Forza Motorsport has established itself as the top racing simulation franchise on the XBOX and XBOX360 platform. The latest installment in the franchise, Forza Motorsport 3, does nothing short of completely revamping everything you hated about the old Forza while still entertaining what you liked.

What hasn't changed?

The soundtrack. Why is it that simulation racers can't shake this stigma of random elevator music? Thank God for being able to stream music through the XBOX guide. Also, the tuning interface is nothing short of identical beyond the interface revamp. On the flip side the car upgrades have not really changed, but they are broken down into smaller sub categories and now tire width and rim size can be changed independently of the front and rear of the car.

The reward system is also pretty much unchanged. You still level up your driver by earning credits. Driver level is rewarded by gifted cars from the manufacturers. There is also car reputation levels which cap out at level 5. Car level is rewarded by small discounts on upgrades.

How is the game play different from Forza Motorsport 2?

What I was most worried about with this game was that it was just going to be a "prettier" version of Forza 2. I am glad to write that I couldn't have been further from the truth. On the surface Forza 3 accomplishes near photo-realistic cars with near perfect environments and accurate reflections. Many of times while searching through screen shots online of this game you will ask yourself, "Is this really in-game?". The attention to detail is astonishing to say the least. From the tread pattern on the tires to the reflections in the windows these renderings will blow you away. In fact, Turn 10 studios, the games developer, packed ten times as many polygons into each car rendering over previous Forza games. The only flaws I was able to find were very minor. One, there seemed to have been a small "pop up" issue in the environments however, this is rarely noticed when actually paying attention to the race (It is easy to get distracted by all the beautiful cars you will be racing with). The second complaint I have is that the interiors of the cars look very flat with little to no texture on the surfaces. This makes for a very linear cheap feel when viewing from the cockpit view.

Beyond the surface, Forza 3 differs greatly in terms of accuracy and physics. First off, many of the real life counterparts of cars in the game were tested on a Dynomometer (a device that measures power) so that real life data could be used rather than just taking manufacturer stats and trusting it. Additionally, each vehicle's sound was recorded from six different angles to ensure an accurate sound. Physics have also greatly improved. Shockingly enough, the cars actually handle like they should. Front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive, and all-wheel-drive cars all handle accurately and distinctly from one another and have their own unique handling characteristics. However, this level of simulation does not by any means make this game aggravating or overly frustrating. Difficulty can still be customized and now automatic braking has been added along with three transmission options: automatic, manual, and the new manual with clutch which requires your coordination with the left bumper button on the controller to actuate the clutch while shifting. This feature adds a whole new aspect to the race.

The menu interface has also been streamlined...finally! The menu interface has been reworked and finally the menu lag that used to plague Forza has been eliminated. Thank you, Turn 10. The race interface has also changed slightly. Races are now laid out on your race calender. Rather than selecting a race from a menu, race series are spread out over the course of each month with a World Series Class race wrapping up the end of the month. Races seem to pay out more credits this time around making upgrading easy and all cars are now available from the start, all you need is the cash to back up your ambitions.

And lastly, the addition of the online Storefront. Here players can upload their own replays, photos, replays and designs for others to view. Also, paint jobs and tuning setups can also be posted for purchase giving players another avenue for accruing credits other then winning races and selling cars. This feature really brings out the sense of community within the game, made possible by XBOX Live. A Gold Membership definitely pays off here as non Gold Members will not have access to all the features within the Storefront.

Final Impressions: 9/10

Forza Motorsport 3 set out to breath new life into the franchise and that is exactly what Turn 10 studios has accomplished. With stunning graphics, streamlined interfaces, vastly improved game play, and a strong online feature. However, the game is cursed with the drone of race repetition as typical with any racing simulation which is arguably no fault of the games. Also, when first starting out, the voice that constantly tells you information you already know can get a bit frustrating with no way of turning him off. With several cars and tracks packaged with the Limited Edition I would go so far as to say it is definitely worth the extra $20 with the included 2GB USB Drive and key chain. I liked the idea of the USB drive as it gives players the option of putting there media and cars on this device and sharing it with friends on another console.With a high replay value this game is sure not to disappoint both avid followers of the franchise as well as those who are now being introduced to the series.