 There are a ton of racing titles available for your mobile phone. From motorcycles to monster trucks, go-karts to jet skis, on-road to off-road, outer space to inner space, top-down to upside-down you name it. But there’s only one that’s been polished to such a high sheen that one can see the future of 3D mobile gaming in its reflection. Namely - Asphalt 2 Urban GT.
The people at Gameloft didn’t cut any corners when they made this high speed racer. Their attention to detail extends to all facets of this title to make a great gaming experience that would stand up well on a console much less a mobile phone.
Graphically, it is stunning. Whether you’re flying past the Eiffel Tower in Paris or dodging Cable Cars on the streets of San Francisco you’ll find it hard not to slow down and check out the sights. When you do you’ll probably be sent crashing through road barriers and knocking over garbage cans with sparks flying or simply left in the wake of an aggressive AI. One has to marvel at the optimization in this game as all this action occurs without a hint of slow-down or lag in control. Speed and control, the cornerstones of every great racer, are seen and felt as you hit the nitro and your car jumps ahead with a nice long exhaust burn or your motorbike wheelies out.
All this action is matched with full sound FX. From the roar of your motor shifting through its gears to the clashing of metal as you take out other racers to the police sirens and helicopter chop, this game is alive with sound. Once again, you have to wonder how Gameloft managed to squeeze so much out of a mobile phone. Until the next generation of mobile devices come out with graphic accelerators this game and its big brother Asphalt 3 Street Rules are shining examples of what can be done with this Gen.
Game play wise, Gameloft didn‘t try to reinvent the wheel, they just greased it. After a fast loading intro with nice music by Moby you can choose from instant action or arcade which includes five other modes. In instant action you’re dropped into a preset car and race where you win races, make money and unlock new cars, motorbikes and tracks. In arcade you can choose any of your unlocked cars or tracks for a single race, time trial or eliminator or you can play cop chase or bandit chase. While nothing is revolutionary it is perfectly executed. A word needs to be said about two included functions that are rarely seen in mobile games but greatly appreciated. First, the ability to control volume. This is especially nice on a mobile device where you never know where you’re going to be. And secondly, something I’ve never seen on a mobile racer, the ability to change views of a race on the fly from near and far behind to the front bumper. Nice going Gameloft!
This game sets the bar for high speed racing on your mobile phone and earns a well deserved 5*. It’s the perfect game for when you’re stuck in a line or waiting at the DMV and you feel the need for speed.
Reviewed by Glenn Yamaguchi on Nokia N73 |