Apples to Apples comparison of GT5 vs. Forza 3 Physics
Introduction
There is this perpetual debate about what game has better "physics" Forza or GT5 Prologue. This debate extends to all racing games and simulations.
Instead of making objective statements that can be verified most just make subjective statements like, "The physics in that game sucks." Even professional reviews seldom make objective statements about the handling physics.
Since I own both Forza 3 and GT5 and have wheels for both I decided to attempt an OBJECTIVE comparisson of the car handling models in each game.
Testing Methodology
Hardware:
XBOX 360 Elite with MS Wireless FFB Wheel
PS3 with Logitech DFP
All assists off except ABS.
Cockpit view.
Hotlaps (no AI)
Tracks: Sazuka Cicruit
Cars:
RWD: Ferrari 599
Mid Engine RWD: Ferrari F430
AWD: Mitsubishi Evo X
FWD: Ford Focus ST
Acceleration
Simple standing start test. Accelerating from zero.
Forza 3: Had to accelerate more carefully to avoid wheel spin. Wheel shakes with wheel spin.
GT5P: Cars seem to have little wheel spin. No touch need for a good start. No force feedback.
Comment: Neither game simulated torque steering (where car pulls to one side during full acceleration) but at least Forza 3 had good wheel spin.
Winner: Forza 3
Braking
Forza 3: Braking was extremely sensitive. Very difficult to achieve anything less that full brake.
GT5P: Broader range of braking inputs.
Winner: GT5P
On Throttle Oversteer
Forza 3: Ferrari 599 failed to oversteer when throttle was mashed on corners. When it did oversteer it was very easy to catch and correct.
GT5P: Ferrari 599 easily oversteers unless throttle is applied gently at low gears.
Comment: Mashing the throttle very rarely could unsettle the cars in Forza 3.
Including the high end race cars. Extremely unrealistic behavior.
Winner: GT5P
Lift-Off Throttle Oversteer
Forza 3: Ferrari F430 had no detectable lift-off oversteer. Did not show any signs of being a mid engine car.
GT5P: Suddenly lifting off throttle while turning hard led to slight oversteer on the wide turns in Sazuka.
Winner GT5P
Understeer
Forza 3 and GT5P behave identically during understeer. Ford Focus ST in both games behaved identically. Only difference was sliding was much better in Forza 3.
Comment: Tire sounds were more natural and convincing in Forza 3. I don't believe this is a subjective statement. The way the cars slide on tires was far more true to life than GT5P.
Winner: Forza 3
Steering
Forza 3: When wildly oscillating steering back and forth responded too suddenly. There was little to no sense of inertia. Was difficult to cause a crash by oscillating the wheel back and forth on straights.
GT5P: Overall steering was smoother and car behaved like a car with weight. Was easier to induce a crash when oscillating steering wheel.
Comment: Steering was very twitchy in Forza 3. This was maybe the worst aspect of the game. Is the MS Wheel the cause?
Winner GT5P
Tracks
Comment: Sazuka had far more detail in Forza 3. It wasn't even close. But most other tracks in Forza 3 did not have the same level of detail.
Winner: Forza 3.
Complaint: To prevent players from cutting the track Forza has these sticky patches that supernaturally bring your car to a dead stop. It kills the immersion when it happens. In GT5 you're prevented from accelerating for a few seconds. The GT5 system is much better than those supernatural sticky patches.
Conclusion
The handing model in GT5P does a much better job of representing oversteer in high horsepower cars. The more powerful the car the more dramatic the difference. The lack of any lift-off oversteer in the F430 was a bit surprising. The steering was also another area where Forza 3 came up short. Reckless steering input simply did not unsettle the car like you would expect.
Overall, I should add that Forza 3 has advantages in damage and tire wear and parts customizations. Overall if you consider customizations and damage and online play Forza 3 is the better game. However, when it comes to car handling physics alone GT5P is more realistic. It's difficult to imagine an objective person testing same cars and tracks coming to a different conclusion.
I must also point out that the MS Wireless wheel compares very poorly to the Logitech DFP. Given that, in the average person's price range, the MS wheel is the ONLY viable option this must be counted as a shortcoming of Forza 3.
Introduction
There is this perpetual debate about what game has better "physics" Forza or GT5 Prologue. This debate extends to all racing games and simulations.
Instead of making objective statements that can be verified most just make subjective statements like, "The physics in that game sucks." Even professional reviews seldom make objective statements about the handling physics.
Since I own both Forza 3 and GT5 and have wheels for both I decided to attempt an OBJECTIVE comparisson of the car handling models in each game.
Testing Methodology
Hardware:
XBOX 360 Elite with MS Wireless FFB Wheel
PS3 with Logitech DFP
All assists off except ABS.
Cockpit view.
Hotlaps (no AI)
Tracks: Sazuka Cicruit
Cars:
RWD: Ferrari 599
Mid Engine RWD: Ferrari F430
AWD: Mitsubishi Evo X
FWD: Ford Focus ST
Acceleration
Simple standing start test. Accelerating from zero.
Forza 3: Had to accelerate more carefully to avoid wheel spin. Wheel shakes with wheel spin.
GT5P: Cars seem to have little wheel spin. No touch need for a good start. No force feedback.
Comment: Neither game simulated torque steering (where car pulls to one side during full acceleration) but at least Forza 3 had good wheel spin.
Winner: Forza 3
Braking
Forza 3: Braking was extremely sensitive. Very difficult to achieve anything less that full brake.
GT5P: Broader range of braking inputs.
Winner: GT5P
On Throttle Oversteer
Forza 3: Ferrari 599 failed to oversteer when throttle was mashed on corners. When it did oversteer it was very easy to catch and correct.
GT5P: Ferrari 599 easily oversteers unless throttle is applied gently at low gears.
Comment: Mashing the throttle very rarely could unsettle the cars in Forza 3.
Including the high end race cars. Extremely unrealistic behavior.
Winner: GT5P
Lift-Off Throttle Oversteer
Forza 3: Ferrari F430 had no detectable lift-off oversteer. Did not show any signs of being a mid engine car.
GT5P: Suddenly lifting off throttle while turning hard led to slight oversteer on the wide turns in Sazuka.
Winner GT5P
Understeer
Forza 3 and GT5P behave identically during understeer. Ford Focus ST in both games behaved identically. Only difference was sliding was much better in Forza 3.
Comment: Tire sounds were more natural and convincing in Forza 3. I don't believe this is a subjective statement. The way the cars slide on tires was far more true to life than GT5P.
Winner: Forza 3
Steering
Forza 3: When wildly oscillating steering back and forth responded too suddenly. There was little to no sense of inertia. Was difficult to cause a crash by oscillating the wheel back and forth on straights.
GT5P: Overall steering was smoother and car behaved like a car with weight. Was easier to induce a crash when oscillating steering wheel.
Comment: Steering was very twitchy in Forza 3. This was maybe the worst aspect of the game. Is the MS Wheel the cause?
Winner GT5P
Tracks
Comment: Sazuka had far more detail in Forza 3. It wasn't even close. But most other tracks in Forza 3 did not have the same level of detail.
Winner: Forza 3.
Complaint: To prevent players from cutting the track Forza has these sticky patches that supernaturally bring your car to a dead stop. It kills the immersion when it happens. In GT5 you're prevented from accelerating for a few seconds. The GT5 system is much better than those supernatural sticky patches.
Conclusion
The handing model in GT5P does a much better job of representing oversteer in high horsepower cars. The more powerful the car the more dramatic the difference. The lack of any lift-off oversteer in the F430 was a bit surprising. The steering was also another area where Forza 3 came up short. Reckless steering input simply did not unsettle the car like you would expect.
Overall, I should add that Forza 3 has advantages in damage and tire wear and parts customizations. Overall if you consider customizations and damage and online play Forza 3 is the better game. However, when it comes to car handling physics alone GT5P is more realistic. It's difficult to imagine an objective person testing same cars and tracks coming to a different conclusion.
I must also point out that the MS Wireless wheel compares very poorly to the Logitech DFP. Given that, in the average person's price range, the MS wheel is the ONLY viable option this must be counted as a shortcoming of Forza 3.