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
- The game has a fun and engaging concept with a variety of cars and maps.
- The graphics and mechanics are enjoyable, providing a nostalgic experience for returning players.
- The multiplayer mode allows for competitive gameplay with friends.
- The game has become pay-to-win, making it difficult for free players to progress.
- The introduction of health bars and the need for multiple hits to defeat opponents has removed the original thrill of the game.
- There are frequent ads and a complicated user interface that detracts from the overall experience.
- monetization402 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 5 % neutral mentions
- 91 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn significant criticism from users, who describe it as overly aggressive and reminiscent of a cash grab. Many players express frustration with the excessive number of ads, which interrupt gameplay frequently, and the reliance on microtransactions, including a subscription model for ad removal. The shift from a previously enjoyable experience to one dominated by ads and pay-to-win mechanics has left many feeling disappointed and nostalgic for the simpler, ad-free version of the game.
“It has microtransactions, but they don't push them every millisecond.”
“Great game, controls are easy to learn and use, challenging in missions, the fact that little to no ads will pop up is amazing.”
“I like that when you start the game for the first time it gives you three free cars, if you're bored I really recommend you installing this game and the fact that the game is really easy to control and there's so many maps and cars that you can get plus there are no ads, so really the developer of this game just wants people to have great fun.”
“The game is filled with ads and microtransactions, and the game lost its fun and simple gameplay.”
“This game used to be my favorite when I was younger, but now it's turned into an obvious cash grab.”
“The amount of ads is ridiculous, and the game is also pay to win.”
- story284 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has seen significant changes, with many players expressing nostalgia for the earlier versions that featured engaging single-player missions and a cohesive storyline. Current reviews highlight frustrations with the removal of offline mission modes, the introduction of a key system that limits gameplay, and the increased difficulty of missions, which many find frustratingly challenging. Overall, players long for a return to the simpler, more enjoyable mission structure that characterized the game's earlier iterations.
“I downloaded this a long while ago back when it was mainly focused on solo play and I've got to say those were some of the best days in this game with the various single player missions and storyline aspects.”
“This game used to be the goat of mobile games, hundreds of campaign missions, intuitive gameplay, etc.”
“I remember when they updated this game to have missions and miniature campaigns.”
“The missions gamemode has been cut down to nothing.”
“The story mode has been taken away and you don't knock out your opponent in one hit anymore.”
“I used to really 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 gone, it's a different game, a worse game.”
- gameplay143 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has undergone significant changes, leading to a mixed reception from users. While some appreciate the core mechanics and graphics, many criticize the introduction of frequent ads, pay-to-win elements, and a shift from the original one-hit kill gameplay to a more complex health bar system, which they feel detracts from the fun and simplicity of the experience. Overall, players express a desire for a return to the earlier, more straightforward mechanics that made the game enjoyable.
“Gameplay is easy to understand, but difficult to master.”
“I love the gameplay and I am happy that this game keeps evolving.”
“The gameplay is fun, no denying that!”
“Core gameplay mechanics have been changed; there are ad breaks every 5 plays, challenges have become unfair to incentivize you to spend money... it's sad.”
“The game has changed a lot since my review in 2018... the game now runs non-optional ads frequently after gameplay, which is annoying.”
“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.”
- stability53 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with users reporting numerous glitches, freezes, and bugs that disrupt gameplay. Many players experience issues such as getting stuck in loading screens, unresponsive controls, and game crashes, particularly during ads or online matches. While some enjoy the game despite these problems, the overall sentiment indicates a pressing need for improvements in stability and performance.
“The game has had no glitches for me since I downloaded it three months ago.”
“It's such a fun game, with no glitches or 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.”
“I have been playing the game since 2013 or 2014. I uninstalled it last week because the game started to lag and have sudden freezes and crashes. I was able to complete a match, but while playing it keeps lagging, and on the loading screen near the end, it freezes horrifically.”
- graphics33 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players praising the charming 8-bit and pixelated art style, which enhances the overall experience. While some users appreciate the visual design and performance, others report performance issues and a lack of graphical tuning options on lower-end devices. Overall, the graphics are generally considered good, contributing positively to the gameplay, though some players feel they could be improved further.
“The design of the game is great and the graphics are amazing!”
“Pleasing graphics and unique gameplay designed for mobile.”
“The graphics are great, no ads in the middle of your fun, only after sometimes, the controls are original but it makes them super easy to control.”
“The GUI is no longer simple; I'm experiencing many performance issues due to excessive menus, and the graphics I cannot even tune to make it playable on my device (as of course graphics become better over time).”
“Why is there a life bar? The game has changed too much: the graphics, the maps, and the cars.”
“The graphics are horrible, but the game is pretty good.”
- grinding18 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and frustrating, especially after recent updates that have made progression more difficult without spending real money. Many feel that the introduction of ads and a health system has detracted from the fun, turning what was once an enjoyable experience into a grind-heavy chore. Overall, the consensus is that the game has shifted from a focus on skill and enjoyment to a model that heavily incentivizes spending.
“Before this, it was basically the heart of the game, and now it's super boring and tedious, especially with 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.”
- humor16 mentions
- 94 % positive mentions
- -12 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players enjoying its funny descriptions, quirky glitches, and the nostalgic joy of playing with friends. Many reviewers reminisce about the game's earlier, more humorous iterations, expressing disappointment over recent updates that have diminished its comedic elements and offline playability. Overall, the game's humor remains a highlight, contributing to its fun and addictive nature, despite some frustrations with changes.
“Challenging, addictive, very fun and had a great sense of humor.”
“The descriptions on cars are very funny.”
“When you get the firework, and it's just funny because you know you are gonna lose but you always try your best.”
“The ads to get coins and tickets are so inappropriate for children that it's not funny.”
“The humor in this game falls flat and feels forced, making it more cringeworthy than entertaining.”
“I expected some lighthearted fun, but the jokes are stale and miss the mark completely.”
- optimization12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has significantly deteriorated over the years, leading to frequent performance issues, long loading times, and frustrating gameplay experiences, especially on older devices. Users report excessive menus and graphics that cannot be adjusted for better performance, resulting in stuttering and unresponsive controls. Overall, while the game retains some enjoyable elements, its current state is marred by poor optimization and balancing, making it less enjoyable for many players.
“This game gets so many things right, but misses a lot in basic optimization and balancing, like for instance enemies can spawn on top of you and instantly kill you, constantly. It really annoys me when it happens and makes the game all the more rage-inducing; in short, the game can be purely luck-based at times.”
“Fun game, but it's terribly optimized.”
“It's a good game, but it needs more optimization.”
“The GUI is no longer simple; I'm experiencing many performance issues due to excessive menus and graphics I cannot even tune to make it playable on my device.”
“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 feel purely luck-based at times.”
“It runs very poorly on my device because of bad optimization; I can't even launch the game anymore as it gets stuck on the loading screen.”
- music10 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players praising its nostalgic quality and overall appeal, often highlighting it as one of the game's standout features. However, some users express frustration with the repetitiveness and annoyance of the soundtrack over time. Overall, while the music evokes fond memories for some, it also faces criticism for becoming tiresome.
“I only play for the music; it reminds me of the good times :'(”
“This game has great music and good graphics; that's about it for compliments.”
“The music is really good too.”
“I remember the old days when it only took one hit to defeat your enemy and you had that classic menu music, but no, you had to make the game much worse by adding a health bar and using 3 vehicles each round instead of the classic 1.”
“Annoying music got old the second 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.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional response to the game is largely negative, with players expressing frustration over unbalanced mechanics and game-breaking bugs that detract from the overall experience. Many users feel that the game is unrecognizable and unplayable, leading to disappointment and a lack of engagement.
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players highlight the game's high replayability, noting its addictive and unique nature that encourages repeated play. However, some users express that their enjoyment has diminished over time, suggesting that while the game initially offers significant replay value, it may not sustain that appeal indefinitely.
“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.”
“I used to love this game a few years ago when it was actually enjoyable and replayable.”