Hill Climb Racing
| Hill Climb Racing | |
|---|---|
| File:Hill Climb Racing Game Icon.png Fingersoft | |
| Developer(s) | Fingersoft |
| Publisher(s) | Fingersoft |
| Platform(s) | iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Windows 8/Windows 10 |
| Release | Android
|
| Genre(s) | Racing |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, Multi-player |
Hill Climb Racing is a 2D physics based driving game by Fingersoft. It was released on Google Play and for devices using Apple's iOS in 2012. During its first year of release it was downloaded over 100 million times.[1] Combined with its sequel, Hill Climb Racing 2, the entire franchise surpassed 1 billion downloads in April 2018. [2]
Gameplay
The object of the game is to collect coins while driving through racing stages. Driving consumes gas or battery for electric powered vehicles (even if you're not moving), which players can replenish by picking up gas canisters or batteries along the way. The player can "die" in various ways, such as if they run out of gas or hit the avatar's head on the ground or ceiling (in levels such as Cave). Coins may also be earned by performing "tricks", difficult maneuvers in the air, or by reaching set distances during given stages. Coins may be spent on upgrades, or to unlock new stages and vehicles. Different stages have different attributes, such as different gravity, traction, terrain (elevation) or obstacles that will slow the player down.
Garage
The Garage was a new element of Hill Climb Racing introduced in Version 1.31.0, and it allowed players to make their own custom car based on the use of 'parts'.[3] Consequently, Gems were also introduced as the 'premium' currency of the game. Gems can be found on the stage, before every second group of coins, unless there is a Gas canister. The Garage introduces the use of Cards, which are used to unlock and upgrade parts. Initially, the Garage costs 300 gems to unlock. Gems can be used to purchase Chests, which contain more cards of the four rarities, Common, Rare, Epic, and Legendary. Each of the custom parts has a special characteristic, such as '-50% fuel' or '+80% power'. A Gift chest is available for every new stage or car purchased, and usually contains about 3 cards. A Free chest is available every 4 hours and usually contains about 5 cards. The Free chest requires an Internet connection to claim. Version 1.32.1 saw the introduction of Boosters. Boosters add a few seconds of fuel time to allow you to drive extra meters, for 30 gems each.
Sequel
Hill Climb Racing 2 was released to Android devices on November 28th 2016, to iOS in December 2016 & to Windows 10 on March 23rd 2018. It has since been downloaded over 100 million times on the Google Play store alone & is the all time top grossing racing game for the platform.[4] The sequel introduced several new features including races, structured cups, challenges, special events and multiplayer. It also introduced all new vehicles and tuning parts as well as a large amount of cosmetic player and vehicle customization.
Multiplayer
Multiplayer within the game is asynchronous & takes place across several different multiplayer modes. Fingersoft has stated that they are working on developing real time multiplayer for the game, to be released in a future update.
- Cups - Four people compete on several tracks, over a set distance, to complete it in the fastest time. Performing well in a cup boosts your rating, which is used to advance to higher leagues and unlock new cups.
- Challenges - Structured daily challenges that require you to take on the ghost of a particular person on a specific track using their exact same vehicle load-out. You can also record and share your own ghosts with friends as challenges.
- Events - Events are weekly global events that pit players from all over the world against one another in an attempt to perform a specific task, not necessarily related to racing. These have included tasks such as long jump, downhill skiing, kicking a soccer ball, running from zombies and more.
Multiplayer also encompasses a friends list. With random daily and weekly challenges for you and your friends to compete against one another. Currently this is handled by exchanging generated friend links outside the game. Fingersoft has stated that they are working on updating this and adding a more robust friend/teams system in the future.
References
- ^ http://www.mtv.fi/uutiset/it/artikkeli/oululaista-hittipelia-ladattu-vuodessa-yli-100-000-000-kertaa/2368872
- ^ https://www.pocketgamer.biz/interview/68010/fingersofts-hill-climb-racing-franchise-rolls-past-one-billion-downloads
- ^ "Hill Climb Racing - Garage - wixsite.com". Wixsite.com. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
- ^ https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fingersoft.hcr2&hl=en