Drift Street International Review for Nintendo DSi

System: DSi (DSiWare)	Review Rating Legend
Dev: Tantalus	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: Tantalus	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: March 22, 2010	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1-4	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Everyone	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

The garage in Drift Street International is a little on the bland side. There are only a handful of cars, and each needs to be unlocked as you progress through the game. None of the cars are known brands, but each one sports improved statistics that include increased acceleration, speed, and drift endurance. You can customize the color scheme of your car, but beyond that there are no mechanical tweaks that you can perform. The car selection and options are fairly slim, but again, this is an $8 game we are talking about. I really would have liked to have seen more cars and options in the game, but as a DSiWare title, the current vehicle lineup is serviceable.

Drift Street International screenshot

In addition to the single-player modes, Drift Street International also supports multi-card racing with up to four people. Although this is a nice addition if you know a lot of people with this game, I really wish they would have incorporated a single-card mode so you could play with those who don't already have the game. Drift Street International is not exactly a high-profile release, and finding someone who already has this game could prove difficult if you really want to check out the multiplayer. Still, if you can find others with the game (or can easily convince someone to purchase it), the multiplayer mode is a great way to race with your friends and experience a traditional-feeling race experience.

Drift Street International is not likely to win any awards for innovation or impressive gameplay. Almost everything about this game feels very average. However, for a DSiWare title, that's not necessarily a bad thing. If you really feel like you want to do some racing, and you've got 800 DSiWare points burning a hole in your virtual pocket, Drift Street International is a perfectly good title. As long as you don't expect Need for Speed or Gran Turismo, you won't be disappointed.

By Amanda L. Kondolojy
CCC Freelance Writer

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

3.5

Graphics
Animations are smooth and cars look great, but tacks are a little bland.

3.8

Control
The arcade-style controls are very straightforward and simple. Drifting could have been better.

2.5

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Music is repetitive and sound effects can be grating.

3.9

Play Value
Although the game's garage isn't very robust, the three modes plus the multiplayer makes this game a great value at 800 points.

3.6

Overall Rating - Good
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

Drift Street International invites gamers to test their skills against challenging, aggressive AI drivers, or take on their friends in four-player head-to-head wireless races.

Additionally, each track plays host to arcade-style checkpoint races and challenging speed trials in which gamers have to keep the speed close to the max or risk getting eliminated.

Unmatched speed, smoothness and draw distance are only possible because our technology takes full advantage of the expanded Nintendo DSi hardware.