Mobile news

Tags: App of the Day

24 August 2012

"Crazy Monster Truck Escape" brings top-notch graphics and exciting gameplay to your mobile device -- and it's totally free.

If you want to download a free app, sometimes it seems like your options are limited to enjoyable but simple games like Bubbles or Temple Run. You might imagine some of the more intense games are quite a bit more expensive. But "Crazy Monster Truck Escape" demonstrates the level of detail app developers are willing to put into a free app, and, on top of the dazzling details, it's a heck of a lot of fun to play.

What's the App?

Crazy Monster Truck Escape takes users on an immersive journey with a classic cops vs. robbers story -- and you're the robber. After you start the game, music blares and it asks you what kind of graphics you'd prefer. If you're on a slow or old device, you can choose the simple ones, though selecting "Fantastic" will get you the best quality. At first most of the levels are locked, so you progress in a linear fashion through the game after you've beaten off the fuzz at each level.

You get to pick which truck you want to use, and then you're off. You might select Bulldog or DragonSword -- it's more about the look of the car than actually changing the way they drive in the game. Depending on what kind of device you're using, the controls change, but they are very easy to get a handle on. You need to evade obstacles and police chasing you at first, and in the later levels you have more specific missions to earn points. The fun thing about this game is the top-notch, detailed graphics -- you feel like you're playing something closer to Call of Duty than Angry Birds.

Crazy Monster Truck Escape is a free app available on Apple and Android.

You'll Want It If...

If you want a compelling game for free, this is a good choice -- it has enough going on to keep you interested for a while, so it has longer legs than some of the more simple offerings. If you appreciate high-quality graphics for mobile games, this will be right up your alley. Crazy Monster Truck Escape shares narrative components with games like Grand Theft Auto, so it's definitely not for children, but if you're an adult and you want to play something a little edgy and fun, this is a solid pick.

It's Not My Thing -- What Else Ya Got?

If you have children, you'll probably want to keep them away from this game -- it's not graphic in its violence, and it doesn't use profanity or sex like Grand Theft Auto, but the negative attitude towards the police and generally adult content isn't the most appropriate for children under 13. A simpler game, like Atari's Greatest Hits, is a superior choice for families. It offers a number of fun, vintage games, and even though Atari's Greatest Hits will set you back more moolah, it will send a better message.