Review
Played on: PlayStation 2
Released: 2004
Back in my teens, and less financially stable, I often read about games that I kind of wanted, but didn’t find the money to justify between major releases. Sometimes, they'd lie there in the back of my head and thanks to social media I was reminded of one such, lower budget, PlayStation 2 title. Namely, Ford Racing 3. My memory was that of Ford Racing 2, but some Twitter recommendations guided me to the best one for the system, the third game.
Ford Racing 3 is, as you've probably guessed already, a tribute to Ford cars. Not just modern sports cars, but everything ranging from pickup trucks, off-roaders, vintage cars, 70's muscle and so on. The amount of Ford vehicles contained here, is impressive and diverse, to say the least.
The main campaign spans across a nice variety of car and race types, contained within cups to complete. Within each cup there are several races to complete, with varying goals, outside the standard race ones. Be it elimination style or following the optimal racing line to gain boost. Some races even give you two boosts each time you pass the starting line, putting a strategic element into when you should use them during a lap.
At first, there's not that many cars to choose from within each type, but winning races will unlock more variety to your selection. There are even some cups pitting pickup trucks and rally cars against each other! Or how about going full on vintage, with some T-Fords?!
What instantly impressed me, considering it's smaller budget, was the visual quality. Race circuit environments span from autumn woodland roads, snow covered mountainous tracks, highway sections, coastal scenic routes to Asian inspired temples. From gravel to tarmac. The visual variety is great and equally impressive are the neat sunsets and weather effects, add in night races for some nice looking lighting too.
What instantly impressed me, considering it's smaller budget, was the visual quality. Race circuit environments span from autumn woodland roads, snow covered mountainous tracks, highway sections, coastal scenic routes to Asian inspired temples. From gravel to tarmac. The visual variety is great and equally impressive are the neat sunsets and weather effects, add in night races for some nice looking lighting too.
The car designs are solid, with a lot of the famous Ford models through the years, and a nice look to them in replays. While it might not be quite up there visually alongside Gran Turismo 3 or 4, it reminds me more of something like NFS Hot Pursuit 2 on the same system.
Gameplay resides in the middle ground of arcade and sim racer. Although, in context of today, versus this time period, it's clearly in the arcade genre in hindsight. Back then, maybe slightly more towards the simulator side. I was impressed with how well the game responded and the way the car physics felt to control, shifting weight and being responsive, with variation for car types and sizes. It helps keep the racing engaging, while at the same time easy enough to just pick up and play.
Gameplay resides in the middle ground of arcade and sim racer. Although, in context of today, versus this time period, it's clearly in the arcade genre in hindsight. Back then, maybe slightly more towards the simulator side. I was impressed with how well the game responded and the way the car physics felt to control, shifting weight and being responsive, with variation for car types and sizes. It helps keep the racing engaging, while at the same time easy enough to just pick up and play.
It's a 60fps title too, like many games from this generation, helping it look sharp while being responsive to control. A must for a good impression of a racer.
My main complaint is it’s generic structure. Game progress is strictly about completing races on a menu screen and there's no personal touch with any driver details, managers or people alongside the track sides. The music is forgettable, generic rock, while car sounds about right compared to the models and sizes.
On the surface, the main campaign might not seem large, but there's a lot of challenges, time trial races and events to enter in addition. These will unlock more car models to use in the main campaign. Circuits need to be unlocked in other to use in single race events like time trail. I would've preferred these modes collected cohesively in one campaign mode, though. Unlocking vehicles and circuits should be quicker, it has a tendency to use the same first circuits over and over.
Obviously, for those seeking other car brands, there's nothing on offer here. You're driving Ford cars and competing against Ford cars. Perhaps a collaboration with another car brand could've been a neat idea. But alas, if you're buying something called Ford Racing, you know what you're getting. This limits the scope of the title somewhat for car enthusiasts.
If you're looking for a PS2, PC or Xbox racer, which expands further outside the must buy list of racers of this era, I'd give Ford Racing 3 serious consideration! It's a forgotten title when it comes to a solid racer of it's era.
If you're looking for a PS2, PC or Xbox racer, which expands further outside the must buy list of racers of this era, I'd give Ford Racing 3 serious consideration! It's a forgotten title when it comes to a solid racer of it's era.
I was pleasantly surprised by Ford Racing 3 and for a title of this budget it's way better than it has any right to be, I ended up really enjoying it!
