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Forza Motorsport 3 Review for Xbox 360

Forza Motorsport 3 Review for Xbox 360

Simulation Equality

Forza Motorsport is an amazing franchise. In four short years, this series has produced three high-quality games that have pushed the limit of traditional console racing and quickly gained fame as the series to lay threat to the genre juggernaut: Gran Turismo. The ongoing feud between these franchises may still be going strong, but Forza 3 has proven itself to be a worthy competitor. With plenty of cars, tracks, and new scalable controls that make simulation-style racing available to everyone, Forza 3 is the best in the series yet, and there are plenty of reasons for any racing fan to get into this title, regardless of console or series preferences.

Forza Motorsport 3 screenshot

The career mode in Forza this time around features a calendar-based tournament that allows you to pick tournaments and driving challenges based on the contents of your garage and your individual strengths as a driver. As you progress through the different events, you will gain money for your efforts as well as XP for your driver and your car. Earning XP will allow you to gain notoriety as a driver, and increasing the level of your car will earn you favor with manufacturers. Of course, the overall goal is to beat the ultimate class tournament at the end of the career mode, but as is the case in many racing titles, the thrill here comes from playing and replaying events to gain extra XP and the funds necessary to purchase and trick out your favorite vehicles.

One of the biggest features that have always been touted by the Forza series is its stellar garage. The game features a nice mix of American and foreign cars, and it has a heavy emphasis on the Ferrari and Chevrolet brands. While there are not too many “special edition cars,” classic brands like Alfa Romeo, Citroën, and Porsche (which has been notably absent from the GT series) are all represented with commercial, racing, and classic models.

Although there are plenty of cars, I have to say that the presentation isn’t 100% there. The visual differences between Forza 2 and Forza 3 are very minute, and car models look almost identical in the most recent version. While the argument can be made that not much can be done in the two years since the release of Forza 2, there is still room for extra detail in the car models.

However, even though the car models are not the most detailed, one aspect of the visuals that has been overhauled is the crash physics. Although the goal of any racing sim should be to control your car precisely and cross the finish line in first place, we have all felt the sting of a turn gone wrong or a drift spun out of control. The crashes in Forza 3 feature multiple points of articulation, and every part of your car, from the front bumper to the rear spoiler can be crashed, crumpled, and turned in to scrap metal if hit hard enough against the right structure.

Forza Motorsport 3 screenshot

Even though Forza 3 does not relish in the crashes the same way that GRID or Burnout Paradise do, it definitely allows you to feel the effects of crashes. Hit a concrete barrier head on, and you will find your alignment and braking will not work as well as they did previously. Skid across a street too roughly and your traction will decline. Although there is a pit that will repair some damaged elements of your vehicle when you are approaching a lap marker, the effects of driving imprecisely are far-reaching, and intense damage will not be repaired by pit stops.

The crashes are certainly intense and do shape much of the gameplay, but one of the biggest changes that Forza has made for its third iteration is gameplay customization. While previous Forza titles have been all about the hardcore simulation mechanics, Forza 3 introduces very flexible control, vehicle, A.I., and damage options to allow you to customize your Forza experience. Turning up all of these settings will give you a very strict racing experience that includes nuanced control, heavy damage, and merciless A.I. However, if you want a more casual experience, you can limit your damage to visual only, turn down the control sensitivity, and relax the A.I. a little bit. Although the game is still very tough, even on the lowest settings, it still feels very approachable as a racing simulator, which is no small feat.

Forza Motorsport 3 screenshot

Another aspect of Forza 3 that makes it feel more accessible is the inclusion of a rewind function, similar to last year’s GRID. However, instead of only offering a set number of rewinds or implementing them at specific points, Forza 3 features a complete rewind system that allows you to rewind as far back as you want, even to the beginning of a race. So, if for instance you see that you are about to finish second, you can rewind back two or three laps to take a better turn and then go for the number one spot. The rewind system works very well, especially for those who are just getting into the nuanced world of simulation racing, and it is also a great way for practiced users to perfect their driving techniques.

Forza Motorsport 3 screenshot

One area that has not been watered down to appeal to the casual sect is the customization. Forza 3 allows you to customize every aspect of your vehicle from the drivetrain to the tire width. Although the intricate upgrade system may seem a little alien to a casual player trying to get into Forza, the game does provide detailed vehicle status bars that will help newer players decide whether to widen their tires or add a rear spoiler to get the most out of their car.

Once you have built up your garage, perfected your precision driving, and tricked out all of your favorite cars, it is time to take your race online. Forza 3 brings all the heat and intensity of the single-player mode to the online arena. Forza 3 features plenty of online race modes including simple single, elimination, and timed races, more niche drag and drift challenges, and, just for fun, three variations on the classic game of tag. You can also create a custom race, complete with individual rules and scoring mechanism. And of course, Forza 3 keeps the online livery system that was the defining feature of its predecessor. There is plenty to do in Forza 3’s multiplayer, and the amount of races and customization options will surely meet the needs of even the most enthusiastic online player.

The world of professional racing is all about competition. It should come as no surprise then that the world of automotive video gaming is also all about competition as well. Ever since Forza Motorsport launched onto the Xbox in 2005, a war has been brewing between automotive fans: Forza vs. Gran Turismo. With the release of Forza Motorsport 3, it seems like that war is finally coming to a head, with fans on either side claiming victory prior to either’s release. However, simply proclaiming a winner doesn’t really do justice to either side. Both of these franchises have incredible simulation mechanics, and since Gran Turismo 5 will not see a 2009 release, Forza 3 is easily the best and most complete console racer currently available. Will Gran Turismo 5 change all that? There’s no way to know at this point in time. But for 2009, it seems that Forza 3 has emerged as the automotive title of the year, and it is one that all simulation fans will enjoy.

RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 4.7 Graphics
Cars look beautiful and crash physics are amazing. Tracks sometimes lack detail. 4.5 Control
Control varies widely depending on your racing style. Racing on different difficulty levels provides a uniquely tailored control scheme, which is a great fit for the game’s intended wide audience. 3.9 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Generic background music is barely noticeable but vehicle sounds are great. 4.8 Play Value
With a plethora of online modes, more than 100 tracks and 400 cars, there is plenty to see and do in Forza 3. 4.6 Overall Rating – Must Buy
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

  • The look and feel of a modern racing game: “Forza Motorsport 3” is the definitive racing game. The appreciation of the automobile in “Forza Motorsport 3” is due in large part to the team’s attention to detail. This is why automotive engineers from manufacturers like Audi and champion race teams like Peugeot as well as experienced computer graphics specialists from across Microsoft Corp. have all teamed up with Turn 10 to make “Forza Motorsport 3” the most beautiful and realistic racing game ever made.
  • It’s easy to go for a spin: “Forza Motorsport 3” redefines the racing genre. Simulation games can be too hard for some players. “Forza Motorsport 3” rises above the distinction between simulation and arcade games. Using a myriad of cutting-edge driving and gameplay assists such as auto-braking, gameplay rewind and auto-tuning, “Forza Motorsport 3” delivers an experience where everyone can have fun behind the wheel, regardless of your skill and dexterity.
  • Express your car passion: User-generated content and Xbox LIVE. Painters and tuners will once again be able to showcase creativity through the celebrated Livery Editor, Auction House and deep tuning garage in “Forza Motorsport 3.” The car is literally the artistic canvas as some of the world’s most creative car painters and designers find new layers of depth and freedom to create shocking visual masterpieces before sharing them with others over Xbox LIVE
  • Play your way: New game modes. “Forza Motorsport 3” is an epic racing game featuring more content and more ways to play than any racing title today. An innovative single-player season mode puts you through a completely personalized racing calendar that includes more than 200 different events, including Circuit, Oval, Drag, Drift and Timed Events. No two calendars are the same; they react to the cars you love and the races you enjoy most.

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