Lane Splitter Review

Developer: Fractive
Price: $0.99
Version Reviewed: 1.1
Device Reviewed On: iPhone

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Overall Rating:

Lane Splitter is a top-down arcade-style motorcycle game in which you have to tilt your iOS device left and right to steer Jake and his bike down a busy freeway, avoiding other vehicles along the way. If you physically touch any vehicle, it's game over. At the beginning of the game, you'll occasionally have to dodge a car here and there, but as you get further into it, the traffic will increase to the point where you're constantly dodging other vehicles. Indeed, the title becomes quite challenging as you progress.

The game's controls are a large part of the experience, and they work quite well, although at first it does take some time to get used to the sensitivity of them. In addition to steering your bike, you can tap the screen to perform a wheelie and experience a boost of speed. Doing so makes controlling your motorcycle temporarily more difficult while accelerating, but simultaneously, it's a useful for maneuvering out of the way of a vehicle that would otherwise hit you.

The title is visually pleasing and features realistic sound effects. You'll race down a busy freeway that's always changing in scenery. When you collide with another vehicle, Jake flies off his bike and tumbles in the air and eventually onto the pavement. The crash physics aren't bad for an iOS game, although this is no Burnout.

Lane Splitter is a rather simple game and feels like it could do with a couple of extras. For instance, it'd be cool if you could play tunes from your iPod library or choose your character's appearance and motorcycle style. Instead, there's just the start screen, a very basic options screen, leader boards and the game itself.

Admittedly, it might feel a little bare, but Lane Splitter is a very fun, arcade-style iOS title. Definitely worth a buck.

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