Split/Second Review

By , on May 19, 2010


Split/Second
  • Publisher: Disney
  • Genre: Racing
  • Released: 18 May, 2010
  • Size: 219.4 MB
  • Price: $0.99
Download on the AppStore
4 out of 5

PROS

  • Action filled arcade racing.
  • Scaled down interface design.
  • Point based content unlocks.

CONS

  • Incredibly easy to 'crash' due to poor cornering.

VERDICT

There are plenty of other serious racers available on the App Store, but Split/Second will feed your inner tweenager's destructive lust with its explosive action like no other racer.


  • Full Review
  • App Store Info

Everyone likes to have a go at Director Michael Bay for his mindless, explosion filled action films, but he also knows that deep down everyone has a teenager that's delighted by simple wanton destruction. Split/Second by Disney Interactive and Black Rock Studio follows this train of thought and throws players in to a deadly high-speed race where you get to use an entire city as a weapon against your opponents.

The tilt-based controls are fairly standard for a racer, though early cars do feel incredibly rigid and are prone to completely lose control without liberal use of the brake. 'Powerplay' energy needs to be earned in order to trigger the various traps available in each track and is easy enough to keep topped up by performing various tasks like drifting, drafting or jumping. Filling the entire bar even gives you the option to unlock shortcuts throughout the level.

Split/Second is certainly a jump down in quality from the console version, but is still fairly impressive for the iPhone. Turns can be hard to judge on some levels, requiring practice to prevent pointless crashes. Unfortunately, for a game designed to get the blood pumping its explosions are fairly tame and destroyed environments are quick to reset.

As an arcade-racer Split/Second succeeds at being a fun and mindless experience that will push all the right buttons for your inner 13-year-old, but there's just not enough substance to make this a technical racer for your iPhone.

Screenshots

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