Asphalt: Urban GT

 DS
Metascore
60

Mixed or average reviews - based on 38 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 38
  2. Mixed: 24 out of 38
  3. Negative: 7 out of 38
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  1. Nintendojo
    74
    Asphalt Urban GT doesn't participate in much of the innovation that makes the DS special, but oddly enough, it's still a fun racer that offers some very cool multiplayer features.
  2. Game Chronicles
    73
    The gameplay is a bit primitive but still fun and challenging. My only regret is that the dual screen wasn’t used more prominently in the game. As it is, graphics not withstanding, this game could have been released for the GBA.
  3. Gaming Target
    73
    Unfortunately, it lacks the solid arcade racing feel of a game like Burnout, or Ridge Racer, or Gran Turismo itself.
  5. VGPub
    71
    One thing that the other launch titles have shown is that navigating the menus in DS games can be very simple and straightforward. Here though the whole system is clunky, with some icons placed on the touch screen being so small you need to use the stylus.
  6. 1UP
    70
    The game does look good, though. And control is tight. Which means that while it may not be inspiring, it's perfectly playable -- arguably the best handheld racing game ever made.
  7. Next Level Gaming
    70
    Not a bad game, but it seems very rushed. It also feels like the N-gage game, which downright sucked. But the framerate seems much faster, and the fact that the map is at the bottom is cool.
  8. Nintendo Power
    70
    The nine racing locations, which include Las Vegas and Paris, are dramatically lit and loaded with intricate textures, making the surroundings so busy at times that it can be difficult to see the track. [Feb 2005, p.114]
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  9. PALGN
    70
    A quality title that suffers from the fact that it had to be a little rushed. However, the fast game play and addictive career mode kept us coming back.
  10. WHAM! Gaming
    63
    Your friends won’t like it because it’s too hard, and you might get bored because once you master the funky physics it becomes pretty repetitive.
  11. N-Insanity
    62
    Slow-paced and lackluster.
  12. GamePro
    60
    Asphalt's downfall is its off-balance racing. The addition of turbo boosts just doesn't make sense in this particular race.
  13. Electronic Gaming Monthly
    60
    On a basic level, however, the game's still fun - simple, yes, but immediately engaging no matter what kind of gamer you are. [Feb 2005, p.114]
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  14. Yahoo!
    60
    For every few strides Asphalt: Urban GT takes, it seems to stumble once. In the end, it's serviceable, very good-looking, but by no means an outstanding portable racer.
  15. Gamestyle
    60
    The ability of the handheld to throw around smooth graphics like these can only bode well for a fully-miniaturised 3D Mario Kart - another title we're truly gagging to play.
  16. GMR Magazine
    60
    Does nothing extraordinarily special, nor is the DS hardware exploited beyond a map. [Feb 2005, p.110]
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  17. G4 TV
    60
    It’s not exceptional on any level, but the solid, easy playability and multitude of arcade and career game modes make it a lengthy driving experience.
  18. Electric Playground
    60
    Multiplayer is a great aspect of the game. The only great aspect of the game.
  19. Cinescape
    58
    This is a great looking racing game that really pushes these early capabilities of the DS and does it while running at 60 frames per second. The problem is that the gameplay is just uninspired.
  20. netjak
    56
    The graphics are so-so, the gameplay is repetitive and often dated, the difficultly level is uneven, the controls are unoriginal and the sound is pretty dull. Yet despite all this, I found myself playing Asphalt a lot.
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  21. IGN
    55
    Gameloft managed to squeeze in a great graphic engine in the short amount of time it had with the hardware, but it clearly just couldn't fit a well-balanced racing game within that engine.
  22. Cheat Code Central
    50
    It simply seems rushed in certain areas and the whole game is a little on the short side.
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  23. GamerFeed
    50
    It also reeks of sloppy development, making it a decent title for the brain dead, but an absolute bore fest for those looking for even the cheapest of thrills.
  24. RewiredMind
    50
    Any sort of challenge or replayability would have turned Asphalt Urban GT into an absolute godsend for Nintendo and their new console. As it stands, the gameplay is hollow and lifeless, and bears little resemblance to an essential title.
  25. Pocket Games
    50
    Gets the job done, but just barely. [Spring 2005, p.62]
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Awards & Rankings

9
#9 Best DS Game of 2004
5
#5 Most Discussed DS Game of 2004
3
#3 Most Shared DS Game of 2004

User Reviews

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User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 23 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 23
  3. Negative: 2 out of 23
  1. MatheusPiter
    Jun 21, 2021
    4
    Esse jogo é frustrante. Não recomendo. Se quiser diversão jogue o Asphalt Urban GT 2
  2. ninjaguy454
    Jul 25, 2020
    8
    For a game that came out so close to the release of the original DS Urban GT is impressive, but certainly has its quirks that needed to beFor a game that came out so close to the release of the original DS Urban GT is impressive, but certainly has its quirks that needed to be worked out.

    Graphically the game manages to hold up well with nearly full 3D models and environments. I'd say Gameloft went out of their way to see what they could pump out of the DS and it shows. I noticed no slowdown either even in the heat of action.

    The gameplay is rather arcadey while racing. Accelerate, drift, and try not to hit things, but even if you do it's not the end of the world. In fact, you can hit something a barrier going like 150+ mph and it won't have much impact but hit a pedestrian-vehicle and you spin out. I tried to use this logic to bump my opponents, but it didn't seem possible, unfortunately.

    On top of the pretty good arcadey racing, there is a pretty decent tournament mode where you earn money the better you do and use that to buy new vehicles and upgrades for your vehicles. This reminded me of GT or Forza which is what I am more used to playing and I was pleasantly surprised seeing that, especially on a DS game. There is also just regular quick racing you can do either for fun or practice or what have you, and you can race against up to 3 other friends which is cool.

    The music is enjoyable. It has a very early 00's vibe about it, but it's cool with me. I enjoyed listening to it and the tracks are somewhat fast-paced and do a good job of getting you in that adrenaline, racing mood.

    If I had anything to complain about it would be how some of the vehicles handle and the dynamic of the race, which I believe is just a part of the series now, so more of a personal complaint.

    The races are lap races, but you always start far in the back forcing you to try and catch up and 'Outrun' your opponents, like the series of the same name. This doesn't really work though because of the limited time you have in the race, so I feel rushed to get to first which can take me up to a lap to do so, and then it's a tricky balance to hold that place until the end of the race. But that could very easily just be me needing to get better.

    The only other major complaint was how some of the vehicles control. For an arcade game, they feel rather stiff, but once you get the hang of drifting it certainly becomes less of a problem and you are pretty much incentivized to do that it feels like.

    All-in-all Asphalt 1 is a great game and I'd definitely recommend it. I can't wait to revisit the next title in the series!    … Full Review »
  3. Javaplayz007
    Jun 18, 2020
    9
    It's Pretty Good

    The graphics look great. The controls are good, drifting is a bit clunky but you get used to it in a while, I spent a lot    It's Pretty Good

    The graphics look great. The controls are good, drifting is a bit clunky but you get used to it in a while, I spent a lot of time playing this on road trips. If you don't like the controls you can change them in any way. Sometime if I pause there's a fuzzing sound and then if I un-pause and pause again it crashes, dunno if that's just me though. It can be a bit easy at the beginning, but when you do the races with the super cars it gets a lot harder. So Overall I think it's a pretty solid racing game.    … Full Review »
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