Forza Motorsport review: Is it a game, a sim or something in between?
The latest video game in the Forza franchise goes back to its Motorsport format – but is it an arcade game, a hardcore simulation, or something in between?
Aussie Xbox and PC users have reason to celebrate, following the release of the latest Forza Motorsport video game from Turn 10 – which includes the return of a handful of iconic Aussie muscle cars.
Pulling up to the start line in my 1968 Holden Monaro GTS powered by a 327ci V8, seeing those wonderful rear lights, enjoying the oh-so '60s instrument cluster and thin-rimmed steering wheel – it's a joyous thing for car lovers who may never get a chance to drive one of these things.
Speaking to a room full of content creators, influencers, and journalists at the launch of Forza Motorsport in Las Vegas, senior members from Turn 10 studios – the developers behind the game – said above all else, they wanted to help foster a new generation of car enthusiasts.
"I don't want you to fall in love with 500 cars, I want you to fall in love with 10," Forza franchise boss Dan Greenawalt said.
"And I want them to be a different 10 from mine or the person next to you."
Many will be familiar with its sister title, Forza Horizon – a series of open-world street-racing games based on different parts of the world. The latest location was Mexico, before that, the UK, and even Australia was featured in Forza Horizon 3.
Forza Motorsport is different, in that you progress through a series of championships that increase in difficulty, requiring different types of cars and allowing you to hone your skills along the way.
It's also educational. Cutscenes often have the narrator explaining the cars you're about to pick from, delving into their histories and discussing their unique attributes.
Perhaps one of the most interesting and admirable aspects of the game is the fact that they've made it accessible for the visually impaired.
Unlike a scene from Scent of a Woman, the 'Blind Driving Assists' don't just shout whether to turn left or right, but provide thoughtful audio cues to allow someone who may have never driven a car to complete laps and potentially win races.
After spending a number of hours playing Forza Motorsport, I wondered: what do I really want from a racing game?
Because while the developers of Turn 10 were proud of the improved driving dynamics that were "built from the ground up" instead of merely being an improvement on the previous version, the game is still quite forgiving and allows those of us who aren't very good to find success.
It's not a racing simulator, like Assetto Corsa or iRacing or Gran Turismo 7 claim to be, but it's also not an arcade game like Need for Speed. Which is perhaps why some refer to it as a 'simcade'.
There's plenty to like. With the exception of some cars, the graphics are excellent, the tracks – both real and invented – are challenging and visually spectacular, and there's a choice of 500 great cars to pick from.
Unlike some games, which can essentially punish the user if they don't know how to correctly set up a racing car, Forza Motorsport gives the ability to modify and fine-tune your car to the nth degree – but it also provides pathways for those who either don't know or don't care about spending time on that aspect.
However, the developers have also ensured you can't simply short-cut your way to the fastest car on the grid at the beginning of a championship, no matter how much money you have on hand. Modifications get unlocked for each car the more you drive it, which, while a little frustrating initially, really helps you to appreciate the improvements as you apply them. It also forces you to drive fast and clean to begin with, rather than relying on outright speed.
I did find the driving dynamics to be a little inconsistent with the real world. For example, the Mazda ND MX-5 is tail-happy and fairly wild in standard form, proving to be a handful out of the box – a stark contrast to real life where the sports car is wonderfully composed and predictable, even on the limit. Compare that to the 1992 Ford Falcon GT, which, in the game, is flat and grippy like a V8 Supercar.
As part of the launch, the folks at Forza had us do some real laps of the Spring Mountain race track in Chevrolet Corvette C8s, which unfortunately helped to highlight the stark differences between the real-life car and its video-game avatar – the latter being far more difficult to drive quickly.
Though that may be by design. Unlike arcade games which allow you to keep your finger on the throttle and bounce off walls before taking the chequered flag, Forza Motorsports instills the fundamentals of good driving: smooth cornering, gentle throttle and brake inputs, and giving space to competitors.
But while the vehicles themselves can initially be a challenge, the game itself is somewhat forgiving. In the easier settings, if you really make a mess of it, you can rewind a few seconds and have a do-over without having to completely restart the race.
I did find the computer-controlled competitors in the races were fast and difficult to chase down, but it seemed as if they would drop back as soon as you overtook them, meaning most of the time you're playing offence and not worrying about defence.
Overall, despite its minor flaws, Forza Motorsport is a bunch of fun and I think a great introduction to both the car world and car racing for kids and teenagers – without being boring for hardcore enthusiasts and adults alike.
Turn 10's goal of making a game that sparks an interest in cars is an admirable one, and I think they've nailed the brief.
Along with being beautiful to look at, it's all very approachable and easy to navigate, and I applaud the developers for not forgetting Australian muscle cars. Not only are they introducing some of these vehicles to younger generations of Aussies, but players across the world are also learning about these cars for the first time because of this game.
So, what do you want from a racing game?
For those with expensive sim-rigs who are looking to prove their virtual racing skills at the highest levels, there are plenty of other options out there. For those who want a fun racing game with the ability to collect and modify cars – or learn about cars and how to drive and modify them – Forza Motorsport does a great job without taking itself too seriously.
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