Today we’ll be having a look at the latest game for the iPhone from Handmark. Developed by Pazzazz, the guys behind GTS World Racing and Helfire: Apache Vs Hind, Phaze is another product from the now Handmark integrated Astraware games studio.

If you’ve ever played Wipeout, F-zero or Xtreme G you’ll be pretty familiar with the concept behind the game. A Zero G racer, you pilot various ships around 16 twisting and turning tracks using the accelerometer to control both throttle and steering. Accelerometer control schemes have come a long way since early iPhone games included them and Phaze is one of those games that just feels right using the accelerometer. Calibration is included for the accelerometer should you want to play upside down or find you’re getting the dreaded red screen of too much tilt. Weapons are of course included for your blasting and zooming pleasure, which are activated with an onscreen button.

Hit the read link for more from Phaze including a play through video.

Weapons are picked up on the track as you fly by at breakneck speed, colour coded for Boost, Energy, Shield, Bomb, Rockets and my personal favourite the Missile, guided straight into the back of your hapless target. Each weapon is designed to give you the edge over the other racers as you battle it out to come first over the 16 included tracks, but beware what comes around goes around as your fellow racers can and do blow you off the track. Each vehicle has a different energy rating which in turn effects your ships health as you smash into other racers, their weapons and hopefully not often, the side of the track. When you first start off you might find yourself edge grinding your way round the track for a bit. Fear not though, if your ship blows up you’ll be placed back on the track fully fuelled and ready to go and close that gap to the next racer. Each track is also lined with boost pods that let you effortlessly fly by other not so diligent racers as you hurtle towards the finish line. Four difficulty levels are included, Easy, Normal, Hard and Extreme. Having played through the game quite a bit I can say that both Hard and Extreme are just that, definitely challenging enough for even the most hardened Zero Grav racer among us. There are also 10 vehicles to choose from overall. Three are available from the off and the other faster and better ships are unlocked as you go through the game. You’ll certainly need the faster rides if you intend to take on the harder difficulty settings. The ships all look great with my favourite being the Gibbs Mach One, which I’m proud to call my own. So think of me if you ever get to race in the Gibbs Mach One, I’m sure she’ll do you proud!

The game includes a championship mode in which you must place at a certain defined position (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc) depending on the difficulty level that you’re attempting. To unlock all the cars and new tracks you have to progress through the championships 16 race tracks, which takes quite a while so thankfully your progress is always saved so you can come back and continue flying by the seat of your pants at any time. Handy for short tube rides, being rudely interrupted by a phone call during a gaming sesh or if you’re just plain bored in a meeting. Also included is a single race mode which lets you just take on one track of your selection from those that you’ve unlocked. Both modes allow you to battle it out with 9 other competitors each gunning for your spot on the track.

Phaze’s on-board audio isn’t all that bad as game sound tracks go with an electronica beat that suits the futuristic racing and decent sound effects to boot. There is however thankfully an audio disable setting that lets you play your own rocking racing tunes as you blast around each track.

From the moment you load up Phaze the game oozes speed, from the running game engine in the backdrop of the menus to the starting sequence of the grid Phaze manages something that even big screen games struggle with, a sense of speed. Phaze makes you feel as if you’re actually flying round a track at break neck speed, more than any other racer on the iPhone has managed with pretty decent graphics and a solid frame rate to boot. With plenty to race on and plenty of cars to unlock and race with, Phaze has plenty to keep you entertained when you’re on the move.

If you’re into racers on the iPhone you owe it to yourself to check Phaze out. If you’re a Wipeout or F-Zero fiend then Phaze is for you. If you want one of the best futuristic racers on the iPhone then you can’t go far wrong with Phaze. For $4.99 (£2.99) Phaze (App Store Link) is an exhilarating thrill ride that lets you get your Zero Grav racing on the go, which I would definitely recommend to a friend and of course to you our dear readers.

If you need more convincing check out the play through video and gallery below for a sense of what you get from Phaze.