Asphalt Overdrive

Asphalt Overdrive
Developer(s)	Gameloft Madrid
Publisher(s)	Gameloft
Series	Asphalt
Platform(s)	iOS Android Windows Phone Windows 8.1
Release	September 24, 2014
Genre(s)	Racing
Mode(s)	Single-player and Multiplayer

Asphalt Overdrive is a 2014 "endless runner" video game published by Gameloft and developed by their Madrid studio. It is a spinoff of the Asphalt series and the eleventh title overall.^[1] After a showcase in June 2014 at the E3 event, it was released in September 24, 2014 for iOS, Android and Windows Phone, Windows 8.1.^[1][2] The game is officially retired and no longer supported.

Overdrive marks a departure from previous games in the series, as it is an on-rails endless platformer in the vein of Temple Run and Subway Surfers, and takes place in a 1980s-style^{[notes 1]} rendition of Southern California.^[3]

Gameplay

As stated earlier, Asphalt Overdrive is presented as an endless runner, and does not offer a traditional racing mode. Like in previous games, cars accelerate automatically, but are limited to a fixed, endless path with three lanes. Performing stunts and ramming civilian vehicles builds up the nitrous meter, to which the player can use in evading police vehicles.^[4]

Cars

The game has 30 cars to race in the game, divided into 5 turfs. When the player beats bosses and unlocks turfs, a new turf of cars is unlocked. At the start of the game, players have a choice to purchase either a Ford Mustang GT Fastback, Fiat Abarth Rally, or Ram 1500 as a starting car. As the player progresses, he/she unlocks new cars, including in Turf 1, the GMC K-2500 and Ferrari 308 GTS, in Turf 2, the Ford Explorer and DeLorean DMC-12, in Turf 3, the GMC Vandura and Hummer H4, in Turf 4, the Ferrari Testarossa and Ruf RT 12 S, and in Turf 5, the Lamborghini Countach and Ruf CTR3.

The fastest car available to the player is the Bugatti Veyron (Turf 5).

Location

The game takes place in a rerendered 80's style of Southern California, similar to Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories (which take place in a fictionalized 1980s Miami named Vice City). You can race in the place at both day and night. Daytime starts at the beginning of the game, but nighttime starts when the player reaches Turf 3.

Control

The game cars auto accelerate, like previous and main games of Asphalt. However, Unlike other games, this game is played vertical (instead of horizontal control many Asphalt games in the past did), and the player are fixed in an endless path with some lanes, and the player must swipe the car, either the right or the left, so that he can change the lane.

When the player reaches the ramp, then he can perform two actions- Swipe up to fly higher (bird flight) or swipe left or right to turn lanes while jumping(twister).

When on a curved ramp, the player must do a barrel roll, and there are no choices beyond it, no matter where the player swipes their finger.

When the player reaches Turf 2 (Episode 2), there is a double-steep jump. If you swipe up, or any other direction than down, the vehicle just performs a back flip (360).

However, you can turn the lane while doing a jump stunt by swiping a finger during a jump. With this, the player can turn the lane even airborne.

There are also some more controls. When in a tunnel, you can do a loop twister which can be done by the driver swiping a finger to the rightmost part of the tunnel. This can only be done on one direction.

There is grinding, which begins appearing at the beginning of Episode 3. This requires your car be balanced during a grind, or your car may wreck.

At the beginning of Episode 4, you start to learn a trick called two wheels. The player can be safe when it tilts left- if right it is dangerous. This stunt can only be recognized when you make the stunt to the end and balance your car back.

There is a trick called drifting, which appears at the end of Episode 1. However, this is never special and the player just controls the car as if the player is driving normally. However, the car will change lanes slower than usual when drifting.

Bosses and Turfs

The game has 5 bosses and 5 turfs. When the player races against a boss, the player has to beat the boss to unlock the next turf. If the player wants to, he/she can battle the boss a second time to take away their car and make it playable.

Characters

Traffic

Also a part of the controls in Asphalt Overdrive, there are traffic scattered around the road. There are five traffic variations (six if boss or police is put in consideration)-

1. Normal traffic cars(or pickup trucks). Normal cars and pickups can be near missed or taken down, and help the player obtain nitro and score. Cars with roll cage ability obtain extra score when taking down cars as well. When bumped, the traffic car slows down the player's vehicle. This is not very harmful and Invincibility is not turned upon hitting these vehicles.
2. Buses (or big trucks). Big vehicles can only be near missed, and cannot be taken down. If you try to take down these vehicles, they just stay normally. Although they don't shift lines, they pose a threat because when these cars are bumped, your cars wreck and waste time significantly. Invincibility is turned upon impact with these vehicles.
3. Cargo trucks. Cargo trucks cannot be near missed(although they can be, if you closely dodge the trucks and loads), and like normal trucks, your car wreck when hitting these vehicles. These vehicles' freight can also wreck your vehicle. These trucks appear in the end part of Episode 1 and the beginning of Episode 2, and pose a significant threat when you are in detour. Invincibility is turned on when you hit either the truck or its freights.
4. Police cars(or taxis). Their physics are just like normal cars and pickups, and its difference is that they change lines frequently and make them crash. They can distract you, especially when in destruction missions. It is appearing in the mid part of Episode 2, and its first appearance is the taxi. These vehicle in police form appear in the end part of Episode 3.
5. Police barricade vehicles. Their physics are different from most vehicles. They can neither being taken down or near missed. If these cars are touched by you, your car may wreck. This car may pose a big hazard when driving, especially on a fast car. It appears at the midpart of Episode 3.
6. Police pursuits (or boss vehicles). They appear in getaway (police car) or boss missions (Boss vehicle). They are hostile towards you and in these missions you are being chased by them. They differ in form in different areas. In Episode 1 and 2, they are normal police vehicles. However, in Episode 3 and 4, they become Ford Mustang Boss 302s. In Episode 5, they become Lamborghini Countachs (and Ford Mustang Boss 302s in parts of missions), which is different from yours. Boss vehicles also change by Episodes.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score Aggregator Score Metacritic 59/100[5] Review score Publication Score TouchArcade [6]

Notes

References