Forza Motorsport 7 Review: Smell That Fresh Burn of Rubber

Turn 10 Studios is simply one of the greatest development teams to ever create a racing game, exclusive to the Xbox One. Last year Forza Horizon 3 clearly dominated the open-world competitive racing games of 2016. With their remarkable track record, is Forza Motorsport 7 able to recreate the same level of greatness through simulation racing?

Forza Motorsport 7 allows you first and foremost customize your driver by choosing gear and gender. It’s something that’s small, ye, but it’s also a small tweak that will give racing fans a more personal connection with their driver. What fans will enjoy more than anything is having the ability to come out of the typical fire suit and step into a tuxedo, construction outfit, or just a kick ass costume.

Driving can feel a bit of a challenge if you’re used to the more conventional, arcade aspect in racing games like Need For Speed or The Crew opposed to realistic simulation racing found in GT Sports or Project Cars 2. Tight turns requiring drifting, great handles to challenge positions and staying afloat as competitor’s gun for your car and position as well.

When driving one thing to be careful of is timing as breaking to make a turn or shifting can be detrimental and cause you to spin out when least expected.  Luckily the rewind button is available for those that need to put that second chance in use.

One thing that car fans will appreciate is the selection of over 700 vehicles available, promising something for each driving preference. Whether you want to circle around in a semi-auto or a buggy, it can happen in Forza 7.

You can’t help but feel and embrace the intensity in each race as you strive to finish the race in that number one spot when the confetti burst into the air and the lights flash. And before each race you can equip mods to give yourself the upper hand for each race.

Visually Forza Motorsport 7 is nothing less than eye-candy. You can’t help but appreciate the mountains and various landmarks that truly deliver a genuine sense of realism. Starting off I had to utilize the assist to keep me in the right area on the track from all of the sight-seeing I did early off.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QITXLdS3eW0

Game modes available (at least for now) are Free Play and Driver’s Cup. Free Play allows full customization between weather, location, amount of laps and most importantly the ability to choose any car from the game. That’s right! Though cars are potentially locked in the Cup until reaching the required Tier for your desired car, it’s a click away when exhibiting different tracks.

Six divisions within five continents in 30 different environments, play as three historic drivers beginning with Michael Muller, Maria Rossi and Yuko Takagi as they introduce speed, versatility and the adaptability required to be the best in Forza Driver’s Cup.

For the more personal competitive nature Forza Motorsport 7 offers Split Screen Co-Op enabling gamers to do what they do best offline against friends and foes.

Loot crates have become almost a necessity in terms to unlocking exclusive and somewhat exotic items in video games. Once Overwatch got the formula right other developers followed this pattern, happily not insisting on micro transactions, real money. As you earn credit in Forza 7 it will allow you unlock special gear, mods and vehicles in hopes of revealing a legendary car.

You can also buy cars straight out with the credit earned, as well as exclusive vehicles that may be hidden and sold by specialty dealers. My first specialty became my baby, a cherry red 2012 Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG Coupe. And as with all Forza titles you have the ability to tune your vehicle to your liking as well as add custom paint and parts to all the cars that are showcasing themselves in your garage.