Real Racing 2 HD Review: Shiny!

App Name:	Real Racing 2 HD
Platforms:	iPad
Publisher(s):	Firemint
Version Reviewed:	1.01
Genre(s):	Racing
Release Date:	March 20, 2011
Price:	$6.99
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Last year, I reviewed Real Racing HD, and I awarded it 5 stars; I called it “an incredibly impressive, technically beautiful racing game” and declared it “the iPad racing game against which all other racing games will be judged.” Then I reviewed Real Racing 2 for the iPhone and called it “the best racing title on iOS, period, and the one racing game that any racing game fan should own.” And now, I’m faced with the task of reviewing Real Racing 2 HD.

At this point, the review pretty much writes itself.

Did you expect Firemint to somehow screw this one up? I didn’t. All they had to do was scale up the awesomeness that was Real Racing 2 for the iPhone, add some extra graphical depth for the iPad 2, and head out for a beer.

Well, that’s exactly what Firemint did, and then some. Real Racing 2 HD (RR2)is still the great racing sim it was before, still with the extensive selection  of cars and courses, still with the deep career mode, and still with the phenomenal depth of control personalization. There are cars available from an excellent selection of both domestic and foreign; locations around the world; and plenty of tune-ups to customize your favorite ride with. The heart of the game is still Career Mode) though you can always choose to run a Quick Race or even challenge a friend in multiplayer (and tape your victory to post on YouTube, even!).

The graphics on the iPad are, as expected, superior to those on the iPhone (and even more gorgeous on the iPad 2). These cars sport phenomenal shading, smooth scrolling, and photorealistic effects. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Firement’s Mint 3D engine stands toe-to-toe with the best games on iOS in terms of visual appeal. Concrete glitters; car bodies shine; the sun flares off the lens of your screen. It was a treat to look at on the iPhone, and the larger iPad screen just lets you enjoy it all more.

One of my favorite additions to the iPad version, by the way, is also my favorite addition to the iPhone version: synced games, so that I can advance my racing career on either device. Oh, how I wish every game did this! Gameloft would sell me more HD versions if they did.

[For what it's worth, I have not experienced the crashing glitch that others have reported, and so the existence of this glitch has not dampened my enjoyment of this game. And as I'm writing this today, I've seen that Firement has put out a bug fix update, so hopefully the issue is resolved for those that have experienced it.]

I’m sure there are folks out there that could nit and pick things about RR2 HD. For example, the customization options are sometimes limited. Why can’t I paint my car any color I want? And why does it cost a whole race’s worth of winnings to do so? The audio is also a secondary concern here, mostly monotonous engine noises and the occasional tire squeal. But none of these diminishes my view of the experience. It’s simply the best racing sim on the iPad, by a mile.

If you’re one of the emerging breed of iOS gamers, and if you own an iPad, and if you want the best, you’ll buy Real Racing 2 HD. It’s one of those games that belongs on your system.

Our Score: 5 Out of 5

About the Author

Writer@Large Brian P. Hudson is an educator and freelance writer currently living in Dearborn, MI.

 

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