For a game that makes an abysmal first impression, Speed Forge Extreme sure takes a risky and dangerous approach to pacing. Let’s not kid ourselves - iPhone/iTouch gamers are notorious for downloading oodles of free demos, testing them out briefly, and buying only a select few titles. Simply put, if one were to play this game for only five minutes, he/she would be completely justified in deleting it. However, like a fine wine, this game’s quality improves over time.

At the most basic level, Speed Forge Extreme is a futuristic racer comparable to the F-Zero and Wipeout franchises. Players have six different vehicles to choose from, each possessing their own stats and attributes including mass, speed, agility, engine, and munitions. Keep in mind that only one vehicle is available from the get-go, and it is the smallest/worst aircraft in the game. Bigger and better vehicles are unlocked by progressing through the game and out-performing opponents in both races and destruction derbies.

In the early stages of the game, races are bland and boring. There are no weapons, power-ups, or any of the other game-enhancing features that appear later on. As I stated earlier, anybody who plays these first few levels and nothing more would probably walk away. However, I think I see a method to the developer’s madness. Speed Forge Extreme starts simple and slowly evolves into a complex game that requires players to do several things at once. So, instead of boggling players’ minds with a massive influx of gameplay features, the developers decided to ease players into the game nice and slow. This is a risky move on a platform with so many try-before-you-buy gamers, but it is a very helpful and effective teaching mechanism that ensures gamers don’t feel overwhelmed. I’d like to see this approach used more often – though I highly doubt it will catch on.

As you advance through the stages, more and more gameplay elements are thrown into the mix. The demolition stages you encounter abandon racing altogether and turn the game into an all-out battle for the most frags. Eventually, weapons become scattered through the courses (both racing and demolition) in a manner not unlike the popular Mario Kart series. These crates can include mines, missiles, pulse cannons, and a few other goodies. Boost pads, protective shields, and repair kits also make appearances – ensuring that the competition is never dull. Once you progress far enough, the game becomes a splendid blend of racing, attacking, defending and healing. Doing all these things at one, and doing them better than the computer-controlled foes, is great fun – but sadly not that challenging. 

Unfortunately, Speed Forge Extreme doesn’t pose much of a threat to a competent iPhone gamer. The default tilt-steering/automatic-acceleration controls are easy to learn and allow you to speed past your competition with relative ease. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not asking for a poor control scheme. The controls are simply so effective that there is little to no learning curve when beginning the game. Also, when your vehicle explodes (via collision or enemy weapon) you return to the race with some momentum and all of your weapons intact. This takes away the threat of death and allows the player to play Speed Forge Extreme worry free – even on higher difficulties. Is this a good thing for casual gamers? Yes. Hardcore gamers? Not so much.

On a non-gameplay-related note, Speed Forge Extreme is a graphically stunning game that allows you to play it however you want. Motion blur effects look neat and truly work to ensure that the player feels like he/she is moving incredibly fast. Textures and models looked fairly impressive on an iPhone 3Gs. There are several different control options, ensuring that anyone can find a scheme that feels natural. Appealing to a broad range of users is paramount for a mobile game, and this game delivers on that front.

Overall, Speed Forge Extreme is a solid game. It eases players into the experience, and becomes richer and deeper as things progress. It’s very forgiving and won’t provide much of a challenge. But, if you’re looking for a simple, yet surprisingly deep racer experience on the iPhone/iTouch, make sure to give Speed Forge Extreme a chance. For $2.99, or £1.86, you can’t go wrong.

8/10