Scrap Metal

Henry Ford famously said, "You can get the Model T in any colour, as long as it’s black."

Similarly, a lack of choice permeates top-down racer Scrap Metal from its slate of cars to controls. While other racers like choices, your enjoyment of Scrap Metal will boil down to whether you like what little you’re given.

The nice graphics and neat modes are entertaining, yet problematic controls without alternative schemes make this driving game hard to handle.

Start you game engines

Much like stablemate Reckless Racing with its isometric racing, Scrap Metal is a racer of the Pro AM family - skidding around bends is a prerequisite, not a suggestion.

There are only five measly tracks to choose from - all unlocked at the start - ranging from a nighttime dirt track to a night-time cityscape, littered with objects begging to be knocked over and floodlights punctuating the dark.

The track designs themselves are nicely varied and the graphics crisp, but none truly impresses. In fact, the amount of slowdown on some of the busier moments can be a distraction. If anything, the layouts are plain in order for the focus to rest with the slip and slide racing.

These busier moments usually come courtesy from the Race, Survival, and Derby game modes that have eight racers speeding for first, surviving a set number of laps, or blowing up enough opponents in a given amount of time.

Yes, blow up. Every car comes equipped with a vicious weapon mounted on the bonnet, from machine guns to a massive spiked cylinder. Firing is automatic, and it can be slow to react at times, but the results are explosive if you’re lined up with an enemy just right.

If you’re using an iPad or have played Touch Nitro Racing then you’ll be at a massive advantage over those who haven’t, as fingers obscuring the track can be an increasing distraction. Pressing on the screen sends the car in that direction (even if it means in reverse), while double-tapping ignites the nitros.

Get to know the tracks, though, and the excellent handling will entertain you up to no end.

Skidding around corners feels less unfair than Reckless Racing, with few race-ending crashes awaiting the careless driver. Moments where you land slap-bang in front of a tank during Survival mode, put the car into a quick reverse, and skid desperately around its fire are thrilling.

So it’s a shame that there’s so little of it. With just five tracks and four modes (with all but the Time Trials fairly simple to beat) Scrap Metal is likely to last about as long as car in a compressor.

More of everything would have really helped this enjoyable arcade racer move up a gear, and here’s hoping it receives some extended care in updates, as there’s certainly potential for this more violent shade of racing game. But right now, you can only get Scrap Metal in black.