Red Bull Racers Review
Price: FREE
Version Reviewed: 1.0
App Reviewed on: iPhone 5
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Drinking Red Bull may give folks wings, but there are no feathery landings in Red Bull Racers. This slot car racing game features plenty of high-speed shenanigans and subsequent wrecks, both highly attractive features for any title that puts players behind the wheel of fast things. However, some of the game's free-to-play elements scrape the soul like flesh hitting pavement at top speed.
Surviving a race isn't merely a matter of putting the pedal to the metal, though. Players also need to know exactly when to take the pedal off the metal. The tracks are filled with tight twists and turns, and taking a corner too quickly almost always sends the racer careening off the pavement (sometimes with impressive distance). Taking one's thumb off the accelerator icon typically slows the car down enough to take turns without wiping out, but it's vital to balance handling with speed. It takes some time to really get a feel for how to control the vehicles in Red Bull Racers, but once it's done, the brisk races and furious lane-changes become fun.
And even if Red Bull Racers' panhandling for in-app purchases can be overlooked, few players will be thrilled with the energy system, which depletes with every race. The meter refills over time, but really, who wants to slow down when they're playing a racing game?
Red Bull Racers is worth taking for a spin, but the stiff challenge and free-to-play elements keep it out of the running for first place.