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Forza Motorsport

(2005, Video Games - Action/Adventure, Rated E, Play it on: Xbox)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 10, age appropriate for kids over 14; suggested age 10.
  • Is it any good?

    5.0
  • Common Sense says

    A superior racing simulator for the Xbox.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 10–14

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Not an issue.
 

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Careful, clean racing is the surest path to victory, but players can benefit from causing rivals to crash.
  • Violence:

    There are car crashes, but they are mild by racing game standards (cars do not explode)..
  • Sex:

    One cut-scene shows a woman in revealing clothes pawing a car.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    Money is one of the primary rewards for winning races, and can be spent on supplies from actual manufacturers. Lots of ads on some tracks.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Forza Motorsport was written by Chris Jozefowicz

Parents need to know that the game may be too complex for younger players. It also has a thick materialistic atmosphere: Not only are players inundated with car-related advertising, but they are encouraged to shop for upgrades.Also, one introductory video briefly features a scantily clad woman suggestively caressing a car.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about materialism. Why do some people spend so much energy and money on cars? Parents may also wish to point out the ads in the game. Ask your kids: Do you notice ads in games more or less than commercials on TV? Why would a company decide to advertise in a video game instead?
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More on Forza Motorsport

What’s the Story?

FORZA MOTORSPORT, a racing simulator from Microsoft, has the requisite single-event, multiplayer, time-trial, and practice modes, but the meat is in the career mode with its wealth of cars and upgrades, and scores of races across the globe. Racers can take advantage of abundant Xbox Live features: Players can race against seven cars online and buy and sell customized vehicles with other Forza fanatics.

Reckless driving will certainly result in crashes (although never so violent as to flip the car). One spin-out can move you from first to last, and damage can affect handling for the rest of the race. Fortunately the game provides helpful options, the most innovative being a suggested line on the track that shows cornering routes and changes colors to guide braking and acceleration. Advancing through race modes unlocks cars, and cash awards can be used to purchase a range of upgrades from the critical (better engines) to the frivolous (rims and tinted windows).

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Is It Any Good?

In terms of presentation, Forza is good but somewhat below the Xbox's capabilities. Cars sound impressive but look plain, and some lighting effects are choppy. The environments and backgrounds likewise get the job done, though they do present a ton of racing-related (Toyo tires, Bosch spark plugs) and some non-racing-related (Levi's, Toys R Us) advertising in the form of billboards and stores. The game music is generic rock; although it is passable, players may want to use the Xbox's ability to rip CDs to compile their own speedster soundtracks.

Overall, any racing fan or gamer curious about racing will probably find themselves sucked into Forza Motorsport's nearly bottomless racing depths. Combined with spot-on but sometimes unforgiving physics, these depths will reward patient and committed racers, but may leave younger players or arcade fans frustrated.

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Publisher’s Details

Released on 05/03/2005, price $49.99, not online enabled
ESRB rating: E

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    Lives in Montana
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    Forza Motorsport is a good game for kids 10 and older. I don't know why review had to be so mean about it. It's a good game. You can have a ton of fun. Just don't run people over and you might want to be careful of the curves because you get stuck on them with the new modified cars. Don't get the little tiny Cadilac. You need to know where the nos is and in the tiny Caddilac car, I used to tear it (the car) up in the game.

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

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