Review: Ground Effect

Update

Ground Effect has been updated twice since we last looked at it, and now it supports OpenFeint and 3D glasses. There are OpenFeint leaderboards for each of the 14 tracks plus total time. Also included are 59 achievements mainly based on finishing 1st, 2nd, or 3rd on the tracks. 3D glasses are also supported which is very unique for an iPhone game. Just adjust the settings in options, put on your glasses, and your hovering in 3D. Now it's not IMAX 3D, but it's pretty good to be more than a gimmick. Overall with the two updates replayability has been improved vastly, and the overall experience is improved. Ground Effect moves up from worth considering to a should buy, and is a real high quality iPhone racer in every aspect. It's still highlighted by the amazing visuals, outstanding soundtrack, and engaging race from behind gameplay.

Overview

We gave you a sneak peek of Ground Effect that summed up the Overview and Features. So let’s get down to the nitty gritty.

The Good

Ground Effect is a good take on racing games, and brings the wonderful waveboard type racing to the iPhone. Rather than racing on race tracks, or driving cars instead we jump in hover crafts, and jet around islands. The racing gameplay is unique in that you begin in 8th place, and see no other crafts. You then have to accelerate your way through the course, and pass all of the other crafts one by one. The check points are always easy to see, even when you're swerving in and out of sand bars so you never get completely lost. The game looks great as you skim across the water, or through islands. The environments you race through are wonderful rendered, especially for iPhone, plus the ships are designed well with multiple ones to choose from. The explosions are great to see when you veer off course, and smash a wall. The included sound track is absolutely wonderful to listen to. It's just so smooth, and goes perfectly with the smooth flight of the hover crafts. The game is super easy to control, and the tilt to steer was extremely responsive, plus you're given the choice to use touch controls.

The Bad

Ground Effect does have some problems though. Mainly it lacks the features of other racing games. It doesn't really have anything other then just the gameplay. There are no online high scores, achievements, or multiplayer. The only unlockable is each new course. The game lacks replaybaility with nothing to do after you race through the 14 courses. Also if you can't finish in the top three on one of the courses, you're stuck there, and can't move on. If you manage to race through a course, finish in the top three, and even play all 14 courses, so what? It feels more like an exercise than an enjoyable experience. Sadly, you don't jump into the game, and feel like you're having a great time.

The Verdict

Ground effect is a nicely designed racer, with a unique twist on the typical iPhone racer. Jump in a hover craft, and race from behind. The game looks, sounds, and controls amazing. The problem is that there is nothing to do once you race through the 14 courses. Also it just doesn't feel fun even the one time through. You feel like you're doing a task rather than playing a game, and to make matters worse there are no online high scores or achievements to show for your task. Ground Effect is $2.99, and it's worth considering, but a disappointment.

Related articles