Developer: Kairosoft
Price: $2.99
Version: 1.1.0
App Reviewed on: iPhone 3GS


Oh, Kairosoft. They’ve become somewhat predictable as of… well as of always. Whenever they release a game, it’s pretty much an assumed fact that it’ll be equal parts charming, deceptively deep and that special intervention-worthy level of addicting. Well Grand Prix Story finally manages to buck that trend by being boring and… nah, I’m kidding. It’s another (*eyeroll*) great game.
Managing a racing empire isn’t all that different from running a video game company or building a mall: there’s a lot of clicking through menus, hiring and training employees, researching new stuff and earning lots and lots of money. That said, it’s a tad different from other Kairosoft titles in that most of a player’s bankroll is earned through races they choose to partake in, rather than pre-planning and consumerism. Having more direct control over earning cash initially gives the impression that the game moves at a faster pace, but it also places an increased reliance on Data which is earned through races, scrapping unneeded cars and sponsorships.
Again, this is a Kairosoft game. The presentation, graphics and humor are all exactly what fans have come to know and love from the developer, and it’s every bit as fun and addicting. Individuals comprising the race team are the big focus here, with each driver and mechanic a vital cog in the machine. Each of them can be leveled-up or trained, allowing them to work more effectively or produce higher-quality products. Of course, watching cars and components gain experience from race-to-race is also a big driving factor. No pun intended.
The only real complaint I can level at Grand Prix Story is that sometimes the menu buttons don’t register properly. It can be a little annoying to attempt to choose an option multiple times, but it’s nothing game-breaking. Yup, that’s all I got.
So, Grand Prix Story is yet another excellent addition to Kairosoft’s release library. It’s familiar, but just different enough to feel unique among the rest. There’s no reason why fans shouldn’t snap this one up immediately, assuming they haven’t already.