iPhone vs DS as first cross-platform title emerges

Apart from the PSone port of Crash Team Racing, which runs old tech on new, this is the first genuine multi-format game that spans iPhone and a contemporaneous handheld. So obviously the world needs to know:which is best?

Graphics
The assets (such as 3D player models and stadia) used for each version appear identical, so we can draw a fair conclusion from the comparison. And the result is… there's simply no contest. Not only does the DS version run in a lower resolution due to its screen, the frame-rate is noticeably rougher than the super-sleek iPhone version and it moves slower too. The iPhone is simply superior.


Above: The DS version


Above: The iPhone/iPod Touch version

It's true that the iPhone version doesn't look as good as, say, FIFA on PSP, but it's smooth, chunky and actually quite pretty. The players may look like PSone footballers (on both versions), but at least they're full 3D.

Winner: iPhone

Sound
The sound is much of a muchness, and neither version has full commentary. The DS version's chants seem to repeat much faster than the iPhone version, but there's nothing really here to recommend one over the other.

Winner: Draw

Justin Towell

Justin was a GamesRadar staffer for 10 years but is now a freelancer, musician and videographer. He's big on retro, Sega and racing games (especially retro Sega racing games) and currently also writes for Play Magazine, Traxion.gg, PC Gamer and TopTenReviews, as well as running his own YouTube channel. Having learned to love all platforms equally after Sega left the hardware industry (sniff), his favourite games include Christmas NiGHTS into Dreams, Zelda BotW, Sea of Thieves, Sega Rally Championship and Treasure Island Dizzy.