Catch my drift
I’ve never quite understood the appeal behind drifting. So many games make use of it and it’s a fun little gameplay mechanic, but I honestly can’t imagine people doing it in real life, even if they’re an adrenaline junkie who enjoys stunt racing. It seems as if the risk is the main draw, but the danger of drifting in itself wasn’t enough for the developers of Drifty Chase, who decided to up the ante introducing a multitude of dangers and hazards into the mix.
The game places players behind the wheels of one such drift-worthy car. Fresh from a bank heist, the car speeds away with the police in hot pursuit. Many intersections are inexplicably blocked, messing with your escape plans, so you need to turn corners with nary a moment’s notice. To make matters worse, the roads appear to be consumed by rush hour traffic, ensuring that colliding into other cars is an ever-present danger.
Drifting from one narrow, 90-degree street to the next is the core of the game, and it’s all accomplished with but a simple tap of the screen. Players need to take into account when is the most opportune time to begin a drift, as performing this stunt sends the car flying outward and potentially into oncoming traffic or a wall. It also takes a couple of seconds for the car to realign, meaning that you better have a pretty good idea of which lane you intend on using.
It’s all about lasting as long as possible with a fair amount of cash in tow, as money will eventually enable you to unlock more cars. You’ll also be able to unlock checkpoints, allowing you to begin the chase deeper within a given metropolitan area. New gimmicks are introduced before long, such as a long truck that players may drive under, or entering a city that drives on the opposite side of the road. Still, the best way to play Drifty Chase is in small chunks of no more than a few minutes each, lest it becomes repetitive and the players suffers from rote fatigue.
Graphics invoke a simple-but-effective low-polygon look, somewhat resembling voxels and having been employed in other mobile titles such as Crossy Road and Giant Boulder Of Death. An abundance of lighting effects adds to the mood and makes each city unique with a distinct palette. On the audio side of things, there’s a 70’s-inspired track that plays and smoothly segues into other tracks as the game progresses. For example, it becomes distinctly oriental-sounding when entering China Town. Cute little touches like these are certainly welcome and add to the experience.
The game doesn’t cost anything, but nonetheless includes in-app purchases. Players may purchase a VIP account and get access to a load of cash and, therefore, many of the game’s features without the need for grinding. Additionally, if you get a game over – most often by miscalculating a turn – you can opt to hop right back into the game if you’ll consent to watch a small video.
Drifty Chase is pretty much the ideal mobile game. It’s quick to start, easy to get into, and it rewards continued play. The whole affair is great for a quick, 5-minute burst of gameplay when you’re itching for a fix without long-term commitment. You can snag it for free on your Android or iOS device by visiting its page on Google Play and the iTunes App Store, respectively.
Final Verdict: 4/5
Available on: iOS (reviewed), Android ; Reviewed on: iOS ; Publisher: Crimson Pine Games ; Developer: Crimson Pine Games ; Players: single-player ; Released: 5 October, 2016.
This review was based on a review copy of Drifty Chase provided to Hey Poor Player by the publisher.