There is no shortage of motorbike games in the App Store and Bike Baron is the latest one to throw its tires into the racetrack. A quick search in our database revealed 87 iOS game apps with “bike” in their titles. Among the most highly rated are Stick Stunt Biker, Bike Mania Turbo, Crazy Bikers and Space Bikers. Throw variants of “motocross” into the mix and standout apps like Mad Skills Motocross show up. So how does Bike Baron compare? Brilliantly. Bike Baron is in a league of its own and one of the best bike games out right now.

Bike Baron was made by Mountain Sheep who developed the popular and highly regarded Minigore game which was published by Chillingo. Members of Mountain Sheep’s team also helped build Death Rally and composed the soundtrack to the ultra popular Angry Birds. The combined experiences of the talented folks at Mountain Sheep shines through in the remarkable Bike Baron.

The controls are simple and easy to use. Left and right arrows make the Baron’s bike tilt backward and forward, respectively. A green arrow accelerates the bike while a red one causes it to slow, stop and reverse. The objective of the game is to garner all three stars but their basis shifts through the levels. For example, some levels require you to reach the finish line, beat a pre-defined time limit and pick up all coins while other levels will require you to not crash until the finish line is reached (yes, the Baron can still crash after the finish line), perform three frontflips and collect all coins. Collecting as many of the three stars in every level is important because they are used to unlock levels in the event all three stars are not collected in any particular level.

The obstacle course begins easy enough with baby jump ramps and coins you can’t help but run into with the bike. Then comes the medium and hard levels where more difficult obstacle courses and hazards are introduced. You will confront ramps that require riding in reverse while finessing the tilt controls to remain level. Explosive barrels appear everywhere including the gaps between ramps. Seesaw planks requiring careful navigation and patience will test your skills. Rocket boosters can be a blessing or a curse. They can help you perform flips by keeping the bike in the air longer but can also spell disaster if you lose control. There is plenty of variety in this game which will keep your attention and a smile on your face. The viewing vantage point is an improvement over other bike games. The modus operandi in the genre is to view the bike at a ninety degree angle relative to the bike or overhead. While there’s nothing wrong with these views, we prefer Bike Baron’s profile but a little bit behind camera angle. It gives the game depth and a more realistic feeling. So far all of the features mentioned aren't necessarily unique to Bike Baron compared to other bike games. The features which make this game special are audio and graphics. Cheers from a hidden crowd, grunts from Bike Baron when in peril and the throaty sounds of the bike create an immersive audio experience. The graphics are top notch and remind us a little bit of the beautiful Bumpy Road game. The soft earth tone colors and gorgeously detailed art work are pure eye candy. It is obvious the folks over at Mountain Sheep put a lot of time and effort to create what we think is an exceptionally well-rounded app. We suggest taking the time to pause the game and pay attention to all the nice touches the game has to offer. For instance, in one level’s starting line there is a gorilla-like creature with a hat behind a bar serving beers. Or, pay attention to the cat that sits behind the Baron through thick and thin. Nice! Its these type of things that distinguish a good game from a great game. Want more proof about the care taken to make this game awesome? Mountain Sheep also integrated a level editor so you can create tracks and share them with others. Bike Baron is an outstanding game and one we highly recommend picking up. Bike Baron is the best bike game so far in 2011 and a must-have for your collection. AppPicker Rating: 5 / 5 Stars Pick It Up in the App Store: Bike Baron Other apps by Mountain Sheep Here's the video trailer:   

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3itiesm-B8

Here's a tutorial video for the level editor:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kynvhhJp87g