Asphalt Overdrive is the latest entry in the long-standing Gameloft
series. This time, the publisher takes us back to the 80s, with music
and visuals that perfectly capture the decade of excess. While
enjoyable, some glaring problems make it the weakest title in the
franchise.
Asphalt Overdrive is more of a runner than a racing game. You swipe left or right to move your car and perform tricks by swiping the screen after going off a ramp. That said, there a couple of different modes including stunt run, where you are trying to do a specific number of tricks within the time limit, and destruction, where you try to cause as much damage as possible. The main mode of gameplay, though, is getaway, in which you attempt to evade the police as you barrel down the highway.
The game has an 80s style setting, which is shown in its level and car designs. All of the vehicles in the game are real retro cars that are beautifully rendered. They are many to choose from, each with different stats, and all of them can be upgraded, with money you earn from each mission.
The Bad
Asphalt Overdrive works on a stamina system, a common occurrence in free-to-play games. For every mission that you play you use up one bar. When your bar depletes, you have to wait a certain amount of time for it to charge back up, or you can pay a fee to have it fully recharged. This takes the player out of the flow of the gameplay.
The upgrades and purchasing of cars cost a lot of in-game money that will take numerous hours to achieve. It's very hard to complete missions without upgrading your vehicle, and the game pushes you to use actual money to purchase the in-game funds. While it isn't necessary to do this, it does take a lot of grinding.
The Verdict
Asphalt Overdrive's cool 80s vibe, classic cars and different modes will keep people interested, but its stamina system and in-app purchases hold it back from greatness.
3/5
