Project NeXt - Mobile Gaming

Game Title: Turbo Jet Ski 3D
Company: Gameloft
Game Platform: J2ME
Tested Version: 1.0.1
Phone Reviewed: N95



Story:
Gameloft has quite a bunch of sport titles in their catalog. Among these are some which have never been ported to mobile phones before. Although there are some Jet Ski games around, the complete 3D environment adds the important touch, which makes "Turbo Jet Ski 3D" the best jet ski game to date.

Summer has almost passed and most of us are back from vacation. Relive the feeling of a hot day on the beach; grab your cellphone and start jet skiing with four different characters (each with four unlockable outfits), a long range of jet skies (some of them have to be unlocked first), and start the fun in multiple types of missions. You'll not only have to win certain races, but also rescue a certain number of swimmers, gain points in jump events, or complete special tasks like winning a dolphin race. For those, who still want more, there is a small cup mode, too. Three cups, with four races each, are waiting to be won.



Design:
More than once Gameloft has proven that they can make real good looking 3D games. "Turbo Jet Ski 3D" is no exception. All courses are completely designed in 3D - so don't be surprised if an iceberg gets in your way in Alaska, or if you have to circle around a yacht in Miami. The races take place in up to seven different locations ranging from Rio de Janeiro, over to Shanghai, and on to Venice, all of which look great. A lot of small details make the difference and will have you racing again and again to see every little bit of each course. There is a whale in Alaska, which sometimes hides behind a corner, kayaks with Eskimos, and even a polar bear. In Rio a rainbow appears when you are on your last lap, or a zeppelin is floating above you in Venice. Another new feature is the fact that there are actually waves coming in from time to time. Watch out, because they can lead you off course when they are strong. Unfortunately, sometimes they pop up suddenly, so you'll have to learn where in each level is the hardest groundswell. Sound is also good in the game; There are some sampled words like 'Welcome to Miami' or 'Start your engines' and different tunes for each location.



Gameplay:
At the beginning of your first mission, you might feel a bit anxious about controlling a jet ski. I admit, I've never tested a jet ski in real life, but I got used to "Turbo Jet Ski 3D" within about five minutes. First you find it hard to accelerate, because if you keep the back button pressed for too long, you will press your jet ski too much below the water, and stop the throttle. But soon enough you'll find yourself speeding around the tracks, cutting an edge to steal the lead from your competitors, jumping over the little ramps and performing awesome looking tricks by simply pressing left, right, forward or back. By doing so, you will fill your turbo-meter faster and can get an extra boost to reach the finishing line first.

Overall, "Turbo Jet Ski 3D" is not too hard, after you get used to the controls, but there are some harder missions like having to escape a police boat. But if you are stuck in one of the missions you can try another one and come back later, if you have more luck or a better jet ski.



Conclusion:
Are you looking for a lot of fun, crispy graphics and a touch of summer on your cellphone?... If so, then go and get "Turbo Jet Ski 3D"! If you want a 'serious' racing game or are expecting a simulation, then you should think twice, because this game provides just plain fun and will keep you entertained for hours. I just hope that there will be a Symbian version around sometime soon, which will be even better than this very large Java game.

Scores:
Story - 83
Design - 93
Gameplay - 90

Total - 89



Trailer:


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