As I've talked about before, the original Disc Drivin' was something of an obsession with the TouchArcade staff and many members of our community. I'd say it easily wins as being the mobile game I've played for the longest time, as it launched way back in 2010 and has remained a constant in my rotation ever since, with only a few breaks in between. So it was a mixture of delight and trepidation when developer Pixelocity announced Disc Drivin' 2 [Free] which just launched this week. On one hand fans were getting a new entry of a favorite which would theoretically add all sorts of fun new stuff. On the other, would this sequel mess with the formula or ruin the happy feelings we have towards that beloved original? As a diehard Disc Driver I'd say there's a bit from column A and column B, but overall I'm thrilled with this new entry in the series and Disc Drivin' 2 looks poised to continue the tradition that the original started for many more years to come. If you're unfamiliar with Disc Drivin' then please read my review of the original game for the nuts and bolts of what the basic concept behind the game is. This review will assume you have a basic understanding of Disc Drivin' and mostly focuses on what's new compared to the original game.
First off it's worth noting that Disc Drivin' 2 is quite different from the first game in a number of ways. The physics feel just ever so slightly different… not in a good way or a bad way, just in a different way. Discs felt like they were lighter and moved faster in the first Disc Drivin' but maybe that's my imagination. Then there's the major change of being able to take two swipes per turn as opposed to the one swipe of the original game. This is a really neat change in my opinion, but one that you need to get used to. I almost always forget that I can take that second swipe as I'm watching where my disc is going down the track, and when I do remember it can be tricky to figure out where exactly that second swipe will send me. The camera remains behind the back of the disc based on the direction it's traveling, so if you're in a curve or something you don't really have a good view of where you're flicking to on that second swipe. I can't think of a good solution for this problem, and it's certainly getting easier the more familiar I become with the tracks in the game, but it still feels a little awkward and clunky.
The way the special Powers work is significantly different in Disc Drivin' 2. In the first game you had a speed boost (sort of the "default" special Power), the ability to stop on a dime, an oil slick to drop on the track, a bomb to drop on the track, invisibility which allowed you to pass through walls, and a jump. You could switch between these at any time during play and once your Power meter filled you could use the Power of your choosing with the press of a button. In Disc Drivin' 2 you start out with the speed boost but all other Powers are unlocked by earning XP and leveling up your profile. XP is earned by playing any of the modes in the game, and once unlocked special cards can upgrade the effectiveness of those Powers (more on cards in a minute). All the original Powers return and some new ones have been added, like a missile attack and a shockwave type move that will blast nearby opponent discs. It's somewhat frustrating not having all the Powers at your disposal right away, but they unlock fairly quickly the more you play and it's kind of nice how you're forced to get good with the ones that you have unlocked before getting access to new ones.
Disc customization also returns in Disc Drivin' 2, and again this is something that's tied into the new card system. Buying cards can unlock new discs at random, and there are a whopping 100(!) different discs in the game. Many of the same types of patterns from the original game make a return, and also like the first game you can change the primary and secondary colors of each one. There are also a good amount of totally unique 3D discs in a variety of styles that aren't strictly disc-shaped. There's a ninja star complete with pointy edges, a Homer Simpson-style pink donut with sprinkles, a steering wheel from a ship complete with handles around the edge and spokes in the middle, and my own current personal favorite a stack of pancakes on a plate. These new disc types are a ton of fun and the slow drip of unlocking them through cards is a satisfying method of progression that's not tied to anything gameplay-related. This is probably a good time to mention that the overall visuals in Disc Drivin' 2 are a big step up over the first game, with much sharper graphics and better lighting and shadow effects.
Ok, let's talk monetization. The original Disc Drivin' started out as a pay-once game in separate iPhone and iPad versions, with an additional ad-supported free version for the iPhone. Down the line IAP was added for unlocking disc customization packs. Disc Drivin' 2 is a much more contemporary free to play model. There's one type of in-game currency, coins, and there's forced ads in between turns in games. Coins are used to buy cards which are 25 coins apiece and give you a shot at unlocking new Discs and Abilities as well as going towards upgrading your Powers. Coins are also used to start up non-random games online, and it'll cost you 1 coin to start a game with friends where the track selection is random, and 5 coins to start a game where you're able to select the track yourself. Coins are purchased as IAP in packs from $2-$40, and you can also earn them by completing Daily Challenges, earning medals in Speedrun, or playing races online.
Mulligans. Yes, Disc Drivin' 2 features mulligans which is basically a fancy way of saying they'll give you a second chance should you completely biff one of your turns. Thankfully they're limited to just 3 per race, but in order to use a mulligan you'll need to watch a video ad, and that goes for both free players and those who purchased the Deluxe IAP. Two things here. First, I'm not sure I agree with including this sort of feature in the game. It can be nice as sometimes you get a bad swipe or things don't play out how you expect and being able to redo things can be helpful. On the other hand… that's life, you know? We all get a bad flick now and then and you just have to roll with it. Beyond that, if we accept that these are a part of the game now, I don't think the Deluxe players should have to wait through an ad to be able to use them. Ads just slow down the pace of what is normally a nice, quick experience, so if people are paying to get rid of the forced ads the opt-in ones should be included in that too, I think.
One of the big things that would always cause me to take a break from the original Disc Drivin' was that due to its simplicity games would often revolve around who could make that big shortcut jump first, often leading to a completely lopsided affair. Don't get me wrong, I loved finding and utilizing shortcuts in the first game, and think it's totally fair play to use them. But they also relied heavily on luck in addition to skill, and it would really dampen the enthusiasm of a game if you'd miss a jump because the physics engine decided you'd bounce a different way than your opponent and you'd fall off the track and find yourself way behind with no hope of catching up. Disc Drivin' 2 rectifies that with its new mechanics and many new abilities. I have no doubt that exploits will be discovered in due time, but at the very least the tools are there to make it more possible to be competitive in a race even if things don't work out how you'd hoped. One screw up no longer feels like the kiss of death that it used to, and I think that will make all the difference in Disc Drivin' 2 remaining fresh and fun for literally years to come.
Is it crazy to write a 2500 word critique on a game I could just as easily have told people to download for free and try out for themselves? Yes. But that's because I'm crazy and the original Disc Drivin' was more than just a game to me. It was a lifestyle, man! I was never under the impression that the first game made all that much money, so I never actually expected a sequel to get made. The fact that it exists and brings so much to the table is a miracle to me. Yes there is room for improvement, and yes the free to play model and slow pace of unlocking stuff might turn off some. Hardcore players of the original might be turned off initially due to the differences in this sequel, I know I certainly was at first, but the game really does grow on you as you get used to what's new and slowly let go of what you've known. I urge you to stick with it as the brilliance of Disc Drivin' 2 slowly reveals itself. This is a true evolution of a classic formula, and one I know I'll be sticking with for a very long time to come. Give it a try, and hit up the forum link below for some discussion or to share your username and find some online competitors.
from TouchArcade http://ift.tt/2ExPhXA
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