‘Asphalt 7: Heat’ for iOS and Android game review

The latest iteration in the Asphalt series is Asphalt 7: Heat. The first time we got a glimpse of this game was in the promotional material for the Samsung Galaxy S III, although the game itself arrived on iOS first, as they usually do, and it’s only now after almost a months has it made an appearance on Android.

Title	ASPHALT 7: HEAT
Platform	iOS	Android
Developer	Gameloft
Release Date	June 2012	July 2012
Content rating	4+	Everyone
Size	1.11GB	1.4GB
Price	$0.99

Gameplay

The gameplay in Asphalt 7 is very similar to its predecessor. The career mode has been split into thirteen cups, with each cup having multiple races of various types. In each race, depending upon your performance, you can earn up to three stars. Once you earn enough stars in the current cup, you unlock the next cup.

 You have five basic types of races. There is the normal race, where you race against other cars and you have to be in the top three to win the race. Other race types include Elimination (the last car in each lap gets eliminated), Drift (drift as much as possible in a limited amount of time), Beat ‘em all (take down a certain number of cars), Old school arcade (race against the clock) and Paintjob (finish the race without damaging the car).                                                 

As you race, you will find cash and nitro boost on the track. You can also drift or drive dangerously to fill the nitro meter. You get three levels of nitro boost depending upon the amount nitro you have left. If you have the maximum amount, you get a super powered boost, which turns your screen blue. If you hit an enemy car while this mode is active, you automatically take down that car. It must be said though that in this mode, it does get a bit difficult to see where you’re going and what’s in your path as the screen becomes a bit too dark. And even though you are supposedly going fast it doesn’t feel any faster than the other boost modes.
A certain trivia mistake that I found in the game is the presence of nitro boost for the Tesla Roadster, which is an electric car. In real life Nitro boost only works with cars that have an internal combustion engine, but perhaps it was more fair this way.
As with the previous games in the series, the gameplay in Asphalt 7 is a lot of fun. Even though the basic premise has remained the same, the improved visuals and dynamics of the vehicles makes the game feel that much more real and closer to what you will find in games on the PC or the consoles.
The drifting in this game deserves special mention, as it is the most enjoyable activity you’ll have the chance of doing throughout the game. Drifting requires almost no effort at all to initiate. Just turn into the corner and tap the brake and the car’s rear end will stick out. You need to keep the accelerator pressed (if you have enabled manual accelerator) and just control the direction with the steering. If you turn too hard the car would turn 90 degrees and go straight into the side of the road. Too little and the car will straighten out and the drift will end.
Getting this just right requires a bit of practice initially but after that it’s an absolute blast. Once you get the hang of it, you will be hunting for corners to pull off a drift. Drifting also has it’s advantages, as it is a lot faster way of getting around tight bends than simply slowing down. You hardly lose any speed through the corner and as a bonus, you get a nice shot of nitro boost.

Along with the career mode, there is also a quick play mode and a multiplayer mode. The multiplayer mode lets you play online against others using Gameloft’s online service or you can also play locally over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

Graphics and Sound

Visually Asphalt 7 is very impressive, a much better version of its predecessor. The environments are more richly detailed and the car models also look more real. The lighting in the game is also impressive and lens flare has been used to good effect. The car models are all very shiny and reflect the surroundings, such as the buildings on the side, the banners above and even the fireworks in a particular night level. The game also gives a great sense of speed, which is particularly impressive on the large screens of tablets. 

Rating: 4.5/5 (iOS) | 4/5 (Android)
Pros: Exciting gameplay, great visuals and sound, wide collection of cars, well priced
Cons: Nags you with the Facebook sharing option, annoying narrator, graphical issues on Android
Download: iOS | Android