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Review : Asphalt : Urban GT for Nintendo DS
One of my little tech doohickeys that I absolutely had to bring to my parent's place for Thanksgiving was my Nintendo DS. Now there is a somewhat limited selection of games our for the Nintendo DS especially since the US got it first in the entire world including before Japan. So of the game on the market I have the three that I am currently the most excited about. Besides Mario 64 and Urbz that third game would be Asphalt : Urban GT by Gameloft. It is a pretty damn fun racing game. It is not the most in depth simulation with the biggest selection of cars with hyper realism but it is a very fun very playable racing game for the Nintendo DS and unlike Ridge Racer DS it is actually shipping now. I like the game so much that it is what I was playing when the battery in my DS went out after playing for about ten hours. I forgot to bring my charger on my trip so no more dual screen racing excitement for me tonight.
This is probably the most exciting new 3d game for the DS. The graphics and animation is pretty good. It is better that one would find on a PSOne or N-64 game but shrunken down into a small handheld form. The graphics are not super detailed but they move damn fast and fluid. At least it looks much better than the N-Gage version.
You race around cities and race tracks and there is some non race cars on the track. There is actual licensed cars but they sort of handle all the same but it does look cool. When you pass a car close or crash into sidewalk objects you get nitro for extra speed boost. It looks a bit weird seeing a new VW Beetle or a Hummer H2 using nitro but hey it is a fake video game world. I bet there is not really car carrying trucks that can be conveniently be used as moving jump ramps but hey it is fun. There is an arcade mode and a Garage mode where you try to win money and cars. It is really obvious that they were trying to get this out in time for the Nintendo DS launch but it has a decent polished graphics engine and delivers a good racing experience now. It is no Grand Turismo but then again few games are. When you crash into a head on car you spin around in a cinematic mode but do not slow down and can totally continue the race without to much negative consequence. The game is actually not that hard and I found myself being able to win most races with out to much stress. There is more focus on this game being fun than realism.
This game has wireless networking however it needs each player to have a copy of the game. That sucks and I have yet to try it out.
The game sort of under utilizes the lower touchscreen. It only displays a course map during the game and since it is a totally linear map I fail to see the point. I wish that it took advantage of the touchscreen for a simulated analog steering wheel but alas I will have to wait for Ridge Racer DS. This game still has Tap turns with the digital pad and I have a feeling that there will be a whole bunch of games with tap turns on the PSP.
I can't wait for more racing game on the Nintendo DS. I have a gut feeling that a Mario Kart and F-Zero will be a real killer app for the DS. But until then Asphalt : Urban GT is a pretty good simple racing game for the DS that delivers good clean mindless 3d racing fun in a handy portable size.
Jake at November 27, 2004 
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Comments
Jake,
what are your thoughts on the new handheld one that Sony is coming out with? Are you going to purchase that also?
Posted by: scorpius at November 27, 2004 5:08 AM
I would buy a PSP in a heartbeat if the PSP metal gear wasnt a card game!! When i heard this my gut keeled over and i vomited. Mario Kart for the DS on the otherhand is going to be great. What Mario Kart game isnt great?
Posted by: Shawn at November 27, 2004 7:34 AM
I might get a PSP. It is not going to be out until April in the US so I will reserve mine now.
Are you sure that Metal Gear Acid for the PSP is a Card game? It does not look like a card game
http://www.konamijpn.com/products/mga/index.php
Posted by: Jake of 8bitjoystick.com at November 27, 2004 10:21 AM
Yeah your right it is a card game. Here is hoping it does not suck
Posted by: Jake of 8bitjoystick.com at November 27, 2004 10:23 AM
This game looks pretty cool! I've been looking for a good DS game to ask for for Christmas, but all of the best ones seem to be coming out a couple of months after. I'll think about asking for this one.
Posted by: Riley at November 28, 2004 5:01 PM
yeah jake, it took a while for it to sink in for me too. when it did, i did a double take and threw a fit. not really, but i was mad. The metal gear series are so great, how could they do this!
Posted by: Shawn at November 29, 2004 6:46 AM
I own Asphalt for DS and I think it's awesome. If you are really interested in (another) in-depth analysis of it (by me), check out my URL. Very nice review of an excellent game.
Posted by: BusterBot858 at May 18, 2005 5:49 PM
hello ijust playing asphault for my ds because i love car games
Posted by: ali bleiweiss at February 22, 2006 10:43 AM
