Drag Racing: Bike Edition. Burn rubber on a drag strip to Race, Win & Earn cash for your motorcycle!
by Paul Wilks
Apr 17, 2012 1:49 PM –
Install
Drag Racing: Bike Edition is a two-wheeled sequel to the popular Drag Racing. These are racing games with a difference; it’s a straight 2D track so acceleration is the key to winning. Timing also becomes a crucial element as changing gear at just the right moment can mean the difference between winning and losing. With a shop chock full of bikes to upgrade to, and a well equipped garage to tweak and upgrade your existing bike, it’s a brilliant little game of high octane thrill seeking.
Price: Free
Tested on: HTC One X
Content Rating: Low Maturity
Pros & Cons:
Pros
- Fast, well designed graphics!
- 8 stages containing loads of levels and bosses!
- Numerous garage upgrades and tuning!
- 17 bikes to buy!
- 4 online modes to race!
Cons
- Graphics are nice, but some might demand better, even in 2D.
- Repetitive gameplay.
Features:
The original Drag Racing game, featuring sports cars, was a hugely popular game and let you burn rubber on a drag strip, racing against AI and online users. There’s no steering, just gear shifts and acceleration. Getting the timing right was vital to beating your opponent. Drag Racing: Bike Edition is much of the same, only with some cool extra features and, of course, featuring bikes!
OK, so when you’re lined up against your opponent, you initially have the accelerator to control. You’ll need to make sure you get the level just right when the lights turn green to get the best start. If you hit it just right you’ll start with a cool wheelie. 
From then on, you have to ensure you shift gears at just the right moment- there are indicators on the screen in the form of triangles; blue for ready to change, green for perfect timing and red for too late. Get these things right and you’ll be a match for anyone!
Real racing game fans like to get ‘under the hood’ of the virtual vehicles they race and with Drag Racing: Bike Edition this is no different (OK, so there’s no ‘hood’ but I’m not sure of the biking terminology). While you could simply buy your way to a more powerful bike, simply buy getting a new one, there is a smorgasbord of tweaks and upgrades available in the garage. There are various paths to upgrade your: engine, exhaust, nitro, turbo, weight, wheels and gearbox. There can also tune the front and rear sprockets, nitro duration and tire pressure. If all this means absolutely nothing to you, for a small fee you can change the colour.
There are some 8 different cities to race in, each with a slew of levels and a boss to beat. Often you can opt to race in shorter or longer drag races for money. And money is what all this is about, the races you win, the more you earn… the more you earn the faster you can upgrade you bike and progress through the cities. There is something hugely rewarding about upgrading your bike and seeing the effects right away in your next race… and it’s very rewarding getting your shifts just right and leaving your opponent far behind you!
Watch on Mobile
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Drag Racing: Bike Edition – Under starters orders
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Drag Racing: Bike Edition – Taking mid-race screenshots is tricky!
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Drag Racing: Bike Edition – Triange colour represents gear change accuracy
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Drag Racing: Bike Edition – Win
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Drag Racing: Bike Edition – Shop and garage
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Drag Racing: Bike Edition – Plenty of levels and bosses to unlock
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Drag Racing: Bike Edition – Nice little diversions to the main levels, usually these offer shorter or longer races
Fun Factor:
With gameplay this straightforward, but with such reward when you win, Drag Racing: Bike Edition is loads of fun, especially if you prefer two wheels instead of four. While the graphics are no more than OK, gameplay is hugely enjoyable with lots of levels and the ability to tweak your bike to your hearts content.
Addictive:
Yes, once you get started it’s hard to put down- it has that ‘one more race‘ factor running throughout it. It perhaps gets a little familiar after a lengthy period of play but it’s a game you’ll return to.
Graphics:
The graphics are nothing special but are well drawn and looks quite slick. The visuals are strictly 2D and while they lack flourish they work well and suit the gameplay.
Accelerometer, Vibration & Sound:
While it lacks the need for an accelerometer and doesn’t vibrate, the sound is extremely good. Great music, accurate racing sound-effects and appropriate menu effects, it’s as comprehensive as as racing game can get.