Lane Splitter iPad Review
Guys on motorcycles own the road, or at least they think they do. During the summer, it's impossible to drive along a highway for 30 minutes without witnessing some testosterone junkie on a crotch rocket weaving between cars at a speed that would make a radar gun smoke.
We'll probably never climb onto a bike and attack the open road, but at the very least, we can live vicariously through Jake Melton, the lead character in Fractiv's Lane Splitter, a universal App for both iPhone and iPad. Apparently, the guy intends to make his wedding on time, even if it means putting his life at risk by getting onto a motorcycle (sans helmet) and zigzagging through traffic. Dangerous? Yes. Extremely enjoyable? Absolutely.
This game's short on variety but entertaining in short bursts. Played holding the device vertically, you tilt the iPad/iPhone left and right to guide Melton down the street, paying close attention to cars. Not only must you dodge these vehicles, but also keep an eye on the turn signals to make sure these 2,000-pound monsters don't ram Melton off the road. One hit kills (the guy gets thrown off the bike, presumably to his doom), so it's in your best interest to keep him pushing forward without incident.
Of course, Lane Splitter starts off slow and then gets progressively more difficult. Cars change lanes at different speeds, forcing you to make split second decisions that basically devolve into a 50/50 chance at survival. Either you pop a wheelie (press and hold the screen) to achieve a speed burst, or gamble by slowly passing the car, knowing that it could invade Melton's personal space in less than a second.
As expected, the game's quite an adrenaline rush. It's also addictive, thanks to that "just one more try" hook and the best feature of all, friend and global leaderboards. The drive to climb the ranks will keep you playing for weeks, perhaps months to come.
On that note, someone put a helmet on this dude. Sorry if we sound like the safety police, but if you release a $0.99 game on the App Store, knowing full well that children can download it, at least send the right message. Otherwise, a ton of fun and well worth your dollar.
Requirements: Compatible with iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. Requires iOS 3.0 or later.
What's Hot: Addictive gameplay, excellent tilt controls, universal download, leaderboards.
What's Not: Guy isn't wearing a helmet, no brake button.
