When it comes to gaming, my preferred genre is racing. It’s been this way ever since I was young enough to exploit the function of my opposable thumbs on a game controller. People like myself (those not yet of the legal driving age) cherish such games. They enable us to live-out our driving fantasies vicariously, until we are one day able to lift ourselves off the couch and into our very own rides. Titles like Gran Turismo and the Need for Speed series are among my all time favourites. And now there’s a new one: the recently released Forza Motorsport 3. Created for the Xbox platform, Forza 3 delivers the fun of an arcade driving game, with the realism of a simulator, as I discovered at the launch. Apart from sampling the game, we were also treated to some nausea-inducing sideways action on a slalom course, as passengers in a Nissan 350Z, modified heavily for drifting. Do try this at home-from the safety of your own Xbox console.
After deciding that my stomach had endured enough of being tossed around, I decided to go back to the gaming-station and immerse myself in Forza 3 for a while. Honestly, it’s very difficult to fault this game…alright, unless you’re really pedantic you’ll hardly be bothered the slightly longer-than-usual time each race takes to load. But as I’m told, that could also be dependent on a few factors, like whether the game is saved to the console’s memory-vault or not. Gripes aside, I was truly dazzled by the detail and clarity of the vehicles and environments. Ridges, cracks and stray gravel alongside the road and in your path are clearly visible-it’s simply sublime. And there are many tracks to choose from. You could go for the renowned Nurburgring, if you think you’re talented enough to perform a lap below the 8-minute limit many sports car manufacturers aspire to for their vehicles.
Or if you fancy a bit of landmark-spotting, how does cruising past Times Square in an American V8 grab you? Location is everything I’m told, but for a petrol head like me, the cars are paramount. And there’s a vast array in Forza 3-about 400 to be exact. From rare classics like the BMW 507, to everyday commuter hatchbacks we are more used to seeing (and owning), to those brightly-coloured Ferrari and Lamborghini exotics-usually the subjects of a wistful stare and a tear with those my age. Even the revered Bugatti Veyron-which holds the record for world’s fastest car-is among your varied choice. And unlike in other games, one needn’t work tirelessly achieving objective after objective to unlock desired vehicles. They are all available from the moment you switch on begin playing. The in-cockpit view adds to realistic experience. Neglect to check your rear-view and you might be on the receiving end of some rear-end-nudging foul play from one of your opponents. I also liked the way the cars were subject to cosmetic and mechanical damage. I cringed after witnessing my Ferrari F430 crumple against a crash barrier in the race replay.
I can only imagine what Ronaldo must have felt like when he wrecked his in the real realm. The aesthetic appeal of Forza isn’t just limited to the cars and locations, it’s also seen in the game’s mascot-the Face of Forza, Natacha Gachnang. You wouldn’t think so from the pretty exterior, but Natacha is involved in the high-octane, greasy business of motor sport. She is the first ever woman to race in the FIA Formula Two Championship. Gachnang has also made some contributions to the production of Forza 3, advising on the realism of some of the tracks she has raced on in her career and critiquing the sounds and set ups of the cars she has driven. “What a buzz – the tracks, the cars, the handling – the attention to detail is incredible. Forza 3 is a car fans dream! It really feels like I’m right there, in the car, racing round the tracks, all in the comfort of my own living room!” said Natacha. The first version of Forza sold 1,7m units, while the 2nd edition sold 3,6m units. Based on the sales increase seen with Forza 2, developers, Turn 10 anticipate to sell 6 million units of Forza 3 by December. I certainly hope to find a copy of Forza 3 under my Christmas tree.
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