Race The Stig is an endless runner styled game for Windows Phone 8 where you take on Top Gear’s driver, the Stig. You will need to stay a car length ahead of Stig while you jump over parked cars, dodge parked semi-trailer, and weave in and out of traffic.
For those not familiar, Top Gear is a popular BBC motoring show (you also have a U.S. variation on the History Channel). The Stig is a character from the show whose primary role is to set lap times for cars showcased on Top Gear. The game was recently released on iOS, Android and Windows Phone and after spending a little time with the game, it is an enjoyable game to pass the time with. Catch the full review after the break.
Menus
Race The Stig’s main menu offers up options to access the game’s settings, view your challenges, check in on your Facebook Friends progress, view your cars and visit the gaming store.
Settings offer your standard sound/music levels along with options to view the game’s privacy policy, credits and a means to contact developer support. You also have an option to enter a promo code for free stuff. Promo codes are generated daily and are accessible from the flash screen as the game loads. Just tap on the screen to redline the tachometer and the code will appear.
While the primary goal of Race The Stig is to stay ahead of the Stig, the game also includes sets of secondary missions such as jumping your car a set number of times or achieving a predetermined score. Missions come in sets as well as daily and weekly goals.
If you sign into Race The Stig with your Facebook account, you can view your friend’s scores and show off your scores.
The Me tile on the main menu pulls up options to change your car and helmet along with viewing your racing stats. You begin the game driving Oliver, one of the Top Gear host’s car, and with the golden nuts you earn during game play you can unlock additional vehicles (as well as helmet styles) to race.
If you are curious about the history behind the vehicle you are racing, a YouTube video on the car (similar to the one above on Oliver) can be accessed by tapping the filmstrip that sits just below the car name.
The gaming store offers in-app purchase opportunities to buy nuts that can be used to purchase boosts, cars, and helmets. You can also remove the ads through a $.99 in-app purchase.
To jump into game play, just tap the center of the main menu.
Game Play
When you first launch Race The Stig, you will race through a tutorial that explains the gaming controls. You control your vehicle through a series of screen gestures (e.g. slide up to jump, swipe left/right to change lanes, slide down to duck, etc.).
The goal is to dodge traffic and collect the gold nuts that are scattered about the playing field. The game screen has your score and nut count displayed in the upper left corner of the screen and your top score displayed in the right corner.
Obstacles range from parked cars you’ll need to jump over, parked semi-trucks you’ll need to maneuver around and barricades you duck under. The further you progress, the more challenging the game becomes.
You will have to cross busy intersections, dodge traffic flow and at times avoid being hit by the Stig. All the while collecting the golden nuts that can be used in the game’s store.
There are bonus items that can be collected to turn your car into a rocket ship to fly above the traffic or become invincible and crush everything in your path.
Overall Impression
Race The Stig is a nice addition to the growing collection of endless runner styled games in the Windows Phone Store. The game does have a Subway Surfer feel to it, just with cars instead of boards.
There aren’t any complaints on the graphic quality and game play is challenging enough to keep things interesting. Gesture controls are responsive and the gaming engine does a really nice job generating track layouts to avoid a feeling of repetition. I wouldn't mind seeing more car choices (a '67 Mustang Fastback would be nice) but it is our understanding the developer has more to add to the game with future updates.
Race The Stig is a free, ad-supported game that is available for Windows Phone 8 (including low-memory devices). You can find Race The Stig here in the Windows Phone Store.
