Maximum Car review
:: MOTOR MAYHEMPrice: Free
Version: 1.0
App Reviewed on: iPad Air 2
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[EDITED] Following new information from the publisher we can confirm that there is an option to buy unlimited Race Tickets by scrolling on the IAP store page.
Maximum Car is a racing game that really swings for the fences as far as style is concerned. As its name implies, Maximum Car is a bunch of over-the-top crazy nonsense which is then wrapped around a totally competent arcade racing game with wonky free-to-play design.
Crossy Burnout Chase
Maximum Car has all the things you'd expect from a crazy racing game. It's got weapons, super colorful environments, traffic, a shouty announcer, wrecks, boost, and lots of drifting. As overwhelming for the senses that the game is from an audiovisual standpoint, everything is controlled with simple taps to steer and initiate drift and swipes for boost and weapons.
There isn't any one game I would point to that Maximum Car reminds me of as much as it seems like someone made Horizon Chase more like Burnout in terms of gameplay, and then slapped some Crossy Road visuals and free-to-play design on it.
If you're not first you're last
In every race in Maximum Car, your goal is to cross the finish line first, whether that's by simply driving faster than the competition, taking them all out, or some combination of the two.
As you drive, you'll earn coins and boost for performing stunts like drifting, driving in the oncoming lane, or taking down opponents, but the real payday comes if you win a race. Earned coins can unlock new cars that you can then upgrade and take into future races. To add extra challenge, each stage has its own optional challenge you can complete for a bonus payout.
Running out of gas
Regardless of how you may feel about Maximum Car's gameplay on paper, there are a few very distinct things about the game that may be deal breakers for you.
The first is Maximum Car's excessive over-the-top-ness. Metal-riffs, slo-mo crash cams, and shouted catch phrases like "SPEED WEASEL," "DEVESTATIONNN," or even "GENERICALLY COOL GAMEPLAY COMMENTARY," come fast and furious during any given play session. The game generously offers the ability to turn all of these things off but in doing so, it feels like something is missing.
The second is Maximum Car's free-to-play model. You can race in Endless Mode and overtake or destroy as many racers as possible before inevitably crashing, or spend Race Tokens to play actual races, which grant more coin rewards and allow you to unlock new cars and stages. While it's nice that there's no annoying ads and there is a way to play the game as much as you want forever, it's kind of annoying that there's a mode locked behind a premium currency which--confusingly--you can't even buy your way out of.
The bottom line
There's a lot going on in Maximum Car, for better and for worse. For me, the stylistic choices--goofy and awkward as they may be--are kind of endearing, but its free-to-play mechanics are the main drain on what otherwise is some nice, dumb fun.