iOS
AndroidAsphalt 9: Legends ©Copyright by Gamdise Do not Reproduce. By JoJo
Gameloft's asphalt games typically please casual mobile gamers with their impressive graphics, fast-paced arcade-style racing experience, and simple controls. Android, iOS, and Windows users have been playing Asphalt 8: Airborne since 2013, and Asphalt 9: Legends is a terrific successor to Asphalt 8: Airborne. It took a few years, but Gameloft made sure the game was worth the wait. The graphics and visuals have been improved, the races are fast-paced and innovative, and the cars are visually stunning. A small number of tweaks and additions ensure that the game offers you something new without changing too much.
There are several new and improved features over previous entries, such as the famous lineup of cars, a new control scheme including an autopilot mode and race mode called Touch Drive, and a re-implementation of the "shockwave nitro" from "Wild Ride 6: Adrenaline". The graphics are considered a significant improvement over its 2013 predecessor, Asphalt 8: Airborne. Despite the time we spent on the game, it still feels fresh. Both the fine details, from the dust raised by the tires on the tracks of the Midwestern railroad, and the highly detailed models of cars with reflections, look excellent.
The appearance of the car, the environment, and the weather details look incredible and are an absolute pleasure to watch. You'll also notice the attention to detail as the cars hit the ground and dust particles fly after some time, or as leaves blow across the screen and different objects on the street that can be destroyed. There are all kinds of weather, such as sunny days, nights, snow, rain, and cloudy days, all of which feel very realistic, and Asphalt 9: Legends takes you from the snow-capped Himalayas to sunny Cairo (with the pyramids as a backdrop) to Shanghai at night and the American Midwest. It's easy to rotate between these levels and mix the length of each race with the obstacles you must deal with, such as falling rocks in the Himalayas and tornadoes in the US.
When you start Asphalt 9, you'll notice some similarities to previous games. There is a career mode, online multiplayer, and daily events. The career mode has unlockable seasons that require you to complete each race and score well to move on to the next season. There is a range of great-looking cars, but of course, you'll only start with one playable car, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution from the D class. as you complete races you'll get closer to unlocking these cars, but it will take a while.
One aspect of Asphalt 9 that differs from past entries is the speed at which you can acquire new cars. As we played the game, we found ourselves upgrading the attributes of existing cars and using them more frequently, rather than switching between multiple rides unless the race required a specific type of car. This is because of the lower frequency of collecting new cars. You don't get them for completing an event, you get a blueprint - parts for a new car. Getting a new car depends on the number of blueprints you earn through races and card packs - in-game loot boxes - available as in-app purchases. You can also earn card packs by completing a series of events or by watching ads.
If you want new cars other than the ones you get in your career, then the "best" way to get them is to buy card packs. They are essentially looting boxes, and you don't get a whole car from them: you only get "blueprints" for a few specific cars. Before you can unlock a car, you need a certain number of blueprints, which means you need to get many packs containing the same car. For example, if you want the Lamborghini Centenario, you need 40 blueprints to unlock it to the 1-star level. It can go up to five stars, but you will need to get more blueprints each time. With each new star, the car's performance increases (at the cost of reducing the number of fuel tanks).
Each car in your garage has a certain amount of "fuel". Each time you start a race, the fuel count decreases by one, and once it runs out, you can't use that car until the timer runs out. It's basically an energy system, like the kind you get in Candy Crush Saga. The better your car, the longer the timer, so you can't just pick the most powerful car every time and work your way through every low-level event.
Another notable new feature is TouchDrive, which when turned on lets you simply swipe left or right to change direction and steer, rather than tilting your phone to drive as you did before. It's similar to games like Temple Run and Subway Surfer, where you can simply swipe to have your character switch lanes. It makes things a lot easier, and I think users in a crowded space might find it convenient and not want to use their arms to control the car. Personally, I found the "tilt steering" method more appealing, as it gave a more arcade-like driving experience. However, I do appreciate the choice of both modes.
Overall, Asphalt 9: Legends is a free and fun arcade racer that has everything a racing enthusiast could want, atmosphere, steering by tilting your smartphone, and immersive and engaging gameplay, but in-app purchases may ruin your experience. But if you can avoid this little obstacle, I would definitely recommend this game to you.
