Game Review: Asphalt Urban GT 2

Game: Asphalt Urban GT 2
Console: Sony Playstation Portable
Developer: Virtuos
Release Date: 1st July 2010

Racing games for portable systems rarely turn out to be classics, or even particularly good. While there are a few notable exceptions to this rule, the majority of handheld racers disappoint. Asphalt Urban GT 2 is the sequel to an N-Gage and DS title, and combines many elements we've seen before in racing titles. On track pickups include money and nitrous, of which there are 3 different boost levels, racers also gain money for takedowns and dangerous driving, for which they can be pursued by police. The tracks are set in real world locations and the game features licensed cars, some of which even look something like what they're trying to represent!

Gameplay-wise, racing feels like a mash-up of other series; London Racer, Need for Speed Most Wanted, Burnout, and the Crus'n series. This is mostly thanks to all of the different elements that have been brought together, the racing itself feels pretty budget; takedowns aren't at all satisfying and look rather silly when your opponents go crashing across roads, nitrous boosts shake the screen like an earthquake rather than giving any sense of speed and the difficulty level is beyond easy. Cornering is arcade with a hint of cheap handling models, it's difficult to actually crash unless you're trying to.

There are two modes in the game; arcade mode acts as more of an exhibition mode since there's no real reward for winning its single races. The main mode has championships which can be won by taking part in three types of races; elimination, speed trials and regular racing. These are set on the game's limited selection of tracks and there's no other real progression as the game continues. Some cars are unlocked and there's modification options, but there's no real incentive to use any of these options as most championships specify the make of car you must use.

Graphically the game performs badly with some licensed cars being near unrecognisible. The locations too aren't of enough detail to admire, though it's mostly obvious what they're trying to represent. The game is endorsed by the Pussycat Dolls for some reason, who appear on loading screens, but add little else. There's just one song included for the menu screens which plays incessantly every time you're taken back between races, after sitting through an unbearably long load time also. This is pretty poor for a game that Ubisoft dared to put their name to.

Overall Asphalt Urban GT 2 is yet another half-assed racing game, this time a sequel to a mobile game which was likely ported with few changes. There's no challenge or progression to the game, which has taken aspects of some popular franchises, only to arrange them into a racing experience which holds little joy or excitement. The real kicker here is that the game was released in 2010, when there were literally hundreds of better racing experiences available.

Rating: 48/100
Grade: D