The PlayStation platform has long had the Gran Turismo franchise which has set the standard for racing simulators (notice simulator, not game). For Xbox 360 users, there has long been Forza which has established itself as the best in racing simulators for the platform. However it never could compare to Gran Turismo until now.
DESIGN:
Forza has long been praised for its realism, and the third installment of the game takes it to the next level. Out of all the racing simulators out there, Forza is most customizable and extensive.
Boasting over 400 cars, not to mention countless more that can be downloaded online, Forza has one of the biggest selections of vehicles out of any racing game or simulator. According to developer Turn 10, cars are five times as detailed and ten times the number of polygons as the previous game, and while we have no way to measure that, we won’t disagree with them about the level of detail. The attention is so great to detail that even the underside of vehicles have been taken care of.
Over 100 track variations are available. Even though this may sound like a small number, racing on the track with different cars gives a totally different experience.
GAMEPLAY:
Gameplay is awesome to say the least. From the very start you are put in the seat of an Audi R8. Handling varies from vehicle to vehicle and no two vehicles will drive the same.
One of the best features overall is the ability to customize gameplay for any level. If you’re just a novice, you can tweak the controls to give you an edge with such things as turning corners and even breaking. For the seasoned players, levels can be set to the hardest which will test every skill you have.
The AI of the game has also been improved allowing you to tailgate a computer player to psych him out, levels for this range from easy and medium to hard.
Forza also offers some great racing modes. Sprint, drift, track, etc. are all there. The only noticeable exclusion is NASCAR (something which Gran Turismo 5 has). It would be a nice feature, but I’m sure there are many fans who will not be swayed by the lack of it.
CONCLUSION:
To sum up the game, Forza 3 is Gran Tursimo 5 for the Xbox 360, albeit with a few additions and exclusions. Those who are looking for a real simulator for the Xbox platform with tons of customization options as well as hours of online fun will not have a better choice.
