Asphalt 7 scored the lauded Game of the Week nod from the App Store, likely due to its sharp graphics and gyroscope-enhanced controls. It executes the gameplay well – as long as you can avoid the frequent pitches to make the game social or upgrade components with real money.
It is a fallacy that too many games are falling in to as of late: not everyone wants to spam their friends with their latest gaming conquests. On the one hand it makes sense for game makers to go this way: it generates buzz and word-of-mouth referrals to their products. Yet for those who just want to play, it can get quite annoying. There must be some kind of middle ground: provide the option for sharing without making it so constant and in-your-face.
Choose “quickplay” to get an overview of the different types of races and venues available. You can also choose a difficulty level, or pick “spin” for a random selection. If just starting out your car options are limited to the default choice. However, if you have saved up enough cash from previous races, you can always rent one of the cars with more swag.
Upgrading cars and capabilities are done through earning stars and cash. Each are acquired through racing success; there are, however, many cash icons floating around the race tracks. While looking for those be sure to grab the Nitro ones as well. These extra boosts of speed are essential for finding victory. If you get tired of earning it the old-fashioned way, you can purchase stars with actual cash through in-app billing.
Controlling your car is well done – steer by moving your device. Tap on the bottom right for a Nitro boost or the bottom left to brake. Doing this while turning can help slide into the turns for faster execution. Adjust the sensitivity to your liking – which you will be able to determine through the frequency of crashes.
After each race there is a prompt to share your scores by logging in for more social access. While eliminating it is just one tap, it does get fairly annoying during a long period of game play. But just like in-app purchases, this kind of functionality is likely here to stay. However, this shouldn’t deter anyone who wants an excellent racing game. Asphalt 7: Heat is well done and very enjoyable to play.
Download Asphalt 7 from the App Store ($0.99)
On Target:
- Fluid controls
- Various gameplay options
Off the Mark:
- Excessive social features
- Limited auto customization
