For years, Ubisoft and Ivory Tower have established its The Crew series into gold. The first game wasn’t bad to say the least, but it’s with the second that it literally took off, introducing new vehicles and creating a sea-to-shining-sea tournament that players are still getting behind.
This September, the latest chapter in the series, The Crew: Motorfest, drops, and based on our impressions of the recent closed beta of the game, there’s going to be a lot for racing fans to get behind. Even if you’re a minor car enthusiast, you’re likely going to enjoy what this ride has to offer.
A View To Die For
The first thing you’ll notice with Motorfest is just how inspired Ivory Tower has been by the excellent Forza Horizon series. You’ll race across a number of locales through Hawaii, all of which feel significantly special. The tropical breeze is literally hitting you in the face as you brush past trees and enjoy fancy little tracks, as well as some gorgeous off-road terrain.
Not to mention the cars themselves are a delight. There are some big truck beasts here that are worth handling, along with some classic cars that finally get their due in a game like this. (Just don’t wreck them, got it?) There’s also a fantastic first-person viewpoint where you can make adjustments and actually feel like you’re behind the wheel of one of these bad boys.
The frame rate is impressive thus far, moving at a very smooth clip, even with the roughest of terrain. And the music selections are top notch. Even Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots Were Made For Walkin’” sounds like it has great presence here – though you’re in a car, mind you.
Overall, the look and feel of Motorfest is easily the best we’ve come across in a The Crew game to date. We’ll still have to see how the final game holds up in a couple of months; but, thus far, Ivory Tower has a smooth running ride here.
The Gameplay Is Familiar, But Still Fun
We’ve mentioned how Ivory Tower is inspired by the likes of Forza Horizon when it comes to the Motorfestvibe. Well, that clearly shows in the game’s structure.
You’ll pull up to events in your ride and get started, jumping in with the best of them and gaining enough stature to unlock future races. Along the way, your host will tell you more about the circuit you’re in, and you’ll essentially open up mini-stories that tell more about your racing bravado.
Honestly, this didn’t really feel necessary, but it does tie in with the gameplay, which feels the smoothest yet for a The Crew game. The handling of each vehicle is sharp, and even smaller things like speed boosts and drifting are done extremely well. Even the off-road segments are a good deal of fun, even if you have to get used to the different types of terrain.
And of course, a game such as Motorfest really opens up when it comes to the multiplayer aspect. Sadly, we didn’t get to test this as much as we would’ve preferred with the closed beta. However, if the previous games were any indication, players should have nothing to worry about when it comes to hopping into a race with friends. We’ll see you in Hawaii, bruv!
Original? Not Quite, But Exciting
While the Forza Horizon formula is easy to spot with Motorfest thus far, Ivory Tower has still done a commendable job with making it its own. The gameplay feels nice, the visuals are smooth, and the music choices are inspired. Plus, it’s not every day you get to race around Hawaii unless you’re Magnum P.I., right?
We’ll give the game a final run when it arrives this September, but in the meantime, check out the trailer below. We’ll see you on the beach!
