I was once a sony fanboy. I thought nothing could outdo games like GT, wipeout, and final fantasy. Then along came microsoft. I scoffed at the xbox and its one decent title named halo. I then felt pride for having a free way to play online, sans tunnel hacks of course. Slowly, age took the ps2 by the horns and slapped it silly. I began to notice the xbox growing. Rtcw, counterstrike, kotor, hmmm sounds interesting. Then came halo2. All things change, as much as stay the same. Now we come to a time when i thought, well at least sony still has racing down pat. Wrong. Welcome forza motorsport. The genre redefining game that is as much an experience as it is a game.
First off, we shoudl discuss the sheer amount of options this game presents. Ever wanna pimp out a ride and then show it off to friends, maybe make some cash off of it? Forza has it. Maybe you want to tune up a shelby cobra and race your friend's 67 stingrayat luguna seca. Yep forza. Even people with expensive taste can relish the fact that forza will not hold back and in fact delivers in spades.
Next is gameplay. This is the first racing game i have played that switching cars will actually make your next race feel like a new experience, over and over. Everything down to the minute tuning details in this game refresh the old and add much to the play. Add to that the fact that you can have an online career, race normal online matches, compare your times to others on live, even download your friends tuner settings for that car that keeps giving you trouble and you can be lost in forza for months.
Graphics in this game are great. Not exactly genre busting, but still great. Car models display impressive polgon counts, yet there are still imperfections like hexagon shaped stirring wheels. The enviorments are excellent, for what they are. As most tracks are simply open landscapes in real life anyways. But is it a crime to wish ubisoft montreal could develop the graphics engines for all games??
Sounds in forza motorsport are a mixed bag. I absolutely loath the in game music. Why the heck do we have some third rate knock offs of treasured rock riffs in this high of a calibur game?? I guess most of the money went to the coveted ferrari liscense, not big willy, or fat joe. The sound effects on the other hand, rock out. I never have to look at my rpm gauge as i know from my engine when to shift gears. Tires screech with teeth clenching crispness. Other than the choice of music i found it sad it couldnt turn off the music only turn it down. At least you can play a custom soundtrack, if you like.
gameplay 9.5
graphics 9
longevity/options 10
online play 10
sounds 6 (a zero if not for the supreme sound effects)
overall 9.5
while not being perfect, it is a shining example of what will come from the next gen racer scene. If only they could have at least liscensed a decent dozen tracks or so, but thats just nitpicking.
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