Asphalt 9: Legends

Asphalt 9: Legends is a high-octane arcade racing game developed by Gameloft, offering players an adrenaline-fueled experience across global cities like New York, Paris, and Tokyo. Featuring a vast roster of real-world luxury and hypercars—including brands like Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Bugatti—the game emphasizes fast-paced, drift-heavy gameplay with stunning visuals and dynamic tracks. Players can compete in solo campaigns, multiplayer races, or special events, all while customizing their vehicles and unlocking new content in this free-to-play title.

Asphalt 9: Legends: A Definitive Review of Gameloft’s Arcade Racing Masterpiece

Introduction

Asphalt 9: Legends is not just another entry in Gameloft’s long-running racing franchise—it is a bold redefinition of what mobile arcade racing can achieve. Released in 2018, the game arrived at a pivotal moment in the industry, where free-to-play models dominated mobile gaming, and players demanded console-quality experiences on their smartphones. Asphalt 9 delivered on that promise with breathtaking visuals, a refined control scheme, and a roster of hypercars that would make even the most discerning petrolhead weak at the knees. Yet, beneath its polished exterior lies a game grappling with the ethical and mechanical pitfalls of modern monetization. This review dissects Asphalt 9: Legends in its entirety—its triumphs, its controversies, and its lasting impact on the racing genre.

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Development History & Context

The Evolution of a Franchise

The Asphalt series has been a cornerstone of Gameloft’s portfolio since its inception in 2004 with Asphalt: Urban GT. Over the years, the franchise evolved from a modest mobile racer into a global phenomenon, with Asphalt 8: Airborne (2013) setting a new benchmark for mobile racing games. By the time Asphalt 9: Legends entered development, Gameloft Barcelona—the studio behind the series’ most recent entries—faced the challenge of surpassing its predecessor while adapting to the shifting landscape of mobile gaming.

The Vision Behind Asphalt 9

Gameloft’s vision for Asphalt 9 was clear: create a console-quality racing experience tailored for mobile devices. The studio leveraged its proprietary Jet Engine and the Bullet physics engine to push the boundaries of visual fidelity and gameplay fluidity. Early leaks and rumors, including a 2016 tweet hinting at unreleased maps, fueled anticipation. The game was initially slated for a 2017 release under the title Asphalt 9: Shockwave, but delays allowed the team to refine its mechanics and expand its scope.

Soft Launch and Global Rollout

Asphalt 9 underwent a soft launch in the Philippines and Thailand in early 2018, allowing Gameloft to gather player feedback and fine-tune the game’s economy and controls. The global release on July 25, 2018, was met with immediate success, amassing 4 million downloads in its first week. The game’s expansion to platforms beyond mobile—including Nintendo Switch (2019), macOS (2020), Xbox (2021), and PlayStation (2024)—demonstrated Gameloft’s ambition to position Asphalt 9 as a cross-platform juggernaut.

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Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

The Illusion of Storytelling

Asphalt 9: Legends is, at its core, a game about speed, spectacle, and competition. Unlike narrative-driven racing games such as Need for Speed, it eschews a traditional story in favor of a progression-driven experience. The game’s thematic focus revolves around the idea of becoming a “legend” in the world of street racing, a concept reinforced through its Career Mode, which tasks players with completing over 800 races across 60 seasons.

Characters and Personality

While Asphalt 9 lacks a cast of characters in the traditional sense, its car roster serves as the game’s true protagonists. Each vehicle, from the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X to the Koenigsegg Jesko, is meticulously detailed, with real-world specifications and aesthetics that cater to automotive enthusiasts. The game’s Club system, introduced for the first time in the series, allows players to form communities, fostering a sense of camaraderie and competition.

Themes of Progression and Prestige

The game’s underlying themes revolve around aspiration and achievement. The blueprint system, which requires players to collect fragments of cars to unlock and upgrade them, reinforces the idea of working toward a goal. However, this system also highlights the game’s monetization-driven design, where progression is often gated behind grind or microtransactions.

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Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

Core Gameplay Loop

Asphalt 9 retains the arcade racing DNA of its predecessors while introducing several innovations:

1. TouchDrive Control Scheme: A semi-automated steering system that allows players to focus on stunts, nitro management, and route selection rather than precise steering. While controversial among purists, TouchDrive makes the game accessible to casual players.
2. Nitro Shockwave: A returning mechanic from Asphalt 6: Adrenaline, the Shockwave allows players to unleash a burst of speed by double-tapping the nitro button when the bar is full. This mechanic is crucial for takedowns and overtaking opponents.
3. Blueprint System: Cars are unlocked and upgraded using blueprints, which are earned through races or purchased via microtransactions. This system replaces the traditional “buy with in-game currency” model, adding a layer of RNG-driven progression.

Race Modes and Variety

The game features a diverse array of race types, each offering unique challenges:

• Classic: Standard races where players compete for podium finishes.
• Time Attack: Players must reach the finish line before time runs out, with checkpoints extending the clock.
• Hunted: A high-stakes chase mode where players evade police while navigating obstacles.
• Slipstream: A strategic mode where drafting behind opponents fills the nitro gauge.
• Takedown: Introduced in later updates, this mode tasks players with taking down rival racers using police vehicles.

Progression and Monetization

Asphalt 9’s progression system is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it offers hundreds of hours of content through its Career Mode, multiplayer, and seasonal events. On the other, its monetization strategies—including fuel limits, loot boxes, and premium currency—have drawn criticism for creating artificial barriers to progression.

• Fuel System: Each car has a limited number of “fuel blocks,” restricting how often it can be used. This system encourages players to switch cars frequently or wait for refills, a design choice that frustrates those seeking uninterrupted gameplay.
• Microtransactions: The game offers multiple currencies (credits, tokens, and blueprints), each tied to different aspects of progression. While it is possible to play without spending money, the grind can feel excessive, particularly for high-tier cars.

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World-Building, Art & Sound

Visual Fidelity and Setting

Asphalt 9 is a technical marvel, leveraging HDR rendering, dynamic lighting, and particle effects to create a visually stunning experience. The game’s 70+ tracks span real-world locations, including:

• Cairo (Egypt)
• Himalayas (Nepal)
• San Francisco (USA)
• Osaka (Japan)
• Paris (France)

Each location is rendered with meticulous detail, from the reflections on wet roads to the dust kicked up during off-road segments. The game’s weather effects and day-night cycles further enhance immersion, making each race feel like a cinematic spectacle.

Sound Design and Music

The game’s soundtrack features a mix of licensed electronic and rock tracks, complementing its high-octane gameplay. The engine sounds are particularly impressive, with each car emitting a distinct audio profile that reflects its real-world counterpart. The nitro boosts and collision effects are equally punchy, adding to the game’s sensory overload.

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Reception & Legacy

Critical Reception

Asphalt 9: Legends received mixed-to-positive reviews upon release, with critics praising its visuals and gameplay while criticizing its monetization:

• Metacritic (iOS): 74/100 (Mixed or Average)
• Metacritic (Nintendo Switch): 61/100 (Mixed or Average)

Positive Aspects:
– Stunning graphics that push mobile hardware to its limits.
– Accessible controls that appeal to both casual and hardcore players.
– Expansive car roster featuring over 300 vehicles from top manufacturers.

Negative Aspects:
– Aggressive monetization that gates progression behind grind or paywalls.
– Fuel system that artificially limits playtime.
– Repetitive race structures in later stages of Career Mode.

Awards and Accolades

Despite its controversies, Asphalt 9 earned recognition for its technical achievements, winning:
– 2019 Webby Award for Sports Game
– 2019 Apple Design Award

Influence on the Genre

Asphalt 9 set a new standard for mobile racing games, influencing subsequent titles with its hybrid control schemes, dynamic visuals, and live-service model. Its success also paved the way for cross-platform play, with later updates introducing multiplayer compatibility across iOS, Android, PC, and consoles.

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Conclusion: A Flawed Masterpiece

Asphalt 9: Legends is a paradox—a game that excels in presentation and gameplay while stumbling over its own monetization. It is a technical triumph, showcasing what mobile gaming can achieve when pushed to its limits. Yet, its free-to-play mechanics often feel exploitative, prioritizing player retention over player satisfaction.

For those willing to navigate its pitfalls, Asphalt 9 offers an unparalleled arcade racing experience, one that rivals console titles in both scope and spectacle. However, its aggressive monetization and artificial progression barriers prevent it from achieving true greatness.

Final Verdict: 8.5/10 – A must-play for racing fans, but one that demands patience and persistence to fully enjoy.

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Post-Script: The Future of Asphalt

With the 2024 rebranding to Asphalt Legends Unite and the introduction of cross-play and new tracks, Gameloft has demonstrated its commitment to evolving the franchise. As the series approaches its 20th anniversary, the question remains: Can Asphalt shed its monetization-heavy design to deliver a player-first experience? Only time—and the next installment—will tell.