Top Android Games 2013: The Best And Worst Of Asphalt 8 - Gameplay, Visuals, Verdict

For world-renowned game developer Gameloft, the philosophy is simple - you make sequels of games which are well-received by your target. And that is exactly the case when it released Asphalt 8: Airborne several days ago. 

If you are a fan of arcade racing, you will certainly give this game a try. And if you have played the previous Asphalt games, it very much feels the same for the most part. 

Gameplay

As far as gameplay is concerned, Asphalt 8 has borrowed many if not most of the gameplay features from previous versions. However, you can absolutely feel the game to be much more accurate when calculating drifts, turns and jumps. The game also reacts faster whenever you make controls or tilt your device, which is definitely a step forward. However, if you are using a 4-inch phone, you may feel that the entire navigation screen is too crowded. 

What separates it from other Asphalt games though, is the ability to make high-speed aerial stunts. Just run to the necessary platform and your car would make turns in mid-air, depending on your speed and direction. There are also stunts which are more difficult to perform, which is a good challenge. 

Visuals

Similar to other titles developed by Gameloft, the visuals in Asphalt 8 are absolutely stunning. From the cars, to the races, weather, and everything that falls in between. However, the game developer might have gone too far with this one.  It might just be me, but the visuals are just too rich that they require a lot from your smartphone. From FPS (frames per second), to the actual overall speed requirement, your mobile might not be able to keep up.

Fortunately, there are settings which can help lower down the visuals, though that may not be good for some gamers. Once you lower the visual settings to medium, the game significantly takes away the blur effect which signifies your speed. 

Verdict

Asphalt 8 is definitely one of the best racing games out there for Android, as well as iOS, especially for franchise fans. However, if you think you can settle with a decent racer without torturing your device, Asphalt 6 or 7, and even EA's Most Wanted may be better options.