Get ready to drift and have your opponents eating your dust with Asphalt 8: Airborne, Gameloft’s eighth installment in the renowned racing game franchise and its fourth for the iOS. Featuring enhanced graphics, lots of new cars modeled after the real thing, and challenging tracks and tournaments, Asphalt 8 is sure to be a very challenging game that racing aficionados should be rushing to get. Do you have what it takes to take the lead? Let this guide help you on your way to racing greatness.
Gameplay
Asphalt 8: Airborne is a racing game where players must race both against time and other players for racing supremacy. There are various modes available throughout the game, and all content can be unlocked through regular play. There are also many cars that players can purchase using virtual currency, and these can also be customized and upgraded in order to become more effective vehicles. Players will have to rely on the boost system in order to gain an edge, and this feature is a definite game changer when it comes to tighter and more challenging completion.
Controls
Controlling your vehicle is very basic. Acceleration is automatic, and all players have to worry about is steering and braking. Steering is done by tilting your device to the left or the right, while tapping on the left side of the screen will cause your car to decelerate. Also, the player can also use the nitro boost, which is activated by tapping on the right side of the screen.
Currency
Coins are the only currency available within the game. Coins are necessary for purchasing new cars as well as making upgrades. Of course, coins can be collected via regular play, and better performances will also yield you more coins in the process. Alternately, you can also purchase more coins in exchange of real money should you not want to grind and play the game repeatedly just to have the required amount of coins.
Nitro
Nitro is a very important aspect of Asphalt 8. By tapping on the right side of the screen, players can get a significant amount of increase in speed. The period by which nitro lasts and the speed boost that it provides depends on the car, as well as on the nitro meter displayed above the screen during races. Nitro regenerates over time, but players can perform actions such as destroying objects within the tracks, knocking other vehicles, or performing ramp jumps. The better the actions performed, the more bonus nitro would be rewarded. Also, there are often extra nitro that can be picked up along the tracks which would help in refilling your nitro meter quickly. Nitro will also allow you to last longer in the air during ramps just, allowing you to perform better barrel rolls by turning while in midair.
It should also be noted that nitro, once triggered, will remain activated for as long as there is still something in the meter. This basically means that it cannot be turned off one activated until it is completely exhausted. Furthermore, players would be able to get further speed by tapping on the right side of the screen or a maximum of two extra times. Of course, this would also cause your nitro button to deplete much faster. Lastly, during nitro mode, a red section would appear. Tapping the nitro button while the meter is at the red section will also give you a significant boost in speed.
Drifting
Drifting is another very effective technique that can shave off a lot of seconds in your total time. Drifting is done by braking and steering at the same time. The longer the distance that you are in drift mode, the more nitro would be rewarded and the more coins you would get. Also, drifting is also a much more effective way to maneuver around sharp corners than significantly lowering your speed.
Vehicles
Asphalt 8: Airborne features many different cars from different manufacturers. Vehicles are grouped by class, with each having different prices. Cars have different attributes such as acceleration, top speed, handling, and nitro. These attributes can be upgraded by spending coins. Cars also have a maximum limit as to how much a specific stat can be upgraded.
Game Modes
The game offers many different types of missions for both online and offline play. There’s a career mode where players can compete in different tournaments, with the succeeding events opening up only after certain criteria have been met such as earning stars, winning the previous event, or paying for it. There’s also a single player mode where players can compete against “ghosts” of their friends, which are essentially AI patterned over the behavior and gameplay of real players. Players may also choose to race against each other via a Wi-Fi connection. For online play, their achievements and ranking will be displayed via a global leaderboard.
Tips and Tricks
As with any racing game, superior handling is very important. It’s okay to lose the first few games of a specific lap, for as long as you take the time to memorize the track and adjust your controls so that you would be able to maneuver each lap with relative ease. Remember to use drifting controls and to maintain high but controllable speeds at all times.
It is also very essential to protect your position, especially if you are in the lead and there are lots of other vehicles close behind you. Protect the lanes so that you can avoid letting them pass you by. If you feel that you position is in danger, use the Nitro button to make a hasty rush to further your lead.
However, learn to use the nitro wisely. This resource is especially important during straight stretches or when going up ramps. Nitro is not quite effective when it comes to turns, but experienced players may be able to combine this move with drifting.
Save up on coins for vehicles rather than for upgrades. Save upgrades until you have at least one vehicle per class. Some events or missions require that a vehicle from a specific class be used, so you might find yourself stuck without a vehicle at a certain stage, forcing you to grind in order to come up with the necessary funds. Purchase a superior car before doing upgrades, as these are the vehicles that you will be using in the long run.
Lastly, don’t miss out on the opportunity to earn nitro boosts. Not only will drifting, crashing through vehicles, and ramping earn you this precious resource, but this will earn you extra coins as well. In a tight race, having a lot of nitro handy may very well assure you victory. Another piece of important advice is to look for shortcuts in the track. Some of these may be obscured, but accessing these will provide you with a good shortcut, and often a healthy supply of ramps as well.
