Built on the success of its Airborne predecessor, Legends enriched Asphalt’s signature arcade racing gameplay with new mechanics and technological advancements in physics and enhanced its core design with improvements in system design and online capacity.
With this ninth sequel, Asphalt transformed once again the arcade racing experience, setting up new standards for the mobile gaming industry!
Only Incredible Cars
Mobile racing fans know that Asphalt is synonymous with fulfilling driving fantasies. Since the original Asphalt: Urban GT, the series' goal has been to give car fans the opportunity to take the wheel of their dream machines. Asphalt 9: Legends has taken this philosophy to heart.
Every one of the cars selected by the Asphalt 9 team is exceptional. Using a rigorous selection process - with an eye to bleeding edge technology, performance, design, rarity, and fame – there isn’t a single ride that doesn’t impress.
Even the first car you unlock, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, is an instantly recognizable icon of racing. With five classes (D, C, B, A, and S), you quickly find yourself taking to the track in machines that range from the exotic McLaren P1 to the conceptual Lamborghini TerzoMillennio.
Some are from the franchise’s classic manufacturers, including Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bugatti, BMW, Porsche, and Mercedes. These are joined by some new additions to the Asphalt series, including Exotic Rides, Pininfarina, and VLF.
Innovative Controls - The Touch Drive
One key objective for the Asphalt 9 team was to ensure that all car fans can enjoy the game. To give players of all ages and skill the opportunity to experience the thrill of taking the checkered flag, the team has implemented the Touch Drive control option, making this the most accessible Asphalt ever.
Touch Drive is a system that keeps your car on the racing line. You choose when to break, drift, and boost, but your general course is set. Then, at numerous points on each track, you can select your route. For example, you may have to choose between taking a side road, swerving to collect Nitro, or hitting a ramp. It is a control system that is more accessible to newcomers who want to enjoy the thrill of speed.
But there are benefits for Asphalt alumni too! Touch Drive provides a great tool to learn tracks and to play more casually while on the move or watching your favorite show.
Asphalt 9 also includes two classic manual control schemes - tilt and tap. These provide extra moment-to-moment control. This extra autonomy allows you to make use of more cunning maneuvers, such as last-moment overtakes or something more… aggressive.
Speed, Slide, Fly
To really get the most from your supercar you must master the four varieties of Nitro. Each of these provides a different variety of speed boost. A single tap on the right of the screen activates the basic Nitro (provided your tank has charge). This gives a moderate boost that slowly burns through your tank, edging you towards your top speed. Tap the screen a second time and you’ll activate the level two Nitro - this is faster but doesn't last as long.
A double tap can be made more effective with the Perfect Nitro. This is unleashed by performing your second tap as the Nitro passes through the blue zone on the meter. Executing this offers a longer, stronger burn.Finally, there is the Shock Wave. Double tap with a full Nitro tank and this will activate, aggressively rocketing you forward.
Of course, to use your Nitro you must make sure it is charged. By driving through collectibles on the track you can top-up your tank a little. But it is by performing stunts that you really fill your meter. Leap from ramps to perform barrel rolls and unleash 360 Flat Spins at any point with a double tap of your break to quickly receive more speed-juice.
Managing when to use each of these Nitros, and making sure your tank is constantly charged by performing stunts and drifts is essential to becoming a Legend.
Spectacular Interactive Environments
You perform these incredible stunts in stunning locations across the globe. Travel from the fog covered lochs of Scotland to the sands of Cairo, visiting Shanghai, the US Midwest, San Francisco, Rome, or the Himalayas along the way.
Every environment feels distinct, reflecting the topography and features it is known for in real-life. But these are not just static backgrounds that you look at once and forget about; each of these sprawling environments are constantly changing. Over the space of a few minutes in the US Midwest area, you can find yourself speeding through a mine, then onto breathtaking canyons, before smashing onto a more modern railroad. And this level of diversity is present in every location.
10 tracks are found in each environment, with some being quick, 30-second races to help you move through the early stages while learning the ins-and-outs. But these quickly grow longer, really putting you to the test in the later parts of the My Career and Multiplayer modes.
Race the World
But it is A9'smultiplayer that brings many racers to the track. And there is a lot to be excited about for you competitive types, especially as you can now race anywhere, with the real-time versus action playable via 3G and 4G, as well as Wi-Fi.
Once in a race, there is even more to appreciate. The matchmaking system of Asphalt 9: Legends groups players using their real skill. Each win sees your rank move up or down, depending on the result. Based on your rank, you are placed in a league which dictates the cars you can race and the opponents you face. This ensures that you should always find yourself experiencing a good and fair challenge in PvP!
Clubs is another brand new feature that allows you to enjoy the game with other players online - only this time in a cooperative way. By creating or joining a club, you and your friends can communicate easily in-game and race together for rewards.
See Your Full Replay
You can also check out your skills with the versatile Replay feature. At the end of every race, you can easily watch your performance in the most dramatic fashion possible by taking
control of a range of cinematic, free-range, and in-game cameras.
This feature offers multiple functions and it's great for content creators looking to make videos to show their skills to the world. Focus on the racing action from any angle you choose, with no onscreen distractions.
Replays can also help players of all skill levels improve their game, watching the route your opponent took to beat you to the finish so you can use their tactics in your next race.
A New Milestone for the Mobile Industry
In less than 2 years, Asphalt 9: Legends has been downloaded over 100 million times worldwide. The game also won multiple awards since its release, like The Tabby Award for the Best iPhone Racing Game in 2018 – The Best Audio/Visual Accomplishment Award from Pocket Gamer, or the Design Award from Apple in 2019 – each of these reaffirming the amazing work that was put into the game by the Barcelona Studio.
In October 2019, the Asphalt team took on the challenge to bring Asphalt 9: Legends to the Nintendo Switch. More than a simple port, the Switch version came with tailor-made features for the platform, such as the Quick Race mode that allows players to play everywhere, even offline via the split-screen feature that can support up to 4 players at the same time.
Only 6 months after its launch, Asphalt 9: Legends has already amassed 4 million downloads on the Nintendo Switch.
Hit the track in Asphalt 9: Legends today. Download and play the next evolution of mobile arcade racing, right now, on iOS, Android, and Windows. Also, be sure to join the A9 community on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
