Appletell | Apple, Mac, iPhone, iPod | News, Rumors, Reviews, How-Tos

Genre: Sports
Format: iPod Game (Download from iTunes Store)
Developer: Namco Networks America Inc.
Compatible iPods: iPod nano (3rd generation), iPod classic, and iPod (5th generation). They cannot be played on your computer, nor are they compatible with other iPod models including the iPhone and the iPod touch.
Review iPod: iPod nano (3rd generation) and iPod (5th generation)
Price: $5.99
ESRB Rating: N/A
Availability: Now
Demo: No

After owning my iPod for a few months, I decided to purchase a few games to play while listening to some tunes and podcasts. Pole Position: Remix was one of them. After playing one race, I quickly felt the style of gameplay was much different. Your average racing game doesn’t force you to pause a few seconds then start racing again after you smash your car into a sign, wall or another opponent, it just dents your car. Your steering must be precise or you’ll end up going into a puddle or gas spill, crashing, then starting up again a few seconds later. While it can get annoying when you have the almost natural instinct to crash into other cars and knock them off the road, Pole Position: Remix does bring the classic 80s style of gameplay to your iPod.

Racing in cockpit view the entire game, you must first quailify to race by achieving points based on the distance raced. The whole points system is also quite strange. In a typical racing game, you must pass the opponents and try to get first place. In Pole Position, try to go as fast as possible (without crashing) to gain points. At the end of the race, whoever has the most points wins. You’ll get extra points for passing other cars, but if you pass everyone at the start, more cars will appear ahead of you later in the race. The racing for points style of gameplay isn’t bad, it just takes some time to get used to.

You’ll also be able to race the famous four tracks of the game: Namco, Speedway, Wonder, and Seaside. A fifth and new track—Misaki Point—comes in the iPod version. When racing in these five tracks you’ll notice that all the billboards are filled with album artwork from the content on your iPod.

When you pass certain races, you’ll be able to unlock cockpit themes based on other classic Namco games from the 80’s; like PAC-MAN, Galaga and Dig-Dug. Racing in a bit of style defiently adds to change up the environment.

This game keeps all of the elements of the classic game with added features for the iPod. The game is great if you’d like a fast game that’ll get your thumb spinning around the clickwheel while you listen to some tunes. Graphics aren’t the best compared to some other iPod games, but the original game’s weren’t that good, either. And while Pole Position: Remix is playable on the Nano, it’ll be a bit harder because of the small click wheel.

See other iPod games reviews.