iPhone It In: LightBike
Tron's deadly glowing discs are an object of no small amount of fascination for those who went through their geek pupa stage in the '80s. But to focus solely on the disc is to discount the deep veins of awesome within the film's high speed suicidemobile: the Light Cycle. The iPhone's LightBike manages to serve not only as fan service to those who've dreamed of strapping into one, but a darn fine game in its own right.
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It's a simple idea, but for those who haven't seen the '80s sci-fi classic, we'll indulge you: Four cycles speed around a grid leaving behind a trail of solid energy. Their goal: To avoid smashing into any of those walls while attempting to make the other racers do just that.
True to the film, the iPhone version has you constantly moving forward, meaning the only necessary controls are left and right turns (achieved by tapping the corresponding side of the screen). There's also a boost button, though careening even faster at the death walls rarely seems to work out well.
It's simple to understand, but you'll be thankful for the simplicity if you venture into the game's harder modes. The simple controls also help a split-screen two-player mode work surprisingly well. Quick games partnered with even quicker loading makes this the perfect "my bus will be here in two minutes" game.
In terms of presentation, it's exactly what you'd hope for: Techno pounds out over a neon-drenched grid that rapidly becomes more treacherous. In short, it's good, clean retro futurism fun with blessedly little slowdown and a fantastic sense of speed.
You can get a taste of LightBikes with the free version, but you might as well save yourself some time and just spring for the full, 99-cent package, especially when Disney's inevitable cease-and-desist lawsuit can't be far behind.
