Though there have been a plethora of great racing titles releases over the past few years likeNeed For Speed: Unbound,Gran Turismo 7, and Codemasters’F1 2022, the announcement of a newForzatitle was perhaps the most exciting thing for the genre in recent times. The franchise is one of Microsoft’s very best, and it does well to satisfy audiences of varying persuasions with itsspin-offForza Horizonseries. Those games most closely resemble a grand road trip rather thanForza Motorsport’s more precision and time-focused track racer. There’s more to driving than the feeling of hurtling around fast-paced corners and diving down the inside on a daring overtake, though, and the new game from Turn 10 Studios has to capture the whole experience.
Presentation is critical in racing games, as many crave the realism of sim racers to experience a piece of what the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Charles LeClerc, and Marcus Ericsson experience regularly. It’s the foundation on which plenty of games in the genre are judged, and the shift away from the over-the-top, flashy racers of the PlayStation 2 shows that fans are more excited by the thought of a racing game mimicking real life.Forza Motorsportis Xbox' best hope of battling with the likes ofAssetto CorsaandGran Turismo 7, and it has a high chance of succeeding, but that means delivering the whole package, which includes stellar sound design.
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Forza Needs to Know that Engine Notes Matter
A flat-6 engine powering a Porsche 911 GT3 is going to push along the road at a high speed, but the feel is radically different to the whiny, high-revving V8 of a Ferrari 458. Both cars are of a similar performance, but the sound they make ensures their similarities end at the speed they go. Sound is essential to the identity of a car, and whileForzahas done well to differentiate the vehiclesin previous games, the promises levied in the announcement trailer have skyrocketed expectations. Sound is part of the product, and more hard-core gearheads will notice any inconsistencies, which will dampen the realistic experience thatForza Motorsportis aiming to achieve.
The differences between cars doesn’t matter as much inForza Horizonas there’s more to look at, drive past, and do in the always-impressive open world; it’s not about racing lines and dirty air. Instead, the car is a vessel to take players on a grand journey, so while there are more sounds to take into account to make the space feel alive, the intricate details of how the engine sounds when shifting gear isn’t as high a priority. ForForza Motorsportto be truly immersive, sound should be as high onTurn 10 Studios' list of priorities as the graphics, car variety, track diversity, and gameplay mechanics.
Sound Design is Always Growing, and Forza Needs to Keep Up
The upcomingForza Motorsportis the first in the series since 2017, and the gaming industry moves forward alarmingly quickly. There are plenty of titles, not just in the racing genre, that have iconic sound effects, atmospheric scores, and realistic voice acting that all contribute to a game being of a high standard in the audio department. The simple sound that occurs when navigating the menu can be iconic, as is the way withGran Turismo, and 2023’sForza Motorsporthas the opportunity to use sound design as a way to forge an identity all its own.
Effective sound design is critical in ensuring that a AAA product feels like a high-quality experience. Gaming at large is about more than just what can be seen on screen, and for certain genres like shooters and rhythm is essential to ensure players are getting the full experience. Racing games are no different, as sound can tell players when to change gear or what engine the car they are in has under the hood.Forza Motorsportaims to be the most realistic virtual driving experienceavailable to Mass audiences, but while graphics are also important and gameplay is king, the sound design is something that can not be overlooked.
Forza Motorsportreleases in 2023 on PC and Xbox Series X/S.
