Game Reviews

RAD Boarding

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iOS
| RAD Boarding
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RAD Boarding
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iOS
| RAD Boarding

In a way, RAD Boarding couldn't have picked a worse week to come out. It's hot on the heels of the thematically similar and surprisingly brilliant Alto's Adventure, and destined to be compared to that game whether it likes it or not.

And in a way that's a shame, because it's a comparison that's only ever going to fall in Alto's favour.

RAD Boarding certainly isn't a bad game, and it takes a different approach in most areas, but it's a little too safe, and a little too similar to what's come before.

Flip tricks

The game sees you pelting down the side of an infinite mountain, pulling off tricks, grabbing coins, and trying to stay ahead of an ever-encroaching lava flow.

You push down on the screen when you're descending, then lift up when you're ascending. Sort of like Tiny Wings, but with snowboarding instead of flying.

When you're airborne, which usually happens after a well-timed push-then-release, you can pull off tricks by swiping on the screen. To begin with you've only got one, but as you play you'll unlock more.

Landing tricks fills up your RAD meter, and once it's full you'll blast forward for a while, sucking in extra coins as you go.

The cash you collect can be spent on new levels, and boosts that slow down the lava, extend your RAD time, or give you more acceleration when you manage to land your tricks.

Snow snow

And it all bounces along at a relatively enjoyable pace. The screen-pushes work, there are challenges to complete, and you'll probably be compelled to have another go when your boarder mashes his face into the snow.

But there's no real fizz here, nothing that will make you keep the game on your home screen for any length of time.

RAD Boarding is a solid snowboarding game that you'll most likely play with a smile on your face, but it's lacking that special something that would have made it essential.

RAD Boarding

There's a decent game here, but RAD Boarding doesn't really do anything you won't have seen before
Score
Harry Slater
Harry Slater
Harry used to be really good at Snake on the Nokia 5110. Apparently though, digital snake wrangling isn't a proper job, so now he writes words about games instead.