Speedway GP 2012 Review

Speedway racing isn't the kind of sport that's usually highlighted in the racing game world so it's refreshing to see its use in Speedway GP 2012.

The game offers the official license of the FIM Speedway GP 2012 and along with it 12 real-world tracks and the chance to race against 15 of the world's best Speedway riders. None of this would matter, of course, if the game mechanics were poor. Fortunately, Speedway GP 2012 is a pretty decent use of the license even if its control system is understandably restrictive.

Due to the nature of speedway, in which riders race around a circular track, the only control that really matters is the ability to turn to the left. There's no option for turning right or braking or changing gears. The entire focus is placed on tapping to the left of the screen in order to steer. There's the potential for this becoming tedious but keeping to the driving line, and ensuring it's consistently green, is slightly more challenging than it looks. It's imperative to time letting off the steering in order to keep the tight racing line just so. Otherwise, one minor mistake can cost the lead. Tilting options are there for those obsessed with their accelerometer but I wouldn't recommend it when the tap controls work so well.

While a bit of practice and a few races in, players will have perfected many turns, it's still enjoyable to sneak through the opposing bikes and snatch that all important lead. A form of levelling up, thus unlocking engine upgrades, should keep most players motivated, or they can always skip ahead with some keenly priced in-app purchases.

Due to the nature of Speedway, Speedway GP 2012 might seem a little repetitive after a time. Fans of the sport will know what to expect though making it less of a problem. Just don't go expecting the kind of controls that come from other racing games, this one's pretty restrictive.