Review: Forza Motorsport 3

Petrolheads, wave your spare time goodbye. There's a new Forza Motorsport out.

And this third game in the series looks like the biggest and most complex yet.

GALLERY: Forza 3 in pictures

It's so large in fact that it comes on two discs, to cram in more than 400 cars and 100 tracks, all brought to life in dramatic clarity and surgical precision.

One for all
The game is also the most user-friendly of the trilogy. Previous Forzas were criticised for their po-faced simulator-like approach, but Forza 3's makers claim this one's "as realistic as a professional race team's simulator, but so approachable our sons and daughters can play it".

Upon loading the game wows with a slick new menu system that's finished in white. It isn't dissimilar in feel to a glossy car brochure actually.

However, before you get to pore over the cars in the game you're thrust into your first race, using an Audi R8 V10 to give you a taste of what to expect and also judge your playing ability. It isn't the worst way to start the game.

Experienced gamers might want to take a moment at this point to consider which driving assists they want enabled. New to the game is an autobrake function that you'll most certainly want off unless you're a complete novice to the genre.

It's a set-up

You can also switch off the traction and stability control, anti-lock brakes and adjust the racing line, the bonus being extra credits for winning races. The level of freedom you choose might be dictated by the type of car; a Ferrari Enzo or Le Mans prototype with the aids switched off is quite a challenge to keep out of the Armco.

One of the most annoying problems with the game - of which there are very few by the way - is the long loading time before starting a race; to help pass the time Turn 10 - the developer - has created fast facts to read while it loads - but over time you'll become fed up of seeing the same facts again and again.

You will excuse the menu's tardiness when the game does load because it is a masterpiece. From the stunning backdrops of the Amalfi Coast to the legendary twists, turns and immortal straights of Le Mans, every detail in the game is recreated in epic clarity, even when you're whizzing through at the double ton.

The cars, too, are modelled exactly on their real life counterparts, including minor niceties like the discreet curled-up boot lid on a Ferrari 430 Scuderia and the counter-clockwise rev motion of an Aston Martin DB9, as visible in the new in-car view.

The cars all have their own unique characteristics, too, be that in the handling department or the sound leaving the exhaust. Of the cars in the game I have driven, they feel and sound incredibly realistic.

Artifical aggressiveness
Racing against computer-controlled drivers can sometimes frustrate, but these AI are more lifelike than ever. They will try and get in your slipstream, out brake you into a corner and even rub bumpers if you made contact previously, though on some occasions they give up the fight too early, allowing you to romp to victory in spectacular fashion on the easier settings.

Of course, being punted off the road by an AI driver isn't a problem in Forza 3 because you can rewind the action, which might seem like cheating but has the useful benefit of allowing you to perfect your cornering technique and car control (those are my excuses anyway).

The choice is yours whether you use rewind or not, so this function needn't spoil your experience if you're a committed racer, but you'll need the willpower of an ex-smoker in a cigarette factory to not use rewind if you fall off the road on your last lap of a six-lap race.

Races-wise, you can choose to indulge yourself in time trials or via a quick race against similar competitors, but there is no arcade mode, simply because the vast majority of cars and tracks in the game are already unlocked.

So you'll find yourself spending most of your time racing in Career. This has been set-up to be as easy or difficult as you like. Career is arranged in seasons, with each season comprising a series of world championships split by a collection of shorter races in which to earn credits, cars and experience.

Auto-tuning
Before you know it you'll have racked up plenty of time behind the virtual wheel and the credits will soon build up allowing you to raid the showrooms or upgrade your garage cars.

For the less-dedicated tuners out there, the game can automatically tune your car to a desired level before an event, though if you want to get your hands dirty you can handle these upgrades yourself. Anyone familiar with Forza 1 and 2 will know their way around this section, but it's simple to get the hang of if you're a novice.

The level of tuning is seemly infinite; I recently converted a Ford Focus RS to rear-wheel drive and dropped in the engine from a Mustang racer. I turned a perfectly good car into a dog, but it shows how far you can push the customisation element of the game.

For the more creative, and those with time to spare, the cars' exteriors are also customisable; paint them, add decals, icons, numbers, spray the wheels, tint the windows - the list of mods are endless. You can even display your cars online - along with photos, video and your lap times (accessible on Forza.net) - and auction them off to the highest bidder.

Online nirvana

Heading online to compete with humans is a pre-requisite with the Forza franchise and the latest game is without flaw. This is where the real Forza experience can be found, explored and enjoyed to the full.

The rewind function is disabled online, and players can choose which assists they want switched on - but be warned, the scoreboards show which assists drivers were using so don't get too cocky if you post a record lap of the 'Ring with all the drivers aids on.

As for the problem of unsportsmanlike online play, victory comes in the form of an improved 'ghost' function to deal with the scurrilous issue of players attempting a sneaky shortcut across the grass.

When you consider the size of the Career mode, then the numerous options with online play as well as the arcade modes, Forza 3 adds up to a lot of time behind the wheel.

Is it the best racing game on sale? This is a slick-looking racer that blends the roles of arcade and sim seamlessly; it's as easy or difficult as you want it to be. Add in spectacular tracks and more than 400 of the world's most desirable cars, and no other racing game on any console comes close.

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More information about Forza 3

Preview: Forza Motorsport 3 at Le Mans