It’s a particular year for sports video games, which are progressively losing their numbers (literally). And if it’s true that FIFA diventa EA Sports FC due to the failure to renew the ten-year partnership with the International Federation of Football Associationit must also be said that at EA, on the racing side, the series Dirt is officially becoming EA WRC. Microsoft seems to want to do the same with the franchise Forza, which, having reached chapter 7, opts for the rebranding of the series. No numbers, just a lapidary title: Forza Motorsportwhich we talk about in this one our review.
The first thing that catches your eye is the choice to release the title only for new-gen consoles of the Xbox family. A choice dictated by technical characteristics, of course, but which also seems like a declaration of intent: it goes full throttle into the future, like a Delorean.
A graphics and sound sector are a real…Strength
Graphically and sonically, Forza Motorsport is a feast for the eyes and ears. The game Make the most of the potential of the Xbox Series X|S consoles and the most powerful PCs, giving couch racers detailed and fluid graphics, with impressive lighting and shadow effects. The tracks are faithfully reproduced and feature various dynamic elements (such as the day-night cycle, variable weather and car damage). The cars themselves are carefully modeled and feature extremely realistic reflections and paint jobs (thank you ray tracing, we love you).
More generally, Forza Motorsport guarantees 4K on Series X and 1440p on Series S. If, however, you play on a PC, and have a good hardware compartment at your disposal, try the Ultra settings for an even more spectacular visual performance.
The sound sector
If the graphics are impressive, the sound sector is no different. The roar of the engines, the rustle of the wind, the screeching of the brakes and other typical racing sounds contribute to the immersion of the game. Also noteworthy is the original soundtrackwith 25 tracks ranging from rock, electronic and orchestral compositions.
Forza Motorsport review: the gameplay
Audio and video aside, Forza Motorsport’s strong point is certainly the driving model, which has been completely renewed (and improved) compared to previous episodes. Now the cars they behave much more realisticallyreacting differently depending on track conditions, weather, tires and changes made.
Not only that: it’s as if each car had its own personality (that’s right, just like the wands in Harry Potter). There choice between front- or rear-wheel drive cars (or heavier and lighter) will substantially affect how the car will behave on the track. A detail that may seem trivial, but which affects the immersive realism of the title.
For players less gifted with piloting talents, the game delivers several driving assistance optionswhich you can adjust to your liking to adapt the level of challenge to your abilities.
The critical issues of Forza Motorsport: an inconsistent career mode
Despite the kind words spent so far in this review, Forza Motorsport is not free from flaws. One of the main critical issues is the structure of the career mode, which comes across as a bit flat and repetitive. In fact, the game does not offer a real plot or narrative context that could involve the player in his rise in the world of racing.
It’s just a series of events you have to complete to unlock the next ones, without any real narrative progression. Furthermore, the mode does not feature race qualifications. This takes away some of the realism and emotion from the racing, making it less strategic and more casual.
Another career flaw concerns car management. The game features a car leveling system based on experience gained on the track. This allows you to unlock new modifications and customizations for each model, but also makes the cars less different from each other, as they tend to achieve similar performance. Last but not least, the career does not incentivize the player to collect and test different cars, but rather to choose one (or at least a few) to take them to the maximum level.
Forza Motorsport: summing up the review, pros and cons
In conclusion, Forza Motorsport is a driving game that is good for the series. If the aim is to start from here, making this chapter a starting grid, then the conditions for doing well in this new race are all there.
The game shines above all for its driving model, its graphics and its audio, which make it one of the best titles of the genre. The main flaw is instead an uninvolving career mode, with the absence of qualifications and decidedly flat car management. However, it is a game that will satisfy racing lovers, and which will be able to evolve over time with new content and post-launch updates.
We remind you that Forza Motorsport is included in the Xbox Game Pass catalogue.
PRO
- Graphics and sound section
- Dal day one su Xbox Game Pass
- All the power of new-gen consoles
- Driving model
- Countless assisted driving options