Even though I am (or BECAUSE I am) a diehard fan of racing sims on PC and console, I never cared for racing games on mobile. The physics feel arcadey, the accelerometer controls never feel accurate and I never found the graphics very impressive. Enter Assoluto Racing for iOS and Android.
The execution is meticulous – the cars, which range from the modern R35 Nissan GT-R to the raw Honda NSX Type R, are all official licensed vehicles. Assoluto Racing also boasts "true racing physics," precision tuning and customization, as well as challenging license tests designed to develop and improve a driver's skill.
While the graphics are definitely impressive for mobile and easily on par with PS3 graphics, its accelerometer steering is still something I find very difficult to grasp. The team put that into consideration as well – controller configurations include a tap-to-steer option for those that feel more comfortable with a D-pad style controller. However, i found various options still not sensitive enough to inputs.
Still, the game is entertaining and well thought out in many ways. A particularly surprising addition is a handbrake button that is pretty effective to initiate some really entertaining drifts. Assoluto Racing's JDM-centric car roster also adds that extra flavor to the game that really encourages sideways action. I've been able to link drifts around an S-turn, but manji drifts are dizzying and can definitely unravel pretty damn quickly.
Overall, seasoned mobile racing gamers will be able to enjoy Assoluto Racing a lot. The graphics, car selection, and drifting phyics are definitely a lot of fun. That said, as a guy that can never get used to tilting a phone to steer, I am definitely going to stick to my Logitech G29 wheel.
Assoluto Racing is currently available for iOS and Android.
