iOS App-Aholics Anonymous: [Carmageddon]

App Name: Carmageddon
Developer: Stainless Games Ltd
Launch Date: 10-11-12
Price: $1.99
App-Aholic Rating: 3.8/5

It was either by sheer luck or an immense stroke of irony that all good pickin’s for this week’s iOSA3 subtracted zero bucks from my bank account. Unfortunately, that also means the choices weren’t very good, all except one title that was only free for the first 24 hours. Did you manage to snag a copy? If not, maybe we can help you decide if it’s worth the extra dough.

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What you gotta know from the get-go: This is not the typical racing game, in which you jet from the beginning to the end in hopes that you can score the first place slot. In fact, I’m pretty sure the only rules in Carmageddon is that there aren’t any! You drive on a track riddled with “checkpoints,” yet if you veer away from the beaten path (and you will), there is really no penalty, nor is there a significant penalty for not coming in first. The main objective? Keep moving until you reach the end of the final “lap”! At the top of the screen you’ll find a ticking clock. You simply have to run over pedestrians or maul your opponents in order to increase the remaining time on the clock. Of course, while doing this, your car will become damaged; luckily, you can repair your vehicle during the race with the vast amounts of money you’ll earn by hitting people.

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Some gripes for ya: The controls! My gosh, I would love a little bit more playability from a racer! Steering, especially from a dead-stop (when your vehicle’s peeling out,) is borderline impossible! Taking corners, even while casual-braking or pulling the emergency brake, won’t go well unless you slow down to a ridiculously sluggish pace, in which you will most likely be rear-ended by your opponents before you can make the turn. Good luck!

Quirks: Keeping an eye on the dude in the upper left corner can definitely be entertaining. (If you would like to just look at this character without having to think about the race, Stainless Games has provided an app dedicated solely to the PratCam.) Careful, though: if you stare for too long, it may induce a crash. But no worries; his facial expressions will let you know if something’s headed your way. 🙂

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App-Aholics Rating: 3.8; Honestly, for a game that revolves around the driving of a vehicle, the untamed controls in Carmageddon make the cars difficult to maneuver around and keep on the course. At first, this lack of playability can be frustrating (I almost deleted the app and called it quits). After a few more attempts, it’s just a substantial nuisance. Translation: Struggling to finish a race isn’t really that fun.

Bottom Line: Carmageddon would’ve made a nice addition to your iOS gaming collection when it was free. Even at $0.99, I could justify the flaws in this wrecking derby racer. However, without an update, Carmageddon doesn’t quite have enough appeal for the $1.99 price tag.

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Sound Off: Now, folks, it’s your turn! Do you have any thoughts, opinions, or general comments about the iOS installment of Carmageddon and/or its developer, Stainless Games Ltd? I personally reply to every comment, and I’d love to hear what you have to say! Just take your cranial debris and throw it down in the box below!

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