Reviews// Asphalt 3D

So, we've got a drifty arcade racer tucked into the launch line-up for the 3DS. It's not Ridge Racer. That's out this week. So, a bold move, ain't it?

Being a drifty arcade 3DS launch title that's not only not Ridge Racer, but is in fact up against it. I'm not going to labour the point, because I've not had chance to play Ridge Racer 3D yet, but we should definitely note that Ubisoft's drifty arcade racer, Asphalt 3D, is up against some stiff competition. It needs to be GOOD. As it happens, it's just OK.

If you played Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit you might, reasonably, spot some similarities. We'll not hold this against developer Gameloft, as the similarities go back to the first Asphalt game on the DS back in 2005. Not that that pre-dates the NFS series as a whole, but... BUT.

Let's crack on, eh? Asphalt is a very arcadey sort of a racer in which you're rewarded for tricky manoeuvres such as driving at oncoming traffic and pulling off crazy-long drifts. As you're engaging in illegal street races, you might also attract the unwanted attention of the police, who happen to be equipped with some surprisingly top-end motors to catch you with.

The meat of the game is a career mode, in which you start in a low-end (for a game full of high-end cars) motor and, as you progress through a series of cups, earn cash to get yourself better and better vehicles. Event types include straightforward races, time trials, 'vigilante' (smash other racers off the road), high speed chase, leader of the pack (stay at the front), drift and 'cash attack'.

And, of course, it's all in 3D!

Alas, therein perhaps lies its biggest flaw. While Asphalt 3D doesn't look terrible if you just take a quick look at it, the level of detail and the 3D effects make it more than a little difficult to see what's actually happening. You'll be speeding along, happy as some bloke called Larry, when all of a sudden you're slamming into an oncoming vehicle that you just had not seen coming. It wasn't there, and then it was. Maybe there was a speck seemingly in the distance for half of a split second. That doesn't seem like fair warning, though, since you're now respawning and the guys behind you who you'd clawed a lead on are now cruising on past you.

I played MotorStorm Apocalypse in 3D and felt that the added dimension was helping me play. It gave me a better feel for what was happening and left me better able to judge distances. It also made things more exciting. While Asphalt's 3D effect is certainly competently handled in terms of actually looking 3D, it certainly doesn't help you actually play the thing. I actually found slight (although not massive) improvements when I turned the 3D off.

This flaw is not a total game-breaker, but it can make things feel overly punishing. Unfairly punishing, in fact. It won't always stop you qualifying for the next event, but when it does you'll want to throw your shiny new 3DS against a wall.

When you're not being hindered by microscopic obstacles, the races are fun enough, give or take. That said, the courses could be a little more exciting. And, although I was just moaning about being smacked out of the blue by things that you can't really see coming, there could be a bit more going on on the tracks.

But, it's all very fast, which is a Good Thing. The drifting feels good and the vehicles handle reasonably well. The range of events and tracks, while a little predictable after a while, has just enough going on to keep you entertained.

If you've got any mates who will also be/also have got a 3DS on launch day, you'll be able to take on up to five of them in local play, as well as make use of viral ranking and viral ghosting with StreetPass.

Conclusion
Basically, what I'm telling you here is that Asphalt 3D is passable. If you need to have a racing game for your 3DS, this will do the trick. It falls quite short of being anything amazing, though, and at times it's downright annoying.

SPOnG Score: 67%