Disney Speedstorm introduces familiar characters from the Disney universe in a new racing context. Success hinges on upgrading vehicles, honing skills, and leveraging special abilities. While reminiscent of Mario Kart with a Disney theme, the game’s progression is unfortunately hampered by aggressive monetization: In Game Purchases.
Disney Speedstorm is a Free to Play title, offering unrestricted access to the base game. However, meaningful progression and the ability to complete all levels are significantly impacted by the game’s design. While earning in-game currency for upgrades is possible, it necessitates repetitive grinding. The game’s structure strongly incentivizes purchasing upgrades to advance, a practice that raises concerns given the game’s target audience of younger players.
A premium bundle, priced at 999 SEK (!), unlocks cosmetic items, vehicles, and a character. This pricing model is concerning. While in-app purchases are common in mobile games and often accepted in adult-oriented games as a means of bypassing grind, Disney Speedstorm’s primary audience is children who may not fully understand the implications of these purchases. The potential for excessive spending is a serious issue, as highlighted by cases where parents have incurred significant costs due to their children’s in-app purchases, such as the Smurf Village incident where a child spent nearly 50,000 SEK on digital berries.
Beyond the monetization concerns, Disney Speedstorm presents shortcomings in its overall presentation. The graphics, while adequate, exhibit a “mobile game-like” aesthetic. Gameplay mechanics feel somewhat sluggish, lacking a consistently engaging flow. The initial races are exceptionally easy, but the difficulty quickly escalates, requiring vehicle upgrades to remain competitive.
In conclusion, Disney Speedstorm is disappointing, primarily due to its reliance on real-money purchases and its lack of overall depth. While children may find the game appealing due to its colorful visuals and Disney characters, the monetization practices detract from the overall experience.
Parents should exercise caution and closely monitor in-game spending.
Gameloft provided a review code for this evaluation. The provision of review materials does not influence our editorial objectivity.
