Asphalt 8: Airborne marks the return of the crazy arcade racer in this even more spectacular new version. Included are a new game engine, cars and environments, a complex career mode, multiplayer and slo-mo races worthy of action films. You're going to love it!

47 cars over 9 circuits

In this 8th installment of the Asphalt series, Gameloft has gone above and beyond by updating 80% of the fleet with brand new cars. Asphalt 8: Airborne's fancier models aren't available at the start, but you can unlock them as you win circuits and earn points (or shell out cash if you can't wait that long). The vehicles are, on the whole, very well designed and true to the originals. You can collect up to 47 in total and repaint them in various colors.

As for the environments, Asphalt 8: Airborne takes you to 9 new destinations that include city locations like Venice, London, Barcelona, Tokyo, and Monaco, as well as more rural settings such as Nevada desert, French Guyana, Iceland, and the Alps. There are hidden shortcuts to be discovered that help you gain on your opponents.

Asphalt 8 offers a good range of game modes. First and foremost of these is a complex career mode that lasts eight race seasons across 180 events. Next is a quick race mode with six solo race types (classic, elimination, duel, ejection, infection, and slalom). And, finally, there's a multiplayer mode for you to play with up to eight players online, though the highlight of this is still playing with local friends over WiFi. A ranking system displays your world ranking and how you compare to your friends.

A decidedly arcade-style gameplay

The Asphalt 8: Airborne gameplay retains the arcade style seen in previous installments. You can still use Nitro to boost your speed, drift for miles, collect items that dot the road, etc. The one big change in Asphalt 8: Airborne is the addition of springboards scattered around the tracks. These enable you to take flight and perform spectacular stunts in the air. The Asphalt 8: Airborne courses also climb into the air, hence the name Airborne.

New graphics engine and punchy music

As for the graphics, Asphalt 8: Airborne is as good as before and even better, with detailed universes and lighting effects that are quite impressive. The new physics engine shows what it can do when slowing down for collisions with competitors, and when debris is swirling on the screen.

All we need is music that can keep up with the fast pace of the races in Asphalt 8: Airborne. Say no more: there are three styles of music, each more catchy than the last to make you want to smash everything on the road.

A game that keeps the Asphalt tradition alive

Overall, Asphalt 8: Airborne has changed very little from the previous game, with the same philosophy and gameplay as before. This leaves the only real changes being the environments and cars, more spectacular slow motion, and springboards located around the circuit.

Fans of Asphalt and arcade racing games won't be disappointed by Asphalt 8: Airborne, which is still one of the finest racing games in the mobile and tablet category, along with Real Racing 3. Asphalt 8: Airborne guarantees hours of fun while you take part in many solo or multiplayer competitions!