Forza Motorsport 3 - Game Review

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October 27 marks the much-anticipated release date of the Xbox 360–exclusive game Forza Motorsport 3, but we were lucky enough to take delivery of an advanced copy. After a couple of weeks of extensive testing, we gotta say: We dig.

Menus and Modes

The game’s menus have been updated, and while the general layout of the free-for-all arcade and more serious simulation modes remain, the organization of races has changed.

In simulation mode, players now have the option to take part in races as they appear on a series calendar. These series—of which there are typically three to five races—are split up by championship events that happen about once every in-game month. The advantage of this system is that you focus on one series at a time, rather than getting wrapped up in competing in many at once. This arrangement isn’t for everyone, so there’s always the option to just select individual races one-by-one à la Forza Motorsport 2 (FM2).

The Cars

As always, Forza delivers an impressive list of cars. Vehicles such as the Ferrari FXX, Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series, Audi R8 5.2 V-10, and Bugatti Veyron had us excited from the start, and the thought of bolting go-fast goodies onto cars like these had us squealing like little girls.

But let’s not forget to mention some of the other stars that appear in the game, cars such as the Nissan 370Z, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X, Pontiac G8, Ford Focus RS, and Lotus Evora. The race-car lineup is also impressive, including the Audi R10 TDI, Aston Martin DBR9, BMW M3 GT2, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, and more. The only real disappointment here is that five of the hottest cars in the game—the Aston Martin DBS, Chevy Corvette ZR1, Ferrari 430 Scuderia, Lambo Gallardo Superleggera, and Porsche 911 GT3 RS—are only available through the purchase of a “Limited Collector’s Edition” version of the disc.

While there’s not much more disheartening than finding the 430 Scud’ with a big lock icon over it, we found adequate comfort in modifying all of the other cars. Intakes, exhausts, turbochargers, suspension, brakes, roll cage—the list of add-ons is extensive. For most cars, there’s a huge catalog of aftermarket parts from real companies available to give your favorite vehicle that extra oomph in an authentic manner. And if the “go” isn’t enough, there’s plenty of “show” available by way of wheels, body kits, and paint options.

Likewise, complete drivetrain swaps return, although they seem more impressive now than ever. Having the ability to swap in the ZR1 drivetrain, for example, alleviates some of the stress from not being able to get at the car itself. Notable in-game C/D project cars include a 265-plus-mph Veyron, an Audi R8 street car with an R10 TDI Le Mans racer drivetrain, and a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro with a stock-car motor.

A “quick upgrade” feature has also been introduced. This allows you to select the class of vehicle with which you’d like to compete, and then automatically optimize the upgrades on the selected vehicle. Those familiar with juggling upgrades around in order to fit into certain race classes in Forza 2 will appreciate the convenience of this feature, but be sure to double-check the computer’s choice of modifications. We’ve noticed that while the quick upgrade feature does do a good job of getting your car into the class you want in a swift fashion, it doesn’t necessarily balance the parts it chooses. For example, the computer may invest more money in power-adders than in tires and suspension, resulting in a fast car that can’t turn.

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