Forza Motorsport, the renowned car racing series by Turn 10, makes a comeback with a fresh start on Xbox Series S/X and Windows systems. The latest installment, simply named Forza Motorsport, offers realistic graphics and challenging driving experiences. The return of the series after 6 years brings high expectations for new races and gameplay. The game cover showcases American automotive icons like Cadillac and Chevrolet Corvette, highlighting a shift from previous editions. However, some iconic tracks like Rio and Dubai are missing, with a noticeable decrease in the overall track count. Despite this, fans can expect updates to introduce more circuits in the future. The game’s menus feature a minimalist design, although loading times may impact the overall experience. Race enthusiasts can still enjoy the thrill of circuit races and endurance events, exploring various iconic locations around the globe.
Car Selection and Progression
Turn 10 emphasizes player engagement in the selection and progression of cars in the game. Competitions are grouped by vehicle categories, with access to advanced ones only after completing previous ones. By effectively playing the car in training and races, players level up in a role-play style, gaining access to parts for improvement. Tuning the car becomes crucial for success, especially in multiplayer mode.
Challenging Gameplay without Assists
Driving without assists is essential for increased rewards and complete control of the car. Players must push themselves to stay ahead of fast opponents, perfecting laps and mastering each car’s limits. The game offers a wide range of brands and cars to cater to all car enthusiasts. The presentation of cars is detailed and realistic, enhancing the overall driving experience.
If there is one aspect that the minimalist or simplified menus, as opposed to the multiple boards of the previous game, suggest is that the game modes revolve around widely known rules and types of competition in the series. Among the various races in the career mode, race organization and time challenges, Turn 10 has a somewhat conservative stance, opting to ensure that the content provided is sufficient for exploration over months, if not years, especially through the delivery of additional tracks and supplemental cars.
The multiplayer is interesting for its competitive aspect, pairing players with similar levels, especially due to the few penalties accumulated in the race. These can be applied in the form of additional seconds added to the lap time, punishing offenses such as touches that aim to push the opponent off the track or shortcuts in a chicane. After three test races, it is possible to compete in various long or short duration races and events. These events have a permanent rotation and offer different races, for a long duration or a shorter event. There is a training phase before the race and a qualifying phase, in which in three laps you go for the best time to find a place on the grid. Qualifying can be shared with more players, as can training, leading to possible collisions and penalties that threaten the best time.
From the multiplayer experience, it is clear that players tend to adopt more correct attitudes in the fight for the best position and the ideal trajectory, although it is impossible to have 100% clean races. However, it seems that the effect of penalties curbs the misbehaviors, although many intentional touches or forced crashes still happen. It’s safe to say that crime still doesn’t pay off.
From a splendid sun to a relentless downpour
The variability of weather conditions, as well as the passage of time, are better. There is clearly an improvement in lighting conditions and especially in the passage of time, with more noticeable reflections and shadows on the tracks. The intensity of the rain is remarkable, especially when it is heavy and you can almost see the drops and quantities of water thrown by the wind. Night races also offer a good challenge, while highlighting the good work in terms of lighting.
More visual effects or performance
It is natural that the transition from the series to a new console is accompanied by a substantial improvement in graphics and in all aspects of the game’s technical treatment. The producers have granted three ways for visual treatment, focusing on performance, graphics with Ray Tracing, and enhanced visual quality through 4K, Ray Tracing. The player can choose the option that suits them best, whether focusing on visual quality or performance.
Return of Forza Motorsport
After six years of absence, Forza Motorsport returns to the road with a new version well refined within the axes promoted by Turn 10.
Gameplay and Legacy
Forza Motorsport offers a racing style between simulation and arcade inclination, focusing on core races, physics, and driving position. While somewhat conservative in game modes, it remains one of the best driving games, challenging and impressing fans of automotive driving.
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