05 November,2023 05:27 AM IST | Mumbai | Jaison Lewis
Forza Motorsport
Forza has been riding the Horizon wave for so long that we almost forgot they were originally famous for their simulations. Forza Motorsport is back now to challenge the current champions, Gran Turismo 7. Just to be clear, this is not another Horizon game, so don't expect lengthy stories, open-world challenges and arcade handling. If you want that, Forza Horizon 5 more than covers that itch. This game instead focuses on-track racing, simulating track conditions and simulating the driving experience of its stable of 500+ cars.
Let's start with the graphics. Developer Turn 10 Studios has a good track record of delivering crisp textures and pixel-perfect cars, and Forza Motorsport is no exception. The cars, the tracks and even the weather look beautiful. It is as good as Horizon, if not better. The cars are meticulously reproduced both on the outside and on the inside. Most racing games have a limit to how much your steering wheel turns visually, which is usually around 90 degrees either way, whereas a real car goes way more than that. In Forza Motorsport the steering goes beyond, just like a real car. This translates very well if you happen to be playing the game with a steering wheel setup. I tested this game on a current-generation Xbox, and it ran flawlessly. It did not jerk, drop frames or lose out on any details that mattered. On the Series X, you can even turn on ray tracing for a true show of the new Xbox's computing skills. That said, I do feel like the cars in GT7 do look a smidge more realistic, but this is more nit-picking than actual criticism.
As far as handling goes, this is by far some of the best I have experienced in a simulation game. Generally, when it comes to simulations, I feel like the programmers don't get the nuances of driving around a corner at high speed. It usually takes a bit of time and several rounds before I understand the limitations of the control. However, with this game, some tweaks have been implemented that make the car's handling feel closer to life. For example, you don't start going around in circles just because you landed on a patch of gravel. Instead, in this game, you feel a loss of control because of the speed and the lack of grip, but there is a way to recover, just like in real life. This also translates well to a force feedback wheel. Also, each car in the game feels different and with so many cars on the roster, that in itself is a feat. It is something I really enjoyed in Motorsport.
The game also has you run a practice run for every race you enter. While it slows down the time spent for every race, it is a good way to gauge the tracks, conditions and your car before jumping headfirst into a race. Unlike some of its competitors, Forza Motorsport doesn't feel like a cash grab. The progression in the game can only be achieved by playing, and there are no sneaky pay-to-win modules. Instead, you must earn points with each car you race to upgrade them, almost like an RPG. This approach is a little bit tedious, and after a while, the grinding does get tiresome. However, it feels much fairer than paying to unlock everything.
The fairness is also expressed in multiplayer games where you can either race cars with the same specifications or take on a horde of cars tuned and tweaked by other players. The quality of players online is also phenomenal, and you have to really practice hard if you want to beat them. The game also, sadly, doesn't include a local co-op, which, in my opinion, would have made this a great game for parties and casual gaming with friends and family.
It's usually very hard to enjoy a pure racing simulation, but Forza Motorsport does the genre proud. It has a fair way to progress, the game handling is top-notch, and the weather is some of the best I have seen. If you are a racing fan, even a casual one, you will really appreciate the effort that has gone into Forza Motorsport. If you are on Xbox Game Pass, this game is part of the package, so it is free to play. However, there are paid options for players who want to own the game - highly recommended.
