roots while showing the polish you'd expect of a later title in their catalog.

Video Review

Full Review

It seems we can barely finish a Kairosoft game these days before another hits the shelves in order to suck up the loose change from our collective wallets. To be fair to the developer, Grand Prix Story did see its way on to the Android platform as an exclusive earlier in the year. It's hard to feel cynical and claim the game as a simple cash grab, because when it comes down to it the game is just as great as you'd expect it to be.

It's no surprise to find out that Grand Prix Story is yet another management-sim, this time placing you at the reins of a racing company determined to prove their worth on the world-wide circuit. Strangely unlike most of the recent releases from Kairosoft, Grand Prix Story takes a trip back in time and feels much like Game Dev Story as your company revolves around the production cycle of individual vehicles, with each of your employees fulfilling basic roles that can be upgraded over time (either with research points or financial investments).

However, where Game Dev had you releasing your final product in to the wild, Grand Prix places you on a virtual track, pitting you against other virtual companies and their cars in a bid to attract sponsors and cash prizes to fund new projects. Cash can also be earned by putting your various drivers to work outside your company or by employing special characters with lower-stats that inject funds in to your project - as such there's a much lower chance of becoming bankrupt, allowing you to focus on patching the holes on any cash-flow problems before ruining your game permanently.

Grand Prix Story is presented in its typical cartoonish pixel-art style and while watching the simulated races can be tedious, there are moments when you'll hang on every pixel your car gains on another car in the hopes you'll make a pass on the final corner.

Ultimately Grand Prix Story is essentially Game Dev Story for those with a penchant for vehicles. That isn't to say casual gamers without a deep knowledge of racing can't get a kick out of it, but it certainly helps.

App Store Info

--Special release sale of 25% off!--Try your hand at managing an auto racing team!Become the boss of your own team, training drivers and acquiring sponsors before conquering the Grand Prix!Develop new vehicles and parts, and customize them any way you like! Do you have what it takes to make it to the winner's circle?No knowledge of motorsports is required to play!-- Supports iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Note: Screen rotation and zoom are only available on iPhone 3GS and later, iPod touch 2nd generation and later, and iPad. The game now lets you switch between English and Japanese.