There were no smartphones at that time. After school, a bunch of boys squatted on the concrete floor, using a brick as a track. The four-wheel drive vehicle buzzed, and everyone flew away with it. What they say about "dragon head and phoenix tail" and "golden motor" sounds reasonable, but in fact they can't even tighten the screws. The worst thing was that the car hit a wall, the parts collapsed all over the floor, and I had to lie on the ground to find it for a long time - that was heartbreaking.
Today's young people are much happier. You can play "Pocket 4x4" with just a mobile phone. You will be given a car right at the beginning, so you don't have to save money to buy it, and you don't have to worry about losing parts. The graphics made by Unity3D show that the track is smooth, with cornering and acceleration effects, which is much more powerful than the chassis I used to sandpaper. The most amazing thing is the modification system. I think back then we could only twist screws and change gears, but now people have even sorted out the skill combinations, such as "starting propulsion" and "corner drift", it's like engaging in e-sports.
But then again, this game really has that flavor. It does not turn the four-wheel drive into a mindless parkour, but retains the fun of assembly. You change the tires, adjust the gears, and assemble the motor. Every part affects the running performance. Isn't this the civilized version of the "messing around" we used to do? Moreover, the intensity of the ranking match is very much like having a fight with the kids from the factory next door when you were a kid - if you lose, you have to call them big brother for three days.
Of course, we old players have to admit that "Pocket 4WD" on mobile phones is more worry-free now. There is no need to buy batteries or wash bearings. Just wipe the screen after running. But the most awesome thing about it is that it allows you to enjoy the "King of Transformation" addiction while waiting at a red light or squatting in the toilet. I think back then we had to squat on the ground for a long time, but now we can make the car fly while lying down. This is the progress of the times, brothers.
Finally, to be honest, this game is most suitable for two types of people: one is a nostalgic veteran like me, and the other is a newbie who has never played a physical four-wheel drive. Lao Bangcai can find his youth, and Xiao Mengxin can experience "it turns out that the things that parents played back then were so good." Anyway, I'm planning to bring together those buddies from back then to compete in a ranking competition to see who can still win the third place like before and be praised for a month 😏
Without further ado, I'm going to change the "air knife" tires on the car. That thing was a legendary piece of equipment back then, but now I can put it on with just a few clicks. It's great!