Probably the greatest addition to the game is something known as the Drivatar, which tracks each player’s performance in races. Using the statistics and driving tendencies, it creates a distinct AI based off of you and every other racer. This means that you will be playing against AI based off of other real gamers while you play through game modes like Career. The best part is when you have friends that also play the game and you get to constantly play against them, and in fact grow rivalries against the AI based off of them. I know there is one friend on my list that constantly would edge me out in races at the very end and it felt so satisfying when I began to surpass him over time. I really hope that more games use something similar to this technology in the future for AI.
Speaking of Career Mode, Forza Motorsport 5 offers a fairly deep career mode that includes a level-up system. For every race that you participate in, you gain more XP and credits, the latter of which can be used to purchase new cars. A big addition to Career Mode this time around is the integration of the UK television show Top Gear. Throughout your races, you will have pre-race commentary by the three hosts of the show: Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May. However, they don’t only bring their commentary but also the Top Gear track that will be familiar to fans of the show. Sometimes you will use this track for just races, but other times it will be mixed up with some unique to the series test track like mini-games.
Forza does offer a lot of different game modes, but it really has the main ones that you need in a game like this. You have the ability to jump right online for multiplayer, which you would think is perfect for a racing title. Upon doing so, you have the ability to choose between multiple different playlists, or hoppers as the game calls them, based on the level of cars, leagues, and races. The problem however is finding a match to get paired up with online among these playlists. It will setup your match and all you can do is wait at this point. Luckily it’s not like most games where you have to remain in a lobby to get paired up, so you can go mess around in other modes if you desire. This is not to say that online multiplayer is bad, it just isn’t overly populated right now and due to the lack of a quick match option, the number of playlists spreads the online play a little too thin. However, once you do finally get matched up, prepare for some fun online multiplayer action.
From the Aston Martin to the Ferrari, Forza Motorsport 5 gives you the ability to drive cars that most of us can only ever dream of driving in person. As a launch title for Microsoft’s new console, Forza really helps to showcase the abilities of the Xbox One, including absolutely stunning graphics. Thanks to the addition of rumble triggers on the new controller, the latest entry in the Forza series provides some of the best handling and realism you will find in a racing game. The new Drivatar AI technology boosts this game to new levels by taking the tendencies of real racers and applying them to the computer opponents you face. As said before, the Forza series is quite different from typical kart racers, and this one is no different, but that is not a bad thing. Forza Motorsport 5 is an excellent showcase for the abilities of a next generation console and you cannot go wrong picking this game up with your new Xbox One.
[Editor’s Note: Forza Motorsport 5 was reviewed on the Xbox One platform. The game was provided to us by the publisher for review purposes.]