We’ve gotten so used to Forza Horizon games at this point that we’ve forgotten it was Turn 10 Studios that originally put the franchise on the map with its hardcore Motorsport games. Fortunately, they’ve provided a healthy reminder of this with the aptly named Forza Motorsport, a game that sticks with its simulation guns as it attempts to dominate the Xbox racing market yet again.

While the game doesn’t make amazing strides forwards like other games in the genre, Motorsport still delivers some of the best technical racing you can find. You can tweak so many things with your car, or even try new things as you attempt to master every corner, checker every flag and beat every opponent.

Some more ingenuity – and a lot less demand for practice runs – would’ve gone a long way. But there’s no question that racing fans will feel right at home in the world of Motorsport.

Mastering Every Corner

First off, let’s go ahead and talk about Motorsport’s handling. It’s refined and spot on, and actually has slight differences for each car, which shows Turn 10’s fine-tuning at its best. You can also tweak certain things, such as replacing parts or maybe going with one of the other hundreds of cars included, just in case you feel like trying something new.

The game also has terrific online options, where you can challenge friends, ghost runs, and even Rivals as you continue your dominance on the road. Online works nearly seamlessly, and gives you a lot to do once you’re done with the single player campaign.

As for the campaign itself, it’s, well, not bad, but you have to get used to a couple of things. First, you’re forced into practice runs, even if all you want to do is just get to the main races. Turn 10 appears to be dead serious about getting you used to each race, but, honestly, it just requires a great deal of patience.

Along with that, a new RPG-style levelling up system does show some innovation, and rewards you – literally – at every turn with currency and exclusive items. But it might be a chore for those of you that simply want to get behind the wheel. Dedicated racing fans, however, will get a kick out of it.

Overall, Forza Motorsport is loaded with content and refined gameplay that fans will truly enjoy. I just wish it lightened up on certain areas and instead focused on adding more places to race. Maybe an update will provide that option in the future, since Turn 10 has built this game for the long haul (instead of simply numbering it Forza Motorsport 8 or what have you).

A Sweet Looking Ride 

As expected, Turn 10 Studios has modified its game engine from the last time we saw it (Forza Motorsport 7) into a more beautiful ride. The game runs at a seamless 60 frames per second on Xbox, and mostly holds up well on PC, though there are some hiccups that kind of get into view here and there. (A patch should clean it up in the future, however.)

The tracks are outstanding, the car models are exquisite, and the game runs quite well as a whole when it comes to the momentum of racing. The in-between game menus are also easy to navigate, so you can find your way around with ease.

Just be warned. If you are taking the PC front, the game requires high-end specifics. So if you have a low-end gaming PC, you might want to consider an upgrade before you jump in. And hold off if you only have a Steam Deck, it’s not compatible at the moment. Shame.

As for the audio, there’s hardly any music to speak of, aside from what you hear in the menus. But the purr of your engines is sweet in itself, and the sound effects are excellent, from the small collision noises with other cars to the burning of your rubber tires into the pavement. Turn 10 paid high attention to detail here, and it shows with every new turn you take.

Worth the Test Drive and More

If you’re a casual racing fan, chances are you’re content with everything Forza Horizon 5 already has to offer. However, I still highly recommend Forza Motorsport. Despite some limitations in single player and an RPG system that doesn’t quite pan out as expected, it’s still jam-packed with content and features some great racing action. Not to mention it looks and sounds just like the real deal, which many of you will no doubt appreciate.

It’s worth a go for simulation fans, or Forza folks that simply want to get behind the wheel again. The perfect run it isn’t, but it still remains a remarkable one.

GAMERHUB RATING: 4 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS

(Thanks to Microsoft for the review code!)