Love them or hate them, there’s no denying that the impressive progress of mobile games has been a source of significant amazement and surprise over the last decade-and-a-half. Games on mobile phones have leapfrogged from the NES generation to visuals that rival current-gen launch titles.
Gameloft’s long-running Asphalt franchise gives us a unique window into this rapid rise. The franchise kicked off in 2004 and has been active ever since, with Asphalt 7 Heat hitting the App Store earlier this month.
Examining the seven titles at once brings up other interesting points. Subtitles (and colons) in game titles came and went. Motorcycles and purchasable female co-pilots were briefly a focus. Asphalt 4, released in 2008 for iPhone, was a "steal" at $9.99. The App Store's race to $0.99 hadn't yet started!
Take a look:
Asphalt: Urban GT
Released: Late 2004
IGN Review: “You turn with '4' and '6,' which is hard to do with any real finesse. Drifting requires you to brake (use '8') and then turn, since you cannot manage both at the same time…”
“Asphalt: Urban GT does have a decent amount of audio, from themes to in-game sounds.”
Asphalt Urban GT 2
Released: Late 2005 
IGN Review: “Asphalt: Urban GT 2 looks fantastic. The different tracks feature exquisite background detail. The cars themselves are expertly recreated on-screen. “
Asphalt 3: Street Rules
Released: Late 2006 
IGN Review: “The better you do in a race, the more money you earn. This money gives you access not only to cars and parts, but also women. Gameloft, the great winking objectifier, actually offers you a series of femme fatale co-pilots that join you if you have enough money to make it worth their while.”
Asphalt 4 Elite Racing
Released: Mid 2008 
IGN Review: “Any doubt about the iPhone's status as a true gaming platform -- one capable of entertaining both hardcore gamers and casual players -- is finally silenced by the release of Gameloft's Asphalt 4: Elite Racing… This is not only the best-looking racing game on the iPhone, but it is the best-looking iPhone game as of yet.
“… I know $10 feels a little steep, but Asphalt 4 is absolutely worth it.”
Asphalt 5
Released: Late 2009 
IGN Review: “The graphics and music are top notch and while over-the-air multiplayer would be ideal, the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi play works well, too.“
Asphalt 6: Adrenaline
Released: Late 2010
IGN Review: “Perhaps the most damning thing about Asphalt 6, though, is how predictable the series has become… With so many racing games in the App Store, the inevitable Asphalt 7 needs a kick in the ass – something fresh has to happen before the entire series becomes part of the noise.”
Asphalt 7: Heat
Released: Mid 2012 
June 21 App Store Update: “Gameloft’s arcade racing Asphalt franchise is back for another round of gorgeous, fast-paced street racing. Heat is available for the impressively low price of just $0.99 due to its increased emphasis on in-app-purchases. But after two hours and counting I’ve never once felt pressured to buy extra currency.”
Justin is Editor of IGN Wireless. He has been reviewing cell phone games since the dark days of Java flip phones. You can follow him on Twitter and IGN.
Source : ign[dot]com
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