Drive Ahead! - Fun Car Battles
- May 14, 2015
- Dodreams Ltd.
Drive Ahead! - Fun Car Battles is a racing game with stunt cars and pixelated graphics. It offers multiplayer action and the chance to collect different vehicles. Despite some bugs, grinding, and annoying ads, the game can provide humorous moments and is self-described as stylized, crazy racing fun.
Reviews
- monetization1,493 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 4 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism from users, with many expressing frustration over the overwhelming number of ads and the shift towards a pay-to-win model. Players report frequent, often unskippable ads interrupting gameplay, alongside a plethora of microtransactions and a subscription model for ad removal. This has led to a perception that the game prioritizes profit over player experience, transforming it from a once-beloved title into a cash grab riddled with ads and grinding mechanics.
“There are quite a few ads and the in-game purchases are fairly expensive, but all in all, it's really fun.”
“It's very fun to play; there's like no ads, but I'm giving it a 4-star because I don't like the fact that you can only do like 10 battles and then you have to wait till tomorrow. Still, great game!”
“Great game, controls are easy to learn and use, challenging in missions, and the fact that little to no ads will pop up is amazing.”
“My only problem is the spammy ads and the amount of things locked behind pro pass.”
“There are far too many ads, and the game is also pay to win.”
“The game is a very competitive and a challenging game the one thing I do not like about the game is the ads.”
- story849 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing nostalgia for the original missions and story mode that have been largely replaced by a more online-focused experience. Users frequently mention the frustration of difficult missions, particularly the "headless horseman" and "krampus" challenges, which are deemed nearly impossible to complete. Additionally, the introduction of a key system for accessing missions and the prevalence of ads have detracted from the overall enjoyment, leading many to wish for a return to the simpler, offline gameplay of earlier versions.
“The missions are probably the best part of the game, but now you can only play 4 missions per day?”
“I remember playing this game like 3-4 years ago, I had a lot of xp and cool cars, the game used to be a really fun game, with the story mode, and the 1 shot ko, like there was a game mode where you could play like how the game is now, but now the whole game is like that, it is also a pay-to-win game now, where there are like 30 'deals' where each one gives you parts for legendary cars, the game has gone far downhill.”
“I used to play this game hours on end, trying to beat the missions.”
“The headless horseman mission is just seriously impossible to beat. It just kept rushing towards the player, instantly knocking them off the map, and every time you click off the purchase that is telling you to buy, it just instantly gives you an ad. Very annoying every time. Fix the headless mission and remove the ad from clicking off the purchase, please.”
“I used to really love the old version, one-hit kill, fast offline play. I had so many cars and missions complete, now it's a shadow of the game it was. My cars and missions are gone; it's a different game, a worse game.”
“The missions are incredibly hard. How am I supposed to defeat 7 enemies if I can barely defeat 2!”
- gameplay412 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews for the game reveal a significant divide among players. Many express nostalgia for the simpler mechanics of earlier versions, lamenting the introduction of complex systems like health bars and pay-to-win elements that detract from the fun and fast-paced nature of the original gameplay. While some still find enjoyment in the core mechanics and variety of vehicles, the overwhelming presence of ads, microtransactions, and a cluttered interface have led to frustration and disappointment, with calls for a return to the classic gameplay experience.
“Gameplay is easy to understand, but difficult to master.”
“The gameplay is fun, no denying that!”
“I love the gameplay, the graphics, everything!”
“I reinstalled hoping for nostalgia and got overwhelmed by 20 different things on my screen and horrible gameplay.”
“Well, I think I can comfortably say that this game has gone from one of the most fun arcade-style games available on the app store to a laughing stock. The game just simply isn't fun from the interface that bombards you with 'battle, battle, microtransaction!' to the really stupid choice of removing the one screw up and you're out gameplay to the have to hit each other four times. The health bar simulator is one of the worst choices I've seen made and makes the game a drag to play.”
“The gameplay has completely changed for the worse. The menu is messy and it's hard to comprehend anything you're seeing. Don't download unless you want to be disappointed. If you were playing in 2018, I'd happily recommend this game, but I just can't anymore because the game sucks now.”
- graphics339 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 24 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the charming 8-bit style and pixelated aesthetics, which evoke nostalgia and fit well with the gameplay. However, some users express dissatisfaction with the graphics quality, citing performance issues and a desire for improvements. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered good for a mobile game, there are calls for enhancements to better accommodate a wider range of devices and to elevate the visual experience.
“The graphics are amazing!”
“Charming graphics, simple yet fun mechanics, tight controls... this is a wonderful game with a small but dedicated community.”
“Overall it's a very good game with good activities and the graphics are really good as my phone only outputs at 720p resolution making high quality games look bad but this is pixelated which makes it look very good.”
“The graphics are horrible.”
“The graphics are not good but that doesn't matter because it's the best game.”
“This is a terrible game; graphics need to be improved and it's just a boring game.”
- stability228 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 3 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous players reporting frequent glitches, lag, and freezing issues that significantly disrupt gameplay. Many users express frustration over the game's performance, particularly during matches and after ads, leading to a poor overall experience. While some players note minor glitches that can be amusing, the overwhelming sentiment is that the game suffers from serious stability problems that need urgent attention from developers.
“There are no bugs, no glitches, and no crashes. Thanks to the creator for doing very hard work fixing this game!”
“This is an amazing game, no glitches, very smooth.”
“It's such a fun game, with no glitches and in-game issues.”
“The game runs terrible and freezes all the time, including on every menu.”
“The reason I am giving this game a 1 star is due to the fact that there are so many glitches and they ruined the whole concept of the game.”
“After online match, game freezes on starting screen even if you close it completely and start again.”
- humor128 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players enjoying the funny car descriptions, silly glitches, and the overall chaotic nature of gameplay that leads to laughter, especially in multiplayer mode. Many users reminisce about the game's earlier versions, which they found to be more humorous and fun, while expressing disappointment over recent updates that have altered the experience. Overall, the game is described as a hilarious and entertaining experience, particularly when played with friends or family.
“Challenging, addictive, very fun and had a great sense of humor.”
“The game is fun and very funny and I love the cars but what I'm wondering is why is there a specific time for boss mode???”
“It's so funny, fun, and good all at the same time.”
“The ads to get coins and tickets are so not child appropriate it's not funny.”
- music59 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives widespread praise, with many players highlighting its nostalgic value and catchy beats that enhance the overall experience. While some users express disappointment with changes to gameplay, they consistently note that the soundtrack remains a standout feature, often reminiscing about the classic tunes from earlier versions. Overall, the music is described as a significant draw for players, contributing to their enjoyment and fond memories of the game.
“The music and sound design is amazing, the pixel art keeps a nice aesthetic and the gameplay is simple, yet entertaining.”
“The soundtrack absolutely slaps!!!”
“Every time I hear any of the main music anywhere, I get all nostalgic and happy.”
“Annoying music got old the 2nd day I got it. It's very luck-based, and if you're in a bad situation, you're dead. No skill needed to get out of it; you're just dead.”
“When I try to start the game up, it first shows me the boot-up screen, then it gets stuck on a black screen with the menu music still playing, and I can't do anything about it.”
“I remember the old days when it only took one hit to defeat your enemy and you had that classic menu music, but nooo you had to make the game much worse by adding a health bar and using 3 vehicles each round instead of classic 1.”
- grinding50 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and frustrating, with many expressing disappointment over the increased difficulty in earning new vehicles and the prevalence of ads. The shift towards a pay-to-win model has diminished the enjoyment of grinding, transforming it from a fun challenge into a burdensome task that often requires real money to bypass. Overall, the consensus is that the game has lost its charm, becoming overly reliant on grinding and monetization at the expense of gameplay enjoyment.
“Before this, it was basically the heart of the game and now it's super boring and tedious, especially from the changes on how items are earned and heads having health.”
“The game is just like so many other mobile games; packed to the brim with ads and full of unnecessary grinding.”
“Progression is impossible without emptying your wallet or grinding endlessly.”
- optimization38 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 24 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has significantly declined, leading to numerous performance issues such as lag, long loading times, and frequent crashes, particularly on lower-end devices. Users report that the interface has become overly complex, contributing to frustration, while gameplay is marred by bugs and unbalanced mechanics. Despite its enjoyable core gameplay, many players feel that the game is now poorly optimized and has become a cash grab, detracting from the overall experience.
“It's a good game but it needs more optimization.”
“Fun game, but it's terribly optimized.”
“The game needs optimization with the FPS; every time I get to a menu, it takes about 10 seconds to load into the next, and the same happens for animations like unboxing things.”
“This game gets so many things right, but misses a lot in basic optimization and balancing. For instance, enemies can spawn on top of you and instantly kill you, which is really annoying and makes the game all the more rage-inducing. In short, the game can be purely luck-based at times.”
“The game is very good, but it is not optimized properly. It lags on low-end devices compared to its graphics.”
“It runs very poorly on my device because of bad optimization. I can't even launch the game anymore; it gets stuck on the loading screen.”
- emotional16 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a mix of nostalgia and frustration regarding the game's emotional impact. While many find it fun and wholesome, evoking strong feelings and even tears, they are also deeply affected by the game's unbalanced mechanics and bugs, which detract from the overall experience. The emotional connection to the game is evident, but the technical issues significantly undermine players' enjoyment.
“Thank you doddreams for making this legendary game which I used to play when I was small. Whenever I see this game, I get so emotional. A big thanks to you for making this game.”
“It's so fun I cried.”
“And the game was cheating 😭😭😭😭 it made me cry 😭💔.”
- replayability8 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The reviews for "Drive Ahead" reflect a mixed perspective on replayability; while some players praise its endless replay value and addictive nature, others criticize the current version for being grindy and less enjoyable, leading to diminished replayability compared to earlier iterations. Overall, the game's replayability seems to hinge on the version being played and the presence of new content.
“Drive Ahead is an amazing game with endless replayability.”
“I loved this game and played it all the time on my iPad a few years ago; it was addicting, unique, and fun with so much replay value.”
“Good game, the new content makes it more playable.”
“Minimal replayability and a bit too grindy this time around.”
“When the game first came out, it was fun and had replayability; the current version is an unfun, boring game where you have to unlock the cars.”