Since the release of the App Store, we’ve seen dozens of racing games hit the platform, but only recently has there been an explosion of 4x4 racing games. In 4x4 Jam, players have some new features and a unique game mode not yet seen on the App Store.
When first playing 4x4 Jam, you will notice three game modes: a classic race mode, free roam, and jam mode. In the racing mode, one to three opponents can be chosen, and you must beat them to the finish in anywhere from two to ten laps.
In free roam mode, chose one of the two cars available and ride through an endless desert or grassland. That’s right, endless. I found this mode to be quite relaxing, and having an infinite amount of space to glide through is an added bonus.
The final mode is jam. Again, players can choose up to three competitors in this aggressive game mode. The objective of jam mode is to beat the other vehicles to sets of green flares that act as a gate. Once a player crosses the gate, they receive a point.
Although the game has three game modes, it lacks content. There are only two different types of vehicles available and only two environments. Although the graphics are superb in the vehicles and levels, two of each just isn’t cutting it for me.
I also found the controls to be a bit difficult. You can choose accelerometer mode or on-screen controls. This might be the first racing game where I prefer the touch controls over the accelerometer. Turning by tilt seems to conjure up more difficult turns. One advantage to the control schemes is that players have the choice of manual acceleration versus automatic.
The free roam and jam mode are pretty spot-on, but the racing needs some – make that a lot of – work. For one thing, there is no indication of what position your car is in. Also, only one set of flares are present at a time, so if you happen to pass one up, you have to pull a full 180 to get back through it.
The graphics were really the best part of this game. The vehicles were stunning, and the locations were adequate. I think the sounds could have been better, though. There is no in-game music, only sound effects, and the loud engines muffle the crashing sound effects.
If you’re a die-hard off-road racing fan who is used to tough handling, pick this one up. As for the rest of us, the lack of content in this game is enough to set me back from buying it. I’d keep a watch on it for updates on the cars and locations, but for now, I can’t see anyone getting more than a few hours of enjoyment out of this.
