A review for gamers who don’t like reading long reviews.
This is the opening sentence. Normally this is the place where long-winded tech bloggers would spend a paragraph or two on the history of the iPad and how it came to this point. You won’t find that here. This review is about the effectiveness of the iPad 2 as a gaming device in comparison to it’s 1-year old sibling and it’s smaller cousins: the iPhone and iPod Touch. I’m going to assume you’re familiar with what the iPad is, and what it can do, so let’s cut to the good stuff, eh? (If you want a full 20-page review of every piece of hardware and software on the device, I would suggest Engadget, DaringFireball, or any of the other well-known tech blogs out there.)
Let’s get one thing out in the open first: the iPad 2 is a better gaming device than the original iPad. There are a few big reasons for this…
The iPad 2 is faster.
Apple has claimed that the processor is twice as fast, and they weren’t joking. Games load up very quickly, and there is absolutely no lag or jitters when switching between menus, viewing cutscenes, etc. You might recall a video that Carl made a while back showing how crappy the cutscenes for Back to the Future: Episode 1 performed on the original iPad. These exact same cutscenes are buttery smooth on the iPad 2, with no lag in sight.
The iPad 2 supports better graphics performance.
Three triple A titles were upgraded with better graphics for the iPad 2 launch: Dead Space, Real Racing 2, and Infinity Blade. I assumed that graphical differences would be minimal between the iPad 2 and the original iPad. I was wrong. All three games took advantage of advanced anti-aliasing, which greatly smoothed out the jagged edges seen on the original iPad. All three games also used higher-res textures, which makes these games look very close to their counterparts on the iPhone 4′s retina display. Other features include improved lighting, and even added geometry (in Dead Space). You can see these differences clearly in our graphics comparison article (mouse-over the example below to see the iPad 2 version).
You can play iPad 2 games on your HDTV.
While the original iPad supported limited video output on certain video apps, the iPad 2 supports full video/audio mirroring using Apple’s Digital AV Adapter. This means that everything you see on your iPad 2 will be seen on your HDTV via HDMI, with full audio support. This is the coolest feature of the new iPad in my opinion, and opens up a new door of gaming possibilities. In one respect, with games like Real Racing 2, it turns your iPad 2 into a steering wheel controller as you play the game on your TV. With a game like Chopper 2, which uses your iPhone or iPod Touch as a controller, it literally turns your iPad into a full on gaming console! Social board games like Monopoly or Scrabble are no longer confined to a table, as players can all see the what’s going on with the game board from anywhere in the room. Granted, many games still require you to look at your iPad to play, but it will make these games more social, as other people can watch the game on the TV while you’re playing.
It seems painfully clear that the iPad 2 is better than the original iPad in respect to gaming, but what about the iPhone 4? This question actually presents a more important question: do you play more games at home or on the go? While the iPad isn’t not portable, you can’t just toss it into your pocket on the way to a doctor’s appointment. It’s much more conspicuous in boring business meetings, and will draw too much attention at holiday parties with the in-laws. The other obvious consideration is the screen real estate of the iPad compared to the small screen of the iPhone 4. For many games, such as real-time strategy titles, the iPad provides a large advantage over the iPhone. But for other games, especially first-person shooters or arcade games that require dual-joystick controls, playing them on the iPad can be cumbersome due to it’s large size, even if you’re using those wonderful Fling joystick attachments.
Wait a minute, what’s going?! Enough with stating the obvious! This is an iPad 2 review, not an iPad vs iPhone debate! Let’s get down to the nitty gritty here. It’s pretty much impossible to give the iPad a star-rating, because it’s totally different to people in different situations. Instead, I will give you my opinion on the iPad 2 based on what consumer category you fit into.
Conclusions
If you already own an original iPad…
So you’re an early adopter, eh? You bought the original iPad knowing full-well that a better model would come out the following year. You know what? You’re still doing ok. While the graphical enhancements and HDMI outputs are appealing, they most likely don’t warrant you going out and spending another $550+ for a new device. Your current iPad still plays games well, and can share movies to your TV via Airplay or a video adapter. Unless you’ve got a crazy desire for smoother edges and higher resolution textures, you’ll be fine holding off at least until the iPad 3 comes out.
If you already own an iPhone 4, but not an iPad…
Where do you do most of your gaming? If the answer is “at home”, then the iPad 2 may be worthwhile purchase for you. The high-quality graphics will make you feel like you’re playing your iPhone 4 games on a bigger screen (if the game supports an iPad 2 upgrade), and the ability to play on your HDTV is just icing on the cake! However, if you primarily play games on the go, it may be better to save some cash and wait for the iPhone 5.
If you already own an iPod Touch, but not an iPad…
First off, can you promise me that you’ll never call it an “iTouch” again? Thanks, now I won’t have to smack it out of your hands onto the pavement if I pass you on the street. As for the iPad 2, you will be in for a treat. Games will look and play better than on your older-gen iPod. It’s as close as you’ll get to retina graphics without a retina display device. Those with a current-gen iPod Touch, you’ve been spoiled with those retina display graphics already, so it really comes down to whether or not you play mobile games at home or on the go. If you are constantly on your iPod around the house, checking mail, browsing the web, and playing games… the iPad 2 will be a welcome relief to crampy fingers and strained eyes, especially if you use it on your HDTV!
If you don’t own an iOS device…
I’m not sure how you found this website, but welcome! You should also introduce yourself to the iPad 2, because you guys are going to be best friends whenever Apple’s supply meets demand and you can actually buy one. Prepare for your mind to be blown by some of the most incredible productivity and social apps, high-quality games, and jealous friends you’ve ever had the joy of witnessing. You’ve managed to hold out this long; you deserve it.
Fans of our podcast may remember that I’ve always been fairly pessimistic about iPad. I never thought it would become as popular as it has, mainly because the iPad is not a “need” product like many people consider the iPhone to be. The iPad sits firmly in the “want” category, and is one of those products we want our friends to know we own. We want to take it into a Starbucks and bask in the curious glances of those around us. Come on iPad owners, you can admit it – you know it’s true! That said, I can already feel the tug of the iPad 2 while I’m at home, slowly pulling me away from my computer when I want to perform arbitrary tasks like checking email or browsing the web. As far as gaming is concerned, and I never thought I would say this, the iPad 2 has already started to become a central part of entertainment at my house. Hooking it up to the TV to play board games and watch YouTube videos is already a regular occurrence – and I’ve only owned it for 3 days.
