Forza Motorsport
Genre: Racing
Console: Xbox exclusive
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
Hot: New physics engine; Drivatar
Technology; Xbox Live
Not: We wanted even more cars
Rating: 0 0 0 0 1/2
Xbox is about to flex its muscles as the most powerful gaming console with the release of Forza Motorsport from Microsoft Game Studios. Designed and developed exclusively for the Xbox, Microsoft Game Studios has assembled a team of passionate, dedicated car enthusiasts to create Xbox's first fully customizable driving simulator that combines photorealistic graphics with an all-new physics engine to produce the best car game for Xbox to date.
After setting up an initial profile and choosing a car, gamers are encouraged to customize their vehicle with paint, decals, and custom graphics that are all free, allowing everyone to create the ultimate looking car before hitting the racing circuit. Once the cash starts rolling in, players can purchase real car modifications, upgraded parts, and better, faster cars. Car fanatics can upgrade cars by buying alternative engines, bolt-on superchargers, suspension kits, or go even further by fine-tuning ignition timing, gear ratios, forced-induction pressure, and tire pressure and temperature. Newer gamers, or for racers who aren't into the tuning details, can purchase whole upgrade kits and have them installed for uick upgrades that get cars back to the racetrack in a short amount of time.
Races take place on more than 60 tracks, including real courses like Laguna Seca, Tsukuba Circuit, and the Nrburgring. Other tracks include sweet courses that have gamers hauling ass through the spectator-lined streets of Tokyo, New York City, or Rio de Janeiro in the hopes of winning even more cash and prizes. Career Mode is deep, so there is plenty of time to check out all the tracks, and gamers will find each one carefully created for realistic racing experiences.
Taking racing to the next level is Xbox Live Support, where players can take their career profiles-as well as their custom-made vehicle-online to join or create car clubs with as many as 100 members, check stats on more than 1,700 leaderboards, or buy, sell, and trade cars with other gamers. Racers can choose either a single player or multiplayer game, which has the ability to support as many as eight gamers simultaneously. The graphics for the game take advantage of the Xbox's power by having camera effects such as blooming, heat shimmer, and depth of field to create a nearly photo-perfect environment at all times.
Another fantastic new feature is an amazing innovation that Microsoft developers call Drivatar Technology. It is an AI feature that gamers use to train a Computer Driver-a Drivatar-to use a gamer's personal racing style and driving techniques. Once the Drivatar is trained, gamers can use it to race in other competitions or even train new drivers to their racing team, all without having to lift a finger.
Overall, we found Forza Motorsport to be an impressive driving simulator with its new physics engine, AI innovations, and photo-realistic graphics. Developers have taken a wide range of gamers in mind when developing Forza Motorsport so that brand-new and hard-core gamers will find their place here.-Lisa Lippard
Shadow of Rome
Genre: Action/stealth adventure
Console: PS2 exclusive
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Hot: Gladiator events; great-looking environments
Not: Stealth missions might seem slow
Rating: 0 0 0 0