Forza Motorsport 3
by Microsoft
List Price:
Our Price: $12.19
You Save: $17.80 (59%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $8.34 (click here)
Category: Video Games
See more product details and other editions
Product Summary
Brand: MicrosoftAudio: English (Unknown)
Published: 2009-10
Release Date: 2009-10-27
Platform: Xbox 360
Model: 65H-00004
Publisher: Microsoft
Product features:
- New game modes such as single-player season mode which puts you through a completely personalized racing calendar
- Something to match every car lover's dream including more than 400 fully customizable and tunable cars from over 50 manufacturers and 100+ tracks
- Look and feel of a modern racing game built from the ground up using with the most advanced physics models.
- Gameplay rewind and auto-tuning that cater to how each individual drives and evolves with you over time.
- Auction House and Deep Tuning Garage that along with content via Xbox LIVE, allow players to express their car passion through user-generated content.
Video Game Reviews of Forza Motorsport 3
Customer Review: An Impressive Step Up in Racing Simulation
Summary: 5 Stars
After a short 2 year development Forza returns with some impressive changes: a new physics system, about double the tracks, 100 more cars, improved graphics and additions to the difficulty and the storefront. Note that this is a review of only the single player part of the game.
Short Review
Gameplay 8/10 - New physics engine adds life to the races, tires play a larger role, weight is much more noticeable and the game is generally more realistic
Graphics 8/10 - astonishing detail, interior view, beautiful new tracks set in the mountains, mirroring and reflections are a step up; but maybe not as good as GT5
Features 8/10 - a few new difficulty settings (autobrake, manual w/clutch) more car classes, racing season added, auto upgrade feature, loads of new camera angles for replay; ability to buy tuning setups and create art for the vinyl
Races and Tracks 7/10 - new, real tracks add to the simulation and much more variation between tracks, but somewhat redundant racing in the event list, far too many "repeat races" and low level races
Cars 9/10 - realism trumps any racing game I've played if not any video game I've played, the look, the feel and the tuning of these cars makes this a true simulator
Sound 9/10 - engine sounds are very accurate from the four cylinders to the V-12 engines, each has a distinctive note, superchargers and turbos can be heard as well as crashes and tires gripping, very believable
Gameplay 8 of 10
Let me begin by saying that the racing in Forza 3 is not so much revolutionary as it is evolutionary; as you might expect with two games on the same console. The physics worked well for Forza 2 and they've added realism here as opposed to reinventing the wheel, no pun intended. You do essentially the same thing as you would have done in Forza 2. The racing hasn't changed. The cars and tracks have.
There are a few essential things that have been changed which directly effect gameplay in Forza 3. Not the least of which is the rewind button (or whatever it is being called). It is exactly what you think - you can rewind the race many times throughout the race in five second intervals. It's very handy if you happen to be racing an endurance race and you accidentally forget to make a turn on the last lap. The second major piece of the change in gameplay is the physics system. As you might guess, it's improved. Cars now have the ability to flip over completely (multiple times even), driving is much more dependent on weight, tires can lose grip while the car shifts from side to side or on sharp turns and racing seems to be based much more on the tuning of the suspension.
I've heard complaints about cars being able to flip on the game. First, if you don't believe a car will flip at even low speeds go on your favorite video website and search for car accidents. Secondly, the driving elements in determining if a car will flip are: mass (really rotational inertia) and velocity. Put those together and you get momentum. There are many other forces in play for sure, but can be considered negligible. In other words, a heavy thing going fast gives high momentum and energy and the energy HAS to go somewhere. If it happens to run into another relatively heavy thing going fast, the cars could flip. And if flipping is possible, everything else is just not as difficult to believe.
The physics system is amazing, but it was already really good for Forza 2. It's been said that with all the assists off, even the slow cars are fun to drive because you really notice the difference between them. This is true to a certain extent, but I'd have to disagree with the idea that the slow cars are fun. I found much of the early races in the Event List to be repetitive and more like driving on a highway.
The AI is pretty impressive. I honestly can't say just how good they are because I normally am far ahead of the pack by the end of the first lap. But, they certainly do react to you. If you try to take the inside corner, sometimes they'll cut you off or sometimes they won't if it could cause an accident. If you try to hit them or make them spin out, the AI will fight back and adjust to stay straight. They're pretty good at it. And when you play on hard, they'll manage to complete perfect laps while avoiding you. If you own the game and aren't getting enough of a challenge, turn off just the ABS, use manual shifting and put the opponent difficulty on hard. You won't believe how much skill it takes to manage braking while at high speeds without an anti-lock brake system.
Graphics: 8 of 10
Visuals are considerably improved in pretty much every aspect. I will admit however, you really do need to own an HDTV to notice a substantial difference. Instead of describing the cars, I'll explain the differences between the two games. In Forza 2 the cars were all dimensionally correct; details down to the brake calipers and slotted rotors were shown; cars had a reflective quality where you could see the sky in the paint. But generally they looked too "CGI-ish." In Forza 3 Turn 10 went to mind-boggling levels of clarity and detail. Now there is a new view inside the car where the interior can be seen in great detail; the headlight show clear 3-D aspects.
The headlights, in fact reflect light differently than the metal which is just like a real car. In fact if you're really observant you can see the design on the tire sidewall. Paint looks like real car paint as the sheen changes depending on where you see it from. Chrome just looks amazing, it's hard to even describe how close to reality they came on this. This is the first game I've ever played that I think even I could confuse with reality if just taking a glance at it. The new tracks are gorgeous, especially "Camino Viejo De Montserratt," which is a track set on the side of a mountain overlooking a serene lake. The artists even took the time to put in small outcroppings of grass sticking up from the ground. One of the most unbelievable parts about the visuals is that the game runs at 60 frames per second which gives an ultra smooth animation to the action.
To the dissenters of the graphics, I won't discredit your opinion because it's all subjective. However, if you don't see a noticeable change, I'd recommend playing it on a proper HDTV with an HD connection. I'm doubtful the game will strike you as impressive if you're running it with anything less than component cables. And if that doesn't work, you might need glasses.
Features: 7 of 10
The number of features has gone up to a certain extent. Something new on the difficulty setting called an autobrake allows even the most casual or driving challenged people to be competitive. Another really interesting part of the difficulty is the manual with clutch shifting arrangement, which is on the advanced racer end of the spectrum. Just like in a real car you need to let off the gas, press in the clutch and then get the revs to match the next gear. Sounds difficult on a game controller doesn't it? It is. Unfortunately it's almost useless without a racing wheel that has a clutch because you can easily ruin your powertrain by not shifting properly. It doesn't get much more realistic than this.
The player's storefront is a really nice aspect of the game. Gamers can take photos of their car, videos of races and even create art to sell for credits. Advanced racers can help out others by selling their tuning setups for certain cars. All of the features from Forza 2 are here with quite a few new ones. What impresses me most is that the game caters to essentially all types of racers. If you're more of an arcade racer, turn on autobrake and the full racing line and just gas it. If you're a super serious simulator, turn off all the assists and you really get to feel the essence of the car, the weight, the acceleration.
Another of the less looked upon parts is the presentation. It is a lot cleaner looking and is somewhat easier to use. The appearance and even the sounds resemble Gran Turismo 4's interface. Another feature for the more casual racing enthusiast allows a class upgrade or downgrade. Here's how it works: let's say you want to enter a class B race and your car is an class E; you can have the automated Forza 3 tuner to pick out all your parts and bring it up to the class you need so that it is competitive (which of course costs money) or you can have it downgrade your car so you can race in one of the more restrictive races. It is a pretty ingenious idea. Instead of spending 5-10 minutes picking out parts and then maybe another hour tuning your car, you can just race right away. This is another one of those things that I don't use myself, but would be great for many.
Races and Tracks 7 of 10
Unfortunately this is the Achilles' heel of the game and was with Forza 2. Turn 10 did a wonderful job trying to integrate as many types of cars as possible in so that you not only get a feel for the slower cars first, but so that the vast majority of the cars in the game are used. The setup is very similar to Forza 2, however the hitch is the restrictions put on the races. Many of the lower class races have restrictions such as "only stock" or car must be F class or less than 200 hp for example.
One of the earlier races is a Yaris race. For those who don't know what a Yaris is; it's a very small Japanese economy car. I don't know about anybody else, but I don't consider this a race car or even a sports car. In fact there are at least 10-15 cars I think shouldn't be in the game. And if you want to totally finish the game, you or your hired driver will have to race at least six races in this car. Another problem is there is just flat out too many low class and "repeat" races. There must be 15 events (sets of races) which include F class cars or F class Euro cars. This makes the beginning of the game incredibly boring. And if you're a little OCD like me, you'll want to finish the earlier parts of the game first. I don't care how you spin it. F class cars are boring to drive.
New tracks and track setups have really added more intrigue to the game. Now there are about 20 track locations and each location has multiple track maps making for around 100 different tracks. They've also added ¼, ½ and 1 mile drag strips and a ton of new speed rings. Most of the old tracks are back with a few new ones - Motegi, Sedona, Rally Di Positano, Amalfi Coast. There is still no Monaco Gran Prix, which is the one I was hoping for. And as I had feared, they removed even more of the imaginary tracks that were really fun to drive. Overall, I think the tracks have improved but with the downside of losing some of the fun-to-drive fake locations.
Cars 9 of 10
The cars in Forza 3 are by far the most realistic entity I've yet seen in a game; from the graphics to the tiny little details these are a marvel of computer programming and dedication to accuracy. Each car is so close to the actual car in so many ways. Light cars brake more easily. Rear wheel drive cars spin out. But each spins out in a different way. A muscle car loses complete control, whereas a Maza Miata ® will spin out usually at a really high speed. No two cars are alike - literally.
You might notice when your car rolls up to the start line at the beginning of the race that the front end dips just a tad because of the forward momentum. Every minute detail of a car was enlisted into the game. A lot of these things many will never notice, but the people at Turn 10 took the time to bring a level of authenticity I've not seen before in a game.
My only issue with the cars is: I'm pretty sure there was some "quid pro quo" going on with the car manufacturers. In other words, after talking with the car manufacturers there was most likely some conversations that went like this "we'll let you use car X if you agree to also put in car Y." Because of this, in the game there are boring economy cars which don't even belong in a racing simulator much less be given the honor of having their own race.
Sound 9 of 10
Considering this games focuses on ultra-realism, sounds definitely need to be accurate and they really are spot on with this game. Most of the cars sound very similar to their real life counterpart. They managed to get a true V8 sound and not just one version. Anybody who knows anything about V8s is that no two sound alike. A BMW V8 from their E92 M3 will not sound like a 426 Hemi on a Challenger. Six cylinder engines sound very good from what I can surmise. Even the four cylinders have a different tone for each car. This just harkens back to the idea of no two cars being the same, even from the same manufacturer. Tire squeals, crashes, blow off valves, superchargers and even shifting noises are all present in Forza 3. If you listen really carefully, you can hear the click of the gear lever changing gears, which shows an incredible attention to detail. The sounds from the game are realistic, seem accurate and take you one step closer to being on the track.
In conclusion, this game is the best racing simulator out right now and is possibly the most realistic game I've ever played. Unfortunately, that means it isn't necessarily the most fun I've had in a game. But if you're a car enthusiast or a racing fan, I doubt you'll be disappointed. Forza doesn't just do cars well; it does just about everything well which is why I'd rate it a 9 out of 10 overall.
Description of Forza Motorsport 3
Whether it?s an exotic sports car like the new Audi R8 V10, a classic American muscle car like the Ford GT or a hot Asian import like the Nissan 370Z, everyone has a dream car. Live the most realistic racing experience ever as you take the wheel of more than 400 of the most-beloved cars on over 100 renowned real-world tracks and exotic road courses from around the globe. With breathtaking high-definition graphics and the most advanced vehicle performance modeling in a video game, ?Forza Motorsport 3? includes a host of driving assists and adjustable skill levels to make the game a gripping pick-up-and-play experience for audiences of all ages and skill levels. Your escape into the world of car culture in ?Forza Motorsport 3? doesn?t stop at the track. ?Forza Motorsport 3? further fuels the imaginations of its already thriving community of painters, tuners and photographers with improved customization tools and brand-new ways to share creations with the world via Xbox LIVE.* Xbox LIVE makes your journey into the ?Forza Motorsport? community and the world of user-generated content easy and fun. A love of cars lives in all of us. ?Forza Motorsport 3? is the automotive playground we?ve all been waiting for. Whether it's an exotic sports car like the new Audi R8 V10, a classic American muscle car like the Ford GT or a hot Asian import like the Nissan 370Z, everyone has a dream car. Now you can drive that dream with Turn 10's latest racing epic. Exclusively for Xbox 360, Forza Motorsport 3 unites the racing game genre, making it possible for everyone to experience the thrill of the world's most exotic and exquisite cars.
|
Racing & Flying Games
- Video Games > Categories > Xbox 360 > Racing
Computer and Video Games
Bestsellers in Racing & Flying Games
Monster Jam 3 with Wheel - Xbox 360Activision; Activision Inc.; Xbox 360; Video Games
Sonic Free RidersSega; Sega Of America, Inc.; Release date: 2010-11-04; Published: 2010-11-04; Xbox 360; Video Games
Best price: $10.35
Price in other shops:
BlurActivision; Activision Inc.; Release date: 2010-05-25; Xbox 360; Video Games
Best price: $17.25
Price in other shops:
Project Gotham Racing 4Microsoft; Microsoft; Release date: 2007-10-02; Published: 2007-10-02; Xbox 360; Video Games
Best price: $4.25
Price in other shops:
Mx Vs ATV UntamedTHQ; THQ; Release date: 2007-12-18; Published: 2007-12; Xbox 360; Video Games
Best price: $25.81
PureDisney Interactive Studios; Disney; Release date: 2008-09-16; Published: 2008-09; Xbox 360; Video Games
Best price: $7.69
Price in other shops:
GRIDCodemasters; Codemasters; Release date: 2008-06-03; Published: 2008-06; Xbox 360; Video Games
Best price: $35.39
Monster JamActivision; Activision Inc.; Release date: 2007-11-13; Published: 2007-11; Xbox 360; Video Games
Best price: $64.99
Cars: Mater-NationalTHQ; THQ; Release date: 2007-10-29; Xbox 360; Video Games
Best price: $33.21
Pimp My RideActivision; Activision Inc.; Release date: 2006-12-05; Published: 2006-12; Xbox 360; Video Games
Best price: $14.99
Similar Video and PC Games
Midnight Club: Los Angeles (Platinum Hits)Rockstar Games; Rockstar Games; Release date: 2009-09-28; Published: 2009-08-31; Xbox 360; Video Games
Best price: $15.25
Price in other shops:
Need for Speed: The RunElectronic Arts; Electronic Arts; Release date: 2011-11-15; Published: 2011-11-15; Xbox 360; Video Games
Best price: $15.38
Price in other shops:
Forza Motorsport 2Microsoft; Microsoft; Release date: 2007-05-29; Xbox 360; Video Games
Best price: $6.99
Price in other shops:
Call of Duty 4 : Modern WarfareActivision; Activision Inc.; Release date: 2008-04-01; Published: 2010-09-02; Xbox 360; Video Games
Best price: $13.80
Price in other shops:
Dirt 3THQ; THQ; Release date: 2011-05-24; Published: 2011-04-30; Xbox 360; Video Games
Best price: $18.00
Price in other shops:
Grand Theft Auto IVRockstar Games; Rockstar Games; Release date: 2008-04-29; Published: 2008-04-29; Xbox 360; Video Games
Best price: $12.02
Price in other shops:
Xbox 360 Wireless Speed WheelMicrosoft; Microsoft Software; Release date: 2011-10-10; Xbox 360; Video Games
Best price: $34.14
Price in other shops:
Xbox 360 Wireless Controller - Glossy BlackMicrosoft; Microsoft Software; Release date: 2010-09-21; Xbox 360; Video Games
Best price: $32.99
Price in other shops:
Need for Speed Hot PursuitElectronic Arts; Electronic Arts; Release date: 2010-11-16; Published: 2010-11-16; Xbox 360; Video Games
Best price: $18.95
Price in other shops:
Project Gotham Racing 4Microsoft; Microsoft; Release date: 2007-10-02; Published: 2007-10-02; Xbox 360; Video Games
Best price: $4.25
Price in other shops: