Mobile gaming’s premier racing simulation, Real Racing 2 by Firemint, is available for a meager $2.99.  Real Racing 2 blurs the line between mobile and console gaming and in some ways surpasses the older platform.

RR2 is jam-packed with everything a hard-core racing fan could ask for; intense 16 car racing through a long and challenging career, photo-realistic licensed cars to die for, great controls with every option imaginable to custom fit the racing to every skill level, fantastic replays and sound, a blinding sense of speed and great anywhere online multiplayer.  All for 3 bucks!

While the 16 car multi-race championships have qualifiers to improve your starting position, it’s such a thrill to jostle your way through an entire field of racers all fighting for the optimum racing line that I stopped running the qualifiers after awhile.  Unlike arcade racers that involve sliding, drifting and pinballing off walls, if you do that in RR2 you’ll be left in the dust.  This realistic racer is all about maintaining good road traction by using your brakes and taking a good racing line.  The AI is aggressive and will take advantage of any opening but they’ve toned down the bumping from RR1.

The iPhone’s accelerometer and multi-touch technology seems to have been designed with this game in mind as the tilt steering and multi-touch acceleration and braking impart a feel that even consoles can’t duplicate.  Real Racing 2 is a beautiful showcase for the capabilities of the iOS platform and a tremendous value that should not be missed.

goyami@comcast.net