Review: Forza Motorsport 3
The ultimate driving game is here, now.Published 16/10/2009 at 9:00 by nofi
Forza 3 Celebrates Sales Of 2m [21]
UK PS3/360 Charts: Week Ending 7th Nov [23]
UK PS3/360 Charts: Week Ending 24th Oct [38]
Forza Motorsport 3’s a no-brainer – if you’ve got the faintest interest in racing games then you’ll either have this on pre-order or you’ll be wondering around your house looking for things to sell in order to buy yourself an Xbox 360 just to play it on, such is the weight and gravitas of what Turn 10 have managed to achieve as we surely reach the zenith of the console’s technical and visual grunt. Of course, the delay of Gran Turismo 5 hasn’t done Microsoft any harm but Forza 3 didn’t need any feigned assistance – the game is a breathtakingly complete simulation packed with more tracks and cars than any other current-gen console title and absolutely deserves every sale it gets. But there’s been a raft of racing games this year and they’ve all scored highly on TheSixthAxis – thankfully Forza 3 still manages to stand tall amongst the crowd and, if you’ll permit me this morning, I’ll tell you why.
Firstly, and perhaps most importantly, the game manages to convey a real sense of drama and speed without resorting to flashy motion blur or ridiculous depth of field effects, and coupled with a convincing but never intimidating physics model the game’s handling crucially sits comfortably among the best in its genre. Steering is precise without feeling arcade-like and the sheer amount of behind the scenes calculations that accurately model exactly what each wheel is doing gives the suspension and traction real grounding. Indeed, a tap of the d-pad brings up on-screen telemetry which goes into minute detail as if just to prove a point – it doesn’t need to, you can feel the road beneath you and driving, from the F class starter cars to the race class monsters is as good as we’ve ever had it.
Naturally, thousands of physics calculations per second don’t make a good box art, that’s normally down the game’s graphics and here Turn 10 have managed to wring what I assume is pretty much every last ounce out of the 360. Not only does Forza 3 run at a constant sixty frames per second but that luxurious refresh rate also carries over into the real time reflections in the paint and the proper working mirrors – it might sound inconsequential but racing games normally halve the frame rate or lower the detail – not here. And likewise, although the car’s themselves might not stand up to the insane modeling promised from Polyphony they’re among the best I’ve seen and despite clear level of detail changes as your opponents pull away on the straights the sheer attention to every last inch of metal is astounding up close. Yes, the game substitutes a maxed out version when there’s only your car on screen (such as the menus, and in photo mode) but on the track we’ve no complaints.
And then there’s the damage – that’s visual and mechanical damage on all cars, and if you set the modeling to simulation then you’ll need to watch your shift changes and engine heat as well as keeping off the barriers and away from the rear bumpers of other cars. Each major part of your car’s internals can be affected by your driving style, with yellow indicating superficial damage through to red signifying significant operation issues such as loss of gears or aerodynamic problems. Visual damage looks great, with scratches and dents making way for body parts actually breaking free and being part of the track debris for the next lap. The tracks themselves are a delight too. It’s certainly a question of taste: the colours are vivid and rich and some of the courses look like they’d fit right in with some Sega banners at every corner but this isn’t a criticism – the style really works for Forza and the strong contrasts and deep blacks give the game a unique aesthetic, especially against the minimalistic white menus, too.
Equally impressive for this third Forza title is the painting and livery options that, whilst technically outstanding in the previous two games have now been ramped up to insane levels of customisation. Seriously, no other game offers you the chance to put down 1000 different building blocks of whatever visuals you choose to create on each section of a car. Sure, the various bits you actually stick down are primitive but you can twist, turn and stretch every single section, changing the colour and transparency at will and with that much flexibility it’s possible to create anything. Anything. Marry this with the ridiculous amount of mechanical and aerodynamic tuning options and you can change a standard stock car into something that looks amazing and does a specific job on the track – useful for Forza’s new interest in drifting, for sure – tweaking the hell out of a 350Z for hours has been commonplace in my house this week, one notch at a time to create the perfect machine for the downhill course.
Which then brings me onto the Storefront. Created something you’re proud of? Perhaps a nice logo (you can build Vinyl Groups which can be reused) or a picture of your favourite video game character? Tuned a Supra to 800hp and still made it drivable? Sell it. Forza 3’s Storefront offers you the chance to put up, for free or for in-game credits, practically anything you create in the game, and that even includes photographs you’ve taken using the in-game photo mode. You can even auction off complete cars, with tuning, aero parts, engine swaps and custom graphics in an eBay-esque online portal from within the game (and soon, from the Forza website). Seriously, this is so far beyond what anyone else has done you’ll spend the first few hours just browsing the various Storefronts before you even get behind the wheel of your starter car.
The career mode is solid, thankfully – each season is split into weeks and days and when you’re not competing in a major competition you’re free to pick and choose from a number of smaller event series usually tailored to the sort of cars you’re currently driving. For example, I tended to select Asian races from the choices each week, but you’re free to dip in and out of whatever styles you want and because the game awards you cars at every driver level (there’re 50 levels) you’ll always have a suitable vehicle whether that’s some F-class hatchback or some massive American muscle car. And if you don’t, there’s the car showrooms where, assuming you’ve installed the second disk (1.9GB’s worth – takes about 5 minutes), you’ll be able to browse upwards of 400 vehicles from all the major manufacturers, including the likes of Ferrari, Porsche and Lamborghini – Turn 10 have left no stone unturned in the pursuit of signing every major car firm, even my Coupe’s in there.
There’s literally nothing I don’t like about Forza 3 – it plays like a dream, looks stunning, has oodles of online features and modes, the rewind feature is wicked, there’s two player split screen, multiple monitor support and, thankfully, also offers a massive amount of single player gameplay and with the developers sure to bolt on future DLC down the line the stream of vehicles and both city and track based courses will never dry up – indeed, Turn 10’s generous ‘day one‘ DLC is a treat, too – two new tracks and a hand picked bundle of classic motorsport legends await your bandwidth when you get the game next Friday. Do what I did last week – install both disks (for a total of about 8GB), close the curtains, invest in a steering wheel and ring in for pizza – Forza 3 is now only a week away and if you haven’t yet bought an Xbox 360 you no longer have any excuse.
The ultimate driving game is here, now.
Graphics: The cars look incredible, the tracks sumptuous and the frame rate’s locked at 60. Sure, Forza’s lacking the visual styling of DiRT or Shift, but it’s easily the best looking simulation available: 9/10
Sound: Some of the cars sound real – the engines are frequently pitch perfect – but the overall effect is dampened by weak collision noises: 8/10
Gameplay: Forza 3’s great fun to drive (at all levels) and offers a real challenge backed up with solid online play – there’s a solid game here and it’s enjoyable from start to finish: 9/10
Overall: Probably the best racing game I’ve ever played. It’s not perfect, but it’s so good anything less than our highest available score just wouldn’t be fitting. An absolute treat.
10/10
At the time of writing the Forza 3 website didn’t have the ability to download our own photographs, so we’ve used press screenshots.
Comments
Please note that all comments are the opinion of the individual author and not TheSixthAxis.
commuterzombie | 16/10/2009 09:06
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Could you add a ‘multiplayer’ section to the handy box at the end of the review. There you could succinctly list the multiplayer modes (i.e. 2 player split-screen, 8 player online etc.)
Does Forza 3 support split-screen racing?
nofi | 16/10/2009 09:10
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From the review: “there’s two player split screen”.
jimmy-google | 16/10/2009 09:26
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Anything less than 4 player split screen in a racing game just doesn’t cut it with me. It’s such a rare feature in games this genertation that when one does come a long its almost instantly a must buy.
djhsecondnature | 16/10/2009 09:31
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Anything less than 4 player split screen? Have you seen more?
jimmy-google | 16/10/2009 09:37
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Fifa allows 7 but its not technically split screen. I wasn’t suggesting more than 4 though just that anything less isn’t enough.
Radboud | 16/10/2009 09:38
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lol, I was thinking 7 player split screen, how in the world are you gonna get that on the screen, but than I read the rest…. lol
djhsecondnature | 16/10/2009 09:40
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I know I was just being picky. Surely just four player split screen would have read fine
I’m in one of those moods today. Carry on as you were. 
jimmy-google | 16/10/2009 09:53
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But wouldn’t it be great to connect your console to a projector and have 16 player split screen or more. Maybe you could use 2 consoles and have 4 player split screen on each to make an 8 player mode. I made Haze 4 player co-op by using 2 consoles with 2 players on each connected over the net but physically all in the same room.
nofi | 16/10/2009 10:04
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@ jimmy-google the resolution’s still the same though – 16 players on a 720p screen is nonsense.
bunimomike | 16/10/2009 10:28
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I have a massive problem with some split screen racers (4 player). Motorstorm being one of them. Unless you know the tracks inside out, you simply can’t race well as you can’t see where you’re going. Such a shame.
jimmy-google | 16/10/2009 10:30
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It was a hyperthetical idea, I wasn’t suggesting it was that practical now – maybe with Super HD. I’d quite happily play mario kart 16 player with SNES graphics now. I remember playing 8 player micro machines v3. Its was chaos but great fun.
jimmy-google | 16/10/2009 10:41
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@bunimomike
it’s not a problem I’ve come across with motorstorm. I love the 4 player on Pacific Rift
bunimomike | 16/10/2009 11:02
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Did everyone know the courses? We had the problem of 3 of us not really feeling totally familiar with it all. Actually, I’ll stop now. Forza… great game!
Also the first 10 out of 10 since I’ve been visiting (2 months, I think).
jimmy-google | 16/10/2009 11:09
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No but the problem of knowing the courses was no worse than when playing on single player – I don’t know if TV size has something to do with it. I certainly had more problems on the ps2 with split screen. Playing 4 player on an 14″ TV is a nightmare compared to playing with the TV sizes around today. I agree thats enough on Motorstorm and Forza sounds a great game.
commuterzombie | 16/10/2009 11:14
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Ah, I missed that, a combination of my pre-coffee eyes and the fact that the phrase is buried in a paragraph about random features.
My point is that with multiplayer becoming more and more important, having a short summary in the box at the end of the review about the multiplayer features would be handy. It allows for easy comparison with similar titles in key areas. Just a suggestion.
berto54 | 16/10/2009 09:19
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The real question is: which kidney do i need less?
Radboud | 16/10/2009 09:22
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As nice as it might be, I won’t be buying a Xbox360 for a racing game ever.
)
I like a racing game now and then, but not enough to buy me another console. I’d rather buy more games (and seeing all the games coming out the coming months it is gonna be hard on my wallet already
By the way, it might be just me, but should the Overall score not represent some sort of an average of the other scores? I always saw it like that, but in this case it doesn’t add up.
djhsecondnature | 16/10/2009 09:27
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Why should the Overall score be an average? That’s never been the case.
Radboud | 16/10/2009 09:34
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So I should see Overall score as a indication as what? Kinda searching for that…. is it like Graphics, Sound, Gameplay and “Emotion” or “Compared to what else is available” or “Price/Quality”?
djhsecondnature | 16/10/2009 09:39
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There’s many more factors to include. Enjoyment, ease, longevity. A game could have the graphics of a 7, sound of a 7 and gameplay of a 6 but be really fun and given an 8.
djhsecondnature | 16/10/2009 09:40
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Perhaps see the overall score as the ‘overall’ score?
Radboud | 16/10/2009 09:45
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Well, I still don’t really get it, coz Enjolyment (of playing), ease (of play) and perhaps also longevity are really part of Gameplay for me, but hey, let us conclude here that it is just me…
Radboud | 16/10/2009 09:47
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Enjolyment…. grrrrr…. also Enjoyment might be an overall thing and not part of Gameplay. Ah well, never mind my babbling
jimmy-google | 16/10/2009 09:48
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I guess it depends on the purpose of the review. Most reviews seem to look at them on a technical level more than anything rather than whether the game is that much fun to play – enjoment can drag low scoring games up but a 10/10 really should be fantastic in every area. The main reason I think this is the case is because enjoyment to based too much on personally option compared to thinsg like graphics which are more fact based.
They normally seem to follow the film review model which prevents the big hollywood block busters (which can be a lot of fun but not technically very good) from getting decent scores.
The biggest problem is that it leaves you nowhere to go in future reviews. A racing game could in theory get 10/10s across the board (graphics, gameplay, enjoyment etc…) tomorrow but could only match Forza’s overall score.
Kevling | 16/10/2009 10:05
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Surely the “purpose of the review” is to inform your decision as to whether to buy the game or not?
And as for the “nowhere to go” argument… taking your example to the extreme, you seem to be implying that a 10/10 game from 1984 would be considered equal to a 10/10 game today. Which obviously would not be the case. Tomorrow’s 10/10 is in theory a better game than yesterday’s, as things progess…
jimmy-google | 16/10/2009 09:33
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When neither the sound, graphics nor gameplay earn a 10/10 its hard to justify a 10/10 for the whole game.
Kevling | 16/10/2009 10:00
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Ever heard of the phrase “greater than the sum of its parts?”
jimmy-google | 16/10/2009 10:39
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Yes but a 10/10 suggests a game is or very close is a perfect game yet the other scores (graphics, gameplay etc…) suggest that the game could be better in most departments. “Greater than the sum of its parts?” is harder to justify when you give a perfect score.
nofi | 16/10/2009 10:45
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@jimmy-google From the review: “It’s not perfect, but it’s so good anything less than our highest available score just wouldn’t be fitting.” I swear some people just look at the score and then comment.
jimmy-google | 16/10/2009 11:00
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The score would have been fine based on the main text of the review. If anything I’m questioning the scoring of the gameplay, graphics, sound etc.. as they’re suggesting its far from perfect. The review just feels inconsistant
omega | 16/10/2009 11:05
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(9+8+9)\3 = 8,7
Still good score, and – fair.
8,7 is real score. 10 just means the author liked it)
10\10 means perfect game, like SMG or MGS4, not just great one.
Bad this site can’t put fair scores =(
djhsecondnature | 16/10/2009 11:09
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Omega, what utter tripe. 10/10 has never meant a perfect score. 5/5 is not perfect. 5 starts is not perfect. 100% is perfect. That is why most places use a out of 10 scale as it allows for some variation. 10/10 means its better than a 9, it does not mean perfect. Also the overall score has never been an average of the three score parts shown. There are countless other factors to consider in an overall score, so please don’t post such drivel that MGS4 is the ‘perfect game’ to then question Al’s score on Forza.
bunimomike | 16/10/2009 11:10
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Keep in mind, jimmy, that the score also needs to act as a separater so it can be compared to other reviews on the site. If the game is /that/ much better than a 9/10 racer then it needs to reflect that. No game is truly perfect but there always needs to be a ‘top of the class’ and this is one of them for now. There are games like Twisted Metal World Tour (PS1) that had HORRENDOUS graphics but we play it even now. It’s stunning fun. The categories simply can’t cover the “feel” of the game. Only the quantifiable and tangible parts that makes reviewing possible in the first place.
jimmy-google | 16/10/2009 11:18
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@Omega
MGS4 is far from perfect. For me its an example of the sum of all parts actually pulling a game down (but everyone to their own opinion). If you read the main text of the review it more than justifies the 10. The other parts of the scoring shouldn’t need to be used to create an average but they should back up the overall score.
jimmy-google | 16/10/2009 11:30
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Maybe its just a problem with the summary box as it infers that those 3 areas are only what the final score is based on. Could it be expanded to include the other areas that contribute to the score or simply don’t score the graphics etc.. and just have an overall score.
@bunimomike A game can be top the class without being a 10/10 game. I look at Fifa 10 as a good example of that – its has/had a lot of problems (like the online play, the still fairly weak manager mode etc…) but its easily the best football game out there. For me Fifa 10 isn’t a 10/10 due to its issues but maybe that’s just me.
Kevling | 16/10/2009 11:55
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If you get 10/10 in a spelling test, does it mean you are pefect at spelling, or that no-one in the world can spell better than you?
Kevling | 16/10/2009 11:55
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(I spelt ‘perfect’ wrong on purpose. Honest)
jimmy-google | 16/10/2009 12:19
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No it means everything you did you did perfectly. Also in a spelling test you don’t grade each word (well you got 9/10 for that word, and 8/10 for that one but overall you get a 10/10 for the test). A spelling test is a poor example.
dirtyhabit | 16/10/2009 13:08
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Alright…………
We’ll call it a draw.
omega | 16/10/2009 15:37
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No. If game gets 9, 9, 8 it can’t be 10/10.
How in the world can it be 10/10 if it has 9 for GAMEPLAY? Isn’t it the most important feature of any videogame?
Actually the solution is simple – add another feature, that actually gives the game 10/10 and score this feature what it deserves. F.e., ‘Racing spirit – 11/10!’ But! If the game has 9 for gameplay what can be more important? i don’t know… Awesomeness – 15/10! Atmosphere – 100/10! But all that influence gameplay, which is 9/10.
So what is that unbelievably cool feature (more important than gameplay itself) that should be scored 14/10 (to result in 10/10)??
Raen | 16/10/2009 15:40
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@omega Ever hear the phrase “More than the sum of its parts”?
dirtyhabit | 16/10/2009 15:48
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@ omega. Ever heard the phrase, ‘Dude give it a rest will ya’?
Mate, your making my eyes bleed.
omega | 16/10/2009 22:09
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So you don’t have anything to say? Ok i got it. This score doesn’t mean anything.
Leopard | 18/10/2009 19:01
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i get what omega was trying to say, and i think it make a lot of sense.Think about it, 10/10 should only be reserved for games that excel so well in every area and sets a new benchmark for its genre. I can think of many games that deserves 10s if it weren’t the case.
Just my 2 cents :/
Shlomi1995 | 26/10/2009 10:57
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There ARE factors, such as emotion, originality, etc. influencing the overall score, not influencing the “gameplay” score.
Shlomi1995 | 26/10/2009 10:58
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BTW this is the closest we been to a fanboy rant I think
fury because of Gran Turismo is at the root 
Amphlett | 16/10/2009 09:35
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Agreed. The game sounds superb but the current bundle of PS3 games coming along means I could never justify buying a new console for.
Hope the xbox’ers amongst us enjoy! It sounds like GT5 is going to have a lot of features to compete with.
BadBoyBoogie | 16/10/2009 11:16
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I echo your sentiments Amphlett. I’m sure anyone who enjoys racing games and has an Xbox will love this!!
I don’t have a 360, but if I ever did get one, then this would be one of the first games I’d get.
Sigh, oh well, only 6 months or so to go until GT5 !!!
skibadee | 16/10/2009 21:40
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in the same boat as you guys
Leopard | 18/10/2009 19:06
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I’m pretty confident GT5 will have a near simultaneous worldwide release(it shouldn’t be that hard) so it isn’t that long of a wait really
Person678 | 16/10/2009 09:22
BOOM! Headshot!
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And the PS3 fanboy hate begins…
omega | 16/10/2009 09:47
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Why? The game is great in terms of x360 possibilities. It shouldn’t even be compared with more powerful console’s games. Why compare Wii games to x360, or x360 to ps3?
Person678 | 16/10/2009 09:51
BOOM! Headshot!
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You seem the be under the impression the PS3 is a more powerful console. The consoles are very close in capability and each have strengths and weaknesses.
I was referring to idiotic PS3 fanboys slagging off this review which is inevitable.
Radboud | 16/10/2009 09:53
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@Person: Yeah, my thoughts exactly.. Couldn’t really write it down the way I wanted, but that is my point too…
omega | 16/10/2009 15:44
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I mean the game is great, cuz you can’t get more on x360.
Uncharted 2 graphics is awesome, but it can’t be compared to cryengine 2.
And btw i think F3 is actually very good. I wish i could play it more (just played the demo at my friend’s x360) until March =)
Erroneus | 16/10/2009 10:34
Wanted "Trophy Hunter" but was too late.
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Properly not, it’s a great game, but with GT5 on it’s way, it’s not nothing to get excited about, unless you are a totally racing freak
A good racing game, is a console seller for me, though the upcomming Splinter Cell might be.
bunimomike | 16/10/2009 11:15
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I doubt much will happen here (I hope). In the last 2 months of me visiting I’ve been consistently impressed by how grown up people are. I’ve never had an MS console but that doesn’t stop me respecting great games that come out on it. It doesn’t stop me being envious. It doesn’t stop me taking sides (in my head) when I want the likes of GT5 to be better than Forza but at no point will it ever turn me into a smack-talk-hungry teenager with a desire to mouth off and question the relative costs of certain acts my mother may or may not perform on a dark evening down by the docks.
If we all stay on top of such potential fuckwittery then this place will only ever succeed.
Person678 | 16/10/2009 12:10
BOOM! Headshot!
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We’ll see once this hits N4G. Remember the infamous review?
bunimomike | 16/10/2009 12:21
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I do not. Was it good? Do I need to start up a deckchair and popcorn franchise so we might spectate in comfort and snack-splendour?
djhsecondnature | 16/10/2009 09:28
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From a sceptic of the game, it really impresses. If I had more funds I would be purchasing this!
iiekka | 16/10/2009 09:47
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i dont have a 360, almost bought one for forza2, now the Xbox 360 Super Elite Bundle & 250GB Hard Drive + Forza Motorsport 3 + 2 Wireless Controllers for 250 quid is looking tempting, but ive just bought the psp go S:
FireasBall | 16/10/2009 18:08
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And you got the Gran Turismo to it. You made a good deal
Watchful | 16/10/2009 10:07
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Any recommendations for a steering wheel for this? Official 360 wireless or 3rd party?
Are there any that are 360 and PS3 compatible?
iiekka | 16/10/2009 11:34
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thats another thing putting me off, i dont think the logitech g25 (my wheel) will work on the 360, if it did i may be tempted, i dont want to have to have another wheel just for the 360
dirtyhabit | 16/10/2009 13:12
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I have a Logitec Force Pro which works on my PS but not my 360
Joe | 16/10/2009 10:09
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I pray GT5 will live up to this game in all aspects but I have a feeling that it will be a visually enhanced GT4 with a heck load of cars…
I absolutely love the GT series, but from GT3 to GT4, there wasnt that much difference in my opinion… Anyway, I hope GT5 is markedly better than Prologue..
I don’t own a 360 but if there ever was a game to entice me it would be Forza 3. Not only does it have a boatload of awesome cars, you get damage on all of them and what sounds like customization that would put NFS Underground and Midnight Club to shame…
mugsybalone | 16/10/2009 11:12
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Yeah, I’d go along with the Forza-induced 360 enticement. Especially with places like shopto.net doing 250gb Elite bundles with Forza 3 for £240 – which isn’t far off PSPgo pricing – and it’s not as if Forza 3 is the 360’s only decent title, either.
Joe | 16/10/2009 12:30
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i guess the only thing really stopping me is that i already play too many games, and the xbox controller is horrible… haha
and imagine trying to play all the blockbuster games of both consoles… it’d turn into a full time job…
mugsybalone | 16/10/2009 13:12
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I’ve never actually played on a 360, so I can’t vouch for the controller but it looks kinda like the Dreamcast one, which I didn’t have a problem with.
As for a full time job playing the blockbuster games of both consoles? Hardly the worst situation imaginable
3shirts | 17/10/2009 15:02
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No game on the 360 has ever tempted me like this. In all honesty, the only thing keeping me from getting an xbox for this game alone is the cost of another console.
If I didn’t have a PS3 so was looking to buy a next gen console, I genuinely believe this game would sway me in Microsofts direction
gazzagb | 16/10/2009 11:07
Master of speling mitakse
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aww, i want a 360
Question: How can a 9,8,9 equal 10/10??? o_O
djhsecondnature | 16/10/2009 11:10
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It doesn’t. Scores have never been done that way.
Kevling | 16/10/2009 11:58
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No, 9, 8, 9, plus ONE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-FOUR WORDS = 10/10.
gazzagb | 16/10/2009 18:44
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Erm, surely thats how a score works. Its an average.
Raen | 16/10/2009 18:51
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No, that’s how some scores work.
BetaGhast | 16/10/2009 11:17
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a 9, 8 and another 9, and the overall score was 10?
that.. doesn’t make any sense…
usually when a reviewer breaks the score down like that the overall score is an average..
djhsecondnature | 16/10/2009 11:26
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When does a reviewer ever actually do that?
jimmy-google | 16/10/2009 11:46
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Not that I’m saying I agree with averaging but IGN do.
http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/103/1033110p3.html
BetaGhast | 16/10/2009 11:48
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I come from a magazine-centric background, and most of the mags i read did that, i dont follow any of the big time reviewers (gamespot, IGN etc.) but im just pointin gout from personal experience.
nofi | 16/10/2009 11:50
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@jimmy-google – you read it wrong. IGN don’t – it clearly says “not an average”.
BetaGhast | 16/10/2009 11:51
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@jimmy
that review says “not an average”
(though it certainly looks like one, i’ll give you that.)
jimmy-google | 16/10/2009 11:57
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Sorry I dind’t spot that text I just worked out the average of the scores which matched the overall score.
bunimomike | 16/10/2009 11:41
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A very good example is how technically-speaking Shadows of the Colossus wasn’t a 10 out of 10 for graphics but the style was simply out of this world, and thus, scored close to (or actual) maximum in this category everytime on every website. There simply are too many factors which go toward a great game to have a mark for each and every one of them.
nofi | 16/10/2009 11:46
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Precisely. I really don’t get the hang ups on this, I thought everything was perfectly explained: Forza 3’s the best console racer available right now, so it’s worth a 10/10 score. The graphics are fantastic hence the 9, and so on. The overall score is what the game is worth as a whole.
Seriously, chaps.
BetaGhast | 16/10/2009 11:58
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but LAIR is the best dragon riding simulator this gen and that doesn’t get a 10/10 for it..
And what if GT5 ends up flattering F3? i guess you’re gonna have to rate it 11, otherwise how are you going to show the diffrence between F3 and GT5?
it may be the best of the genre but that alone does not give it a 10, and by the other scores in the breakdown you gave it, it looks more like a 9/10.
I really hate to bitch about something so trivial but its that annoying little monkey on my back >.>
Kevling | 16/10/2009 12:00
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Lair may be the best dragon riding game, but it’s still generally viewed as “a bit crap” so hardly a comparison.
nofi | 16/10/2009 12:04
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“And what if GT5 ends up flattering F3?”
Now you’re being silly. :p
bunimomike | 16/10/2009 12:04
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With hundreds of games a year, there’s no way to assign them a unique score. However, if GT5 is as good (or hopefully better) then a 10/10 will surely be on the cards. Equally, and interestingly, it might score 10/10 in each category but only a 9/10 overall because it lacks that certain X-Factor/pizazz that makes the game a complete entity to enjoy.
Lair might be the best dragon riding simulator right now but it’s not a highly contested genre with multiple contenders churning out equally good stuff. At the moment, and the way I see it, it’s only got me and a picture of a dragon I drew on the Etch-a-Sketch not two minutes ago as a serious rival. We scored 4 out of 10.
Radboud | 16/10/2009 12:05
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@Nofi,
You did explain it very good in the review and it does sound like a very good game and all that, but in my view I always read the Overall score as an average, that’s really all.
Furthermore I see a 10/10 score also like the score on tests and exams (here in The Netherlands) where a 10/10 meant you passed the test flawless (i.e. not one mistake). That is what is always in the back of my head: 10/10 = flawless.
BetaGhast | 16/10/2009 12:05
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Yeah i guess i am, what am i talking about “if”? lool
jimmy-google | 16/10/2009 12:07
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@Kevling
It’s taking the point to the extreme as you did in an with another comment earlier. You can’t take one thing to an extreme and then tell someone else they can’t with something else.
BetaGhast | 16/10/2009 12:11
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…and i notice a silly spelling mistake, FLATTENNING, not flattering, Forza should be flattering GT, the real driving simulator
Anthony72 | 16/10/2009 18:13
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Nofi it was your review and your opionon. If you felt it deserved 10/10 so be it. I dont get all the bickering to be honest. Lego Batman was one of the most fun games Ive ever played and Id give it 10/10 IMO. The review was a good read and very balanced so if you dont think it deserves 10/10 thats your right as the reviewer. I dont take much notice of scores to be honest Ive played some blinding 6/7 out of 10 games and some awful 10 games. Id rather read the review than the score. Well done mate keep it up.
cam the man | 16/10/2009 12:09
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Have pre-ordered Forza 3.
When will I receive it?
When the posties go back to work!
jimmy-google | 16/10/2009 12:11
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@ Nofi
As you reviewed both, what made Forza 3 better than Dirt 2? I’ve haven’t played either so I don’t know.
bunimomike | 16/10/2009 12:12
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Disclaimer: All overall scores are not averaged from the category scores. Deal with it.
BetaGhast | 16/10/2009 12:15
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NO U.
But seriously, i dont get the point of the category scores if they dont factor into the overall
Kevling | 16/10/2009 12:19
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Of course they factor in, but the overall score is not just calculated from those three numbers only. Otherwise, what the poiint of all the words?
bunimomike | 16/10/2009 12:25
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I’m guessing the category scores influence the overall score as oppose to controlling it absolutely. There’s still room for a complete cock-up and a game to slip gently into the bargain bin before you know it… even if it’s got killer scores in some of the categories. Also, we love category scores. I adore seeing Sound scores (being a very aural chap, steady on!). My mate is a complete graphics-whore and will buy a game almost on that basis alone (sad but true). I think we enjoy them and it’s industry norm (most of the time) online.
Gastos84 | 16/10/2009 12:19
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If I had a 360, you would have just convinced me
In regards to people getting argumentative about the score; if you don’t like it, fair enough but let’s not get silly people. I for one accept that Nofi knows what he is talking about and therefore, for him to award a ten, means that there is something special about this game. He doesn’t give top marks for the hell of it.
crazyoaktree | 17/10/2009 15:45
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I have it pre-ordered but the post office r going on sticj so I hope it turns up friday