Jet Car Stunts, an upcoming physics-based race car driving game from True Axis, has been submitted for approval and will be making its way to the app store soon. We’ve been given a preview build for review purposes, and we are thoroughly impressed with what we’ve seen so far.
Jet Car Stunts puts you in control of a modified F1 race car, capable of high speeds on land as well as acrobatic maneuvers in mid-air. The tracks upon which you drive are actually made up of segments of roadways hovering high above the ground. Driving from section to section requires making use of ramps and/or your afterburner to jump gaps and remain on the track. You’ll also encounter rings through which you can travel, as well as other obstacles (blocks, beams, etc.). Misjudging your airborne trajectory will result in a demolished vehicle. Alternatively, you can make creative use of these obstacles to further your progress in each level, skipping off of the edge of a ring to continue your trajectory, for instance. There are also checkpoints along the way, which come in handy as you’ll find yourself careening off the tracks on several occasions. Restarting from the checkpoint saves time and frustration.
Jet Car Stunts offers two modes of play: Platforming and Time Trial. The goal in Platforming is simply to reach the end of the track. Each time you fall off of the track or destroy your car, you are charged with a retry. You can retry a track as many times as necessary, but any tries after the first 10 will result in a failure once you finish the level. Time Trial requires you to reach the end of the level within a certain time frame.
The graphics are adequate, but not outstanding. The lack of great detail serves to keep the framerate high, which translates into a visually pleasing experience and super smooth gameplay. The sounds are great, from the revving engines to the smashing of the vehicles when they miss their mark. Controls utilize both touch and accelerometer. Tilt the device to steer and control your trajectory when you are airborne. There are buttons for acceleration, brake/reverse, hand brake, afterburner, and air brake. When you activate the air brake in flight, flaps open on the car, allowing you to tilt your device to control the direction of free fall of your vehicle. Tilting forward or backward causes you to dive or climb. Creating awesome acrobatic maneuvers is one of the most enjoyable features of the game.
Jet Car Stunts creates a wildly immersive experience that had us hooked from the get go. While the preview build only included some early levels and limited difficulty settings, we were able to get a sense of the full potential of this game. OpenFeint is utilized for leaderboards and achievements, and there are options for control layout (6 different styles), tilt sensitivity, and screen rotation. The price has yet to be set, but if the preview build is any indication, Jet Car Stunts will be worth whatever True Axis decides to charge. As it stands, we feel that, even in its pre-release state, Jet Car Stunts will be a 5-Dimple thrill ride.
