Toggled Review
'Forza
Motorsport 3’ filled with content enough to satisfy any racing fan
By Ezra Mann (Editor in
Spoof)
(Also published at The Pauls Valley Daily Democrat)
When it comes to gaming, the racing genre is another classic example where there is no shortage of titles that get you to the finish line. You get a few gems worthy of memory and then the clones of those gems, followed by crap that just inserts a popular character from a platform series.
The problem I usually see with most racing selections is similar to first person shooters where you run through, repeat same actions to the point of exhaustion and if you don’t get burned out with boredom, you have no extra content to make the game playable after completion. Thankfully, Turn 10 Studios and Microsoft Game Studios makes sure their latest product not only has a near endless supply of stuff to do, you can shake things up depending on how dedicated you are. “Forza Motorsport 3” blends spiffy visuals with decent control in something that may just be the best racing title in quite some time.
While not my favorite racing release of all time, I have to say I’m impressed with the development of this game. The loading times could be fewer as well as shorter, but what you get in gameplay is well worth the wait.
I don’t know how many times I’ve walked away from vehicle speed sessions because the car couldn’t take turns or handle the way real cars do on the road. This game does not have that problem and actually helps you no matter how lousy you are at the controls. You can start out with assistance on everything from breaking, where you’ll best do on the track to how good your opponents are and then adjust it as your skill level improves.
The customization is what helps set this game apart from others and if you just happen to get tired of the 400 cars and 100 tracks with the game, you can download more on Xbox Live. You can also do custom paintjobs, tune-ups on your favorite ride and sell your stuff through a game auction if you so wish.
It feels like the better parts of several racing games all blended together. The only thing that would make this more real is if you were racing for gold. If there’s a game mode you’ve done before, it’s probably waiting for you to try on Forza 3.
I’ve yet to try everything myself because there’s so much you can do. This is a definite buy if you love simulations behind the wheel because you’ll only repeat rent if you don’t.
I was skeptical at first, especially since it is a sequel, but now I feel like it’s worth the purchase. A racing wheel might even make me an addict. For keeping my attention on the burning rubber I give “Forza Motorsport 3” five out of six toggles.
Images are copyright of Turn 10 Studios and Microsoft Game Studios.
