Summary
From the advanced AI powering players’ on-track opponents to gorgeous graphics made possible by the powerful ForzaTech engine,Forza Motorsportis unafraid to take advantage of the latest technology to deliver an AAA racing experience. But even as Turn 10 Studios touts its latest title as being ‘the most technically advanced racing game’ on the market, the basic structure of the game’s campaign mode is a refreshing callback to the genre’s past. With its largely linear progression and track-based stage selection,Forza Motorsportoffers the sort of simple, straightforward racing experience that’s become increasingly rare in recent years.
This return to the roots of the genre feels particularly welcome at a time when racing titles, much like many other genres, have increasingly embraced theopen-world game format. By letting players’ focus remain squarely on getting to the end of the track, rather than keeping track of the countless different race and event types on offer in other titles,Forza Motorsportis able to deliver a racing experience that feels both focused and fun. This single-minded pursuit of posting the fastest time on the track provides a welcome change of pace fromForza Horizon’s open-world format and harkens back to old-school racing games.
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The Straightforward Mechanics of Forza Motorsport Set It Apart from the Horizon Games
The open-worldlocales of theForza Horizongameshave helped the franchise find a devoted fanbase, but their lack of linearity can sometimes leave them feeling unfocused. For players who simply want to load up the game for a few laps around the track, it can be overwhelming trying to choose from the multitude of racing styles on offer in each entry. The sheer number of game modes inForza Horizoncan also feel superfluous for players who prefer to focus on one style of racing without being forced to take part in different race types simply to progress through the game.
It’s not only theForza Horizonseries that’s embraced this trend, either, manymodern racing gameshave made the switch to an open-world format in recent years. This is why Turn 10 Studios’ decision to keepForza Motorsportfocused squarely on traditional track racing feels particularly welcomed. While it may not offer the expansive landscapes of theForza Horizonseries, it delivers the type of pure racing experience that’s become hard to find in a gaming landscape increasingly overrun with open-world racers. It’s exactly this sort of old-school approach to racing that makesForza Motorsportso appealing to many long-time fans of the genre.
Forza Motorsport’s Old-School Style Is a Welcome Return to Racing’s Roots
While fans of old-school racing games aren’t entirely bereft of options, with Polyphony Digital’sGran Turismogamesstill offering the same streamlined experience they have for decades, these types of titles have become few and far between. The options for traditional racing titles on Xbox Series X|S are even slimmer, with arcade-style titles representing the bulk of the driving games on offer. This makesForza Motorsportand its straightforward, largely linear gameplaya welcome arrival on the popular platform.
This sort of old-school simplicity is one of the game’s biggest strengths. WhatForza Motorsportlacks in variety and spectacle when compared to some of its recent competitors it more than makes up for with its rock-solid driving mechanics. And while players are limited to the confines of the 20 tracks included with the game at launch, the numerousfeatures inForza Motorsportmeant to realistically replicate real-world racing mean they should have a great time every time they get behind the wheel.
By blending the latest in modern technology with an old-school structure, Turn 10 Studios provides players with a worthy successor to the best racing games of the past. And while the pace of play inForza Motorsportmay be a bit more restrained than the over-the-top, open-world antics of theForza Horizonseries, it still delivers a thrilling driving experience from start to finish.
Forza Motorsportis available for PC and Xbox Series X/S.
