Disc Drivin' HD Review

Disc Drivin' has made its long awaited appearance on the iPad, in the aptly-named Disc Drivin' HD. This is the same game as in the iPhone/iPod touch version, cross-compatible with your current Disc Drivin' account and games. It comes with a spiffy new splash screen by Mike Berg of We Heart Games, and a redesigned iPad-friendly interface. If you haven't played the game yet (and I hope that's only because you never read the original review, or only have an iPad and don't use any non-iPad apps at all, no exceptions), then understand that the game is an asynchronous multiplayer racing game, where you and up to 7 local or 3 online opponents take turns racing around a track, with the first to complete 3 laps to be the winner. You swipe your disc around the track, amassing energy to activate your powerups, while trying to stay on the track and keep your opponents from passing you up.

The same great gameplay of the iPhone/iPod touch is represented here, with controls that work comfortably on the iPad, and larger buttons for activating powerups. Disc Drivin' HD's greatest strength may just be the way that the game works across multiple platforms. Unlike something like Words With Friends, which has long had issues with push notifications and playing games across multiple platforms, Disc Drivin' HD sends push notifications to any and all devices you're logged in from, and quickly reloads your game list when you open the app back up. It's easy, seamless, and allows you to play the game on any iOS device without any worries, even with local wireless play between devices.

The game is a separate app from the iPhone/iPod touch version and not a universal update, though the iPad version is feature-identical to the original. This was done, according to the developers, to leave their options open in case they do decide to launch iPad-exclusive features. So, if you want to play the iPad version, you will have to pay for it, and there's no free version yet either. The game still hasn't really expanded on content or features since the original came out - I'd at least love a couple new courses or for the long-awaited video sharing function to finally surface.

Disc Drivin' is just as addictive as when it first came out. Even months later, I still find myself regularly playing and checking for moves, so the game's lasting appeal cannot be questioned. If you're an iPad owner and haven't played the game yet, then you must play this now. If you own multiple iOS devices, then it's just a question of if you really feel the need to pay for an iPad-compatible version. If you do double-dip, you'll be happy with the purchase. If you haven't partaken in Disc Drivin' addiction yet, then what are you waiting for?