You've got to strike a balance between driving fast and taking out enemies.

Most readers probably wont remember the original Death Rally PC game released way back in 1996. It was considered a fantastic combat racer back then, and we're happy to report that the remake for iOS is just as compelling.

Developed by Remedy Entertainment (previously known for big-budget console games like Max Payne and Alan Wake), Death Rally has you race around a course at breakneck speeds while using deadly weapons strapped to the car to blow up the other racers. How could you not enjoy that?

Even being in last place is fun since you can still take pot-shots at all the guys in front of you.

It's been a fantastic genre ever since Twisted Metal showed the world how great the concept was back in 1995, and it hasn't lost any of its punch. What makes Death Rally so much fun though isn't just the racing and shooting.

It also has an engaging RPG-esque leveling system that lets you beef up your cars and make your guns more powerful after every race. In a unique twist, each vehicle's health must be restored after each match using experience points, meaning that flawless races reward players by allowing them to spend all their points on upgrades.

Upgrade your cars in several categories like speed and armor.

The entire Death Rally experience is very high quality; everything from the menus to the core gameplay seems lavished with care and polished to perfection. The only criticism we can think of is that variety is in short supply. There are different modes, but they're all about racing in circles while shooting. But that's a small criticism for a $2.99 iOS game.

The bottom line. Death Rally is very high-quality racing game that car fans, gun fans, and cars-with-guns-fans should definitely pick up.