Don't let the poor reviews fool you, this is a great title for the price, and a very good title at any price.
Ford Racing is a long running series now on PC, XBOX, PS1, PS2 and GC. I have enjoyed the PC version which I got as an import from the UK, and then the XBOX version of FR3. The formula is simple, a vast selection of Ford cars from all eras including concept cars and race cars, in a variety of race types on a variety of course types. Classic like the '76 Gran Torino from Starsky & Hutch, the '69 Mustang Fastback from Gone in 60 Seconds, The legendary Ford GT that swept LeMans in the 60's... Race cars, streets cars, concepts like the Indigo Supercar and GT90, off road including the '99 Ford Focus WRC, and a huge stable of pickups from the F1 to the F-150... there is a favorite here for everyone but the most hardened Chevy partisan.
The DS version has the best physics model of any DS racing game to date. After all the other racing titles on DS are all arcade like Mario Kart, Ridge Racers and Pokeman Dash. Asphalt is the only other DS racer with actual REAL cars in it. (and it is also good fun) FR3 has most of the features from the big console versions, all the different race types, lots of tracks and a huge variety of cars.
Controls are on par with other DS titles but the surprise for me was how good the touch screen controls scheme works. Ridge Racers DS tried the touch screen steering thing and it was an unusable mess. Using the stylus to steer and control the gas/brakes on FR3 is actually the best way to play. Very smooth, fine control of conering is possible, including powerslides and counter steering. The physics model is actually good enough that feint turns and braking drifts are possible in many of the cars. And the cars and trucks have a very unique 'feel' to them. You will be very surprised by how the Ford GT handles compared to the Mustang GT for instance. In most hand held racers the difference between FR powertrain and mid engined cars is lost. Even the best handheld racers on PSP like Midnight Club 3 and NFS: MW have cars that feel the same with only top speed, weight and acceleration to set them apart. In FR3 you will find the weight balance of different vehicles is very obvious.
Finally, it is a value title being sold at a very friendly $9.99 price point. This may mean nothing to people who get their game by saying "mommy I WANT that one", but if you work for your dracmas a good game for TEN BUCKS is very welcome indeed. After shelling out a truly shocking amount of cabbage on XBOX 360 stuff the $9.99 for FR3 felt like the change I lose in the sofa. If the game was half baked and buggy the price point wouldn't matter. But it is a full on, polished, full featured game from a studio that has a long track record of making great racing games. (Total Immersion Racing etc...) So if a review starts of with "Why a game about FORDS?" or some such rubbish ignore what follows. Would you trust a review of Halo 2 that began with "First Person Shooters suck..."?
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