Game Reviews

Red Bull Racing Challenge

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Red Bull Racing Challenge

The new F1 season is around a couple of corners and by all accounts it's shaping up to be quite a contest.

World champion Jenson Button leads an all-English charge at McLaren, Fernando Alonso is sitting pretty in a Ferrari cockpit, and the legendary Michael Schumacher has returned from retirement to lead Mercedes – which last season won both world titles under the Brawn banner.

All in all, the 2010 season has the hallmarks of a tremendous competition, so it's fitting that the level of rivalry taking place on the tarmac is being mirrored by the sheer volume of F1-related racers leaving the pits.

Start your engines

We've already had the likes of Brawn GP Racing, F1 2009, and BMW Sauber F1 Team Racing; now it's time for Red Bull Racing Challenge to perform its qualifying lap.

Fans of the world's most extravagant motor sport will be pleased to know that it comfortably tops the time sheets, although this has more to do with the lacklustre nature of the competition than its exemplary performance.

As you might imagine, the game involves guiding an expensive racing car around different international venues with the ultimate aim of getting your vehicle over the finish line before your rivals.

Wheel-to-wheel action

Whereas others stalled thanks to their lack of compelling modes of play, Red Bull Racing Challenge has a garage packed with options.

Not only can you play a Quick Race for those moments when you're short on time, but you can also take part in a Season (six races), burn rubber in Time Attack and go head-to-head with friends in multiplayer.

What's more, these modes boast unlockable trophies which further add to the appeal. The game also features Facebook and Twitter connectivity, so you can broadcast your on-track successes to social networking pals.

Visually, Red Bull Racing Challenge might not feature the gloss of games like Need for Speed: Shift or Real Racing, but it's certainly a step up from its spiritual predecessor, BMW Sauber F1 Team Racing, which was developed by the same team.

Car models are highly detailed and the circuits showcase a similar degree of complexity, though it's not the smoothest ride we've experienced and can become jerky when you're caught in traffic.

Out of control

The only area where the game sputters is control. Despite offering three different options – one of which ditches the in-vogue tilt method and uses on-screen buttons – it never feels like you're completely in control of your car.

After a while though you become accustomed to the eccentricities of the control, and once you've memorised the twists, turns and braking areas of each course you're well on your way to scoring a podium finish.

It's far from perfect - erratic control causes the majority of the frustration – but Red Bull Racing Challenge is certainly the best bet for iPhone-toting Formula One fanatics right now.

Red Bull Racing Challenge

A decent amount of game modes and some eye-catching visual tricks allow Red Bull Racing Challenge to accelerate past other iPhone F1 racers
Score
Damien  McFerran
Damien McFerran
Damien's mum hoped he would grow out of playing silly video games and gain respectable employment. Perhaps become a teacher or a scientist, that kind of thing. Needless to say she now weeps openly whenever anyone asks how her son's getting on these days.