Wind Rider!
Twitchy, greedy, annoying game quickly crashes to earth.
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Wind Rider!
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this app.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Wind Rider! is an arcade game for iOS devices. While it has no objectionable content -- even when you slam into a building or the side of a mountain, there's no blood or gore -- the constant ads can be problematic. There's a banner ad along the bottom of the screen at all times and static ads on the menu page, and while you can watch a video ad to double your money after every round, the game sometimes plays ads even when you tell it not to. It's also one of those games where there's no music or sound effects, but the ads do have them, which make the ads stand out even more. You can always pay for the ad-free version. Read the developer's privacy policy for details on how your (or your kids') information is collected, used, and shared, and any choices you may have in the matter, and note that privacy policies and terms of service frequently change.
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What’s It About?
WIND RIDER! doesn't have a story. While you're shown using a wing suit to fly over a city, and against other people that challenge you to fly close to buildings and mountains, you're never told why you're doing this. Are you a thrill seeker, or someone with a death wish? Who knows? Who cares: All players need to know is that they have to try to come in first place, beating their competition as quickly as possible without smashing into solid obstacles.
Is It Any Good?
While this could've been a fun and interesting arcade aerial racing game, its greediness in pushing ads and its constant glitches make it more frustrating than fun. In Wind Rider!, you don a wing suit and get into a race with computer-controlled opponents, but you'll only win if you fly through some circular targets. This is relatively easy to do, thanks to this game's simple touch controls; or rather, it would be if they worked right. This game constantly seizes up mid-flight, pausing for a fraction of a second before jumping ahead, which can mean the difference between threading the needle and slamming head first into a skyscraper.
It's also greedy, and allows you to buy your way to the winner's circle. Along with a banner ad that constantly runs along the bottom, and static ads on the main menu, there are video ads after each round you can watch to double your winnings, which you can then use to increase your maximum speed, your acceleration when you fly through a target, and the amount of money you earn per round. Even worse, while the game itself has no music or sound effects, the video ads do, and the video ads sometimes run even when you tell them not to. All of which makes Wind Rider! as irritating as it is disappointing.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about advertising. This game has numerous ads throughout, including some that play when you don't want them to. Does this bother you, or do you accept it as part of mobile gaming? Why do you think the makers did this?
Do you think flying in a wing suit over a city or very close to buildings would be safe in real life? Do you think someone might get the wrong idea from this game?
App Details
- Devices: iPhone, iPad
- Pricing structure: Free
- Release date: September 27, 2018
- Category: Racing Games
- Publisher: Voodoo
- Version: 1.63
- Minimum software requirements: Requires iOS 8.0 or later; Android 4.1 and up
- Last updated: March 29, 2021
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