Touchgrind for iPhone Reviews – a game that simulates real life physics in a skateboarding game

Saturday, February 7, 2009, 4:19
Cell Phones
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Touchgrind, a product of Illusion Labs, is becoming a popular skateboarding game for the iPhone. The game is special in the respect that it simulates real life physics and features and manipulates them in the form of a game. It is an extremely challenging and addictive game. The best part is that it utilizes fully the iPhone gaming features and takes maximum advantage of the iPhone’s touchscreen. As far as game design is concerned, it is extremely simplistic. You just have to guide a skateboard with your own fingers through a terrain such as a park. If you want to practice your skills, there is a tutorial, a competition arena, a jam session area, and a freeplay practice area. You can learn about the basics of the game form the tutorial that works more like a video than a simple interactive guide.

While playing the game, the more competitions you win, the more decks are unlocked for you to play. You have to concentrate on little icons given at the bottom of the screen to gauge the closeness of an obstacle in the game. The obstacles are indicated by shaking of these icons. You can throw your fingers in certain directions at the right times to perform skateboarding tricks like Kickflips, ollies, grinds and other tricks. The important point is that you are not manning a skateboarder but are manning the board directly. Thanks to the realistic physics used in the game, there is no room for things like counting airtime in minutes.

But do not think that the game is easy to play. You have to be a learner for this game before you turn into a pro. You have to have brilliant hand-eye coordination to perform skate boarding tricks in this game. With every passing stage in the game, the terrain gets difficult and performing tricks even more difficult. The better part is that the “top down” view of the game will allow you to manipulate your board without many hindrances. This game is a fun, addictive, and challenging application and if you like physics and own an iPhone, you must get this game on your phone.