Forza Motorsport is a reboot in name. It’s the first Forza game with the Motorsport subtitle since 2017 and the first Motorsport without a song since the original Forza release in 2005. That theoretically gives developer Turn 10 Studios the opportunity to start with a clean slate, although Forza Motorsport is in most respects a typical racing game within this sub-franchise. The return of Motorsport also means that the game must co-exist with the open world sub-franchise Horizon for the first time since 2017. Everything indicates that the Motorsport series must clearly distinguish itself from the lighter antics of the Horizon games; they are two drastically different sub-franchises.
More vanilla
Instead of the racing trucks, limousines and Fast & Furious marketing cars from Horizon 5, Motorsport focuses on existing and grounded cars. A vibrant open world, jumps from cargo planes and death-defying races on public roads or through densely forested areas make way for safety rules, realistic cars and real and fictional circuits. Horizon’s bombastic soundtrack also contrasts with the calm electro beats that can be heard in the Motorsport menus. In other words: Compared to previous installments as well as to its sister franchise, Forza Motorsport is more vanilla, subdued and serious.
Turn 10 places a greater emphasis on sim racing and you immediately notice this in the prologue: cars feel a bit more unwieldy and slower than in previous parts. The updated physics model allows for fewer sharp turns and severely punishes inexperienced players without driving aids. Improved game mechanics such as individual tire wear, pit stops and fuel management also enforce a more tactical racing strategy than before.
At first glance, Forza Motorsport increasingly resembles other semi-sim racers such as Project Cars and the F1 franchise. Turn 10 consciously focuses the game on a broad audience. The extensive driving aids and an excellent prologue tutorial take the mainstream gamer into the wonderful world of racing. At the same time, seasoned racing enthusiasts are challenged to keep their car under control without those aids and thanks to the relatively realistic physics model. Or to put it more briefly: the Motorsport franchise traditionally falls somewhere between Need for Speed and Assetto Corsa; This year is no different, with a greater emphasis on the simulation aspect.
2023-10-21 04:00:00
#Great #racing #fun #mediocre #upgrades #Forza #Motorsport
