Endless Road Review

By , on December 4, 2012


Endless Road
Download on the AppStore
4 out of 5

PROS

  • Original art style. Has an element of Outrun, in choosing the different tracks to go down.
  • Easy to unlock and purchase store items.

CONS

  • Very unforgiving gameplay.

VERDICT

Endless Road is kind of like playing a game based on the movie Speed, in which if you can't keep your car above the threshold, be prepared to restart. Great presentation though.


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Maybe it's jaded memory talking, but there's really not many good things that come to mind when talking about the arcade driving classic Outrun. Perhaps the aspect that stands out the most though is the decision making process in which path you took each leg of the race. While this had no real bearing on the gameplay, a change of environment is always a welcome addition in any game, and it is this exact mechanic that resurfaces in Endless Road... though any other comparisons to Outrun aside from them both being driving games are not likely to be found.

Probably the most striking thing about Endless Road is its art style, so let's address that first. It has this isometric, zoomed out, minimalist approach to representation, that almost looks like a modern art installation that just happens to be moving. Colors are used in striking contrast to the predominant white and gray of the road and cars, and it results in a novel uniqueness that has not really been seen in gaming.

But of course art is ancillary to how a game plays, so let's get down to brass tacks. What we have here is a game that has taken inspiration for its core mechanic from the movie Speed. Not only is the road behind you constantly deteriorating, but if your car falls under eighty two miles per hour, and thus trails behind the almighty dotted line, well it's game over for you. The trick then is to press either on the left or right side of the screen to weave through traffic, hit all the speed boosts, avoid the slow downs, and last for as long as you can.

Of course there are missions to complete, and coins to collect that go towards upgrades in the shop. You'll be happy to hear that the unlocks and prices are not too outrageous, so you shouldn't be needing to fork over money unless you really want to.

So this all sounds pretty straightforward, yes? Well the game itself is a lot harder than it sounds. It can be quite unforgiving, at least until you learn the knack of keeping your speed up. Nevertheless, this is a fun little arcade racer with a really distinct presentation. Like a lot of these endless games, longevity may be an issue, but how long is something that's different with each individual.

Screenshots

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