What I'm playing this weekend: Forza Motorsport 3

This fast, furious, yet elegant racer is a feast for the eyes and a blast to play, even if you're as bad at driving games as I am.

I admit, I wasn't all that excited when Microsoft sent me a review copy of Forza Motorsport 3, and I only decided to plunk it into my Xbox 360 so I could check it off my to-do list. (FYI, in case you're wondering: Microsoft sent me a loaner console after my 360 up and died earlier this week so I could finish this review—a kind gesture, although I wish the folks in Redmond would extend the same courtesy to every Xbox gamer who gets the Red Ring of Death.)

OK, so why was I so cool to the new Forza? It's nothing personal—I'm just not that good at racing games. I'm terrible, to be perfectly honest. It just isn't that fun spinning out each and every time I hit the gas, or kiss the bumper of a hurtling opponent. Of course, that's my fault, not the game's fault, but why play if I'm not having fun?

But unlike other driving games I could name (Project Gotham Racing, anyone?), Forza Motorsport 3 has been designed with both experts and beginners in mind. Right off the bat, the soothing, British-accented voice of the announcer asks you which skill level you'd prefer: anywhere from "easy" (for automatic shifting, auto-braking, stability and traction assists, and a "suggested line" that shows you the best trajectory on the course) to "expert" (no assists at all, no suggested line, full-on car damage when you careen into wall or something, and manual shifting).

Being the rank amateur I am, I went ahead and picked "easy" and jumped into a quick match—and lo and behold, I didn't spin out in the first 10 seconds. Indeed, I held my own, jockeying for position in the front of the pack, squeezing around corners, and opening up the throttle on the straightaways without totally losing control. In short ... I had fun. Lots of fun.

Of course, that's not to say that Forza Motorsport 3 is just for driving noobs like me. Switch over to the "expert" setting and yes, you will spin out in the first 10 seconds unless you know what you're doing.

Beyond the gameplay is the look and feel of the game itself, and it's breathtaking. In addition to the selection of 400 cars from 50 manufacturers, you get your choice of 100 tracks, from standards like Le Mans to the Amalfi Coast—and believe me, it's a sports challenge to keep your eyes on the road when all you want to do is sightsee. Yes, the spectators look pretty phony (about on a par with the mannequins in Madden), but the scenery is spectacular and realistic, and the Fords, Alfa Romeos, Aston Martins, and Ferraris you're competing against look as real as any racing game I've ever seen. For comparison's sake, I tried my old copy of Project Gotham Racing 3 (an eye-popping Xbox 360 launch title back in 2005) right playing Forza 3, and whoa ... what a difference four years makes.

Forza 3 gives you the standard single-player mode of one event after another, interspersed with various championships ... which gets to be addictive, if a little repetitive. You can also jump into a quick match with any of the 400 vehicles at your disposal, or take on fellow racers on Xbox Live (although I've been disappointed to see no more than a couple hundred players online whenever I launch Forza 3's multiplayer mode).

But what really sets Forza 3 apart are the optional extras, such as the ability to customize your cars from top to bottom. Not only can you get under the hood and, say, tweak the brakes or the suspension, you can also paint your ride, tint the wheels, slap on generic and manufacturer logo, paint oversized designs on the doors, back, or hood ... you name it. Once you're done decorating, you can take your wheels on the road, freeze the action, and then prowl around your custom job with a virtual camera, snapping pictures for the maximum cool factor (which, of course, you can upload and share on the Forza Motorsport 3 Web site).

Another interesting—and controversial—feature: the ability to rewind a race at any moment, good for erasing any wrong turns, spinouts, or scrapes that shave points off your winnings. The "rewind" feature has apparently caused a stir among purists, who are appalled that you'd be able to "undo" any imperfections in a given race. But as many reviewers have noted, you don't have to rewind if you don't want to.

All in all, great stuff ... and as a beginner behind the wheel, it's a pleasure to leave the frustration behind and actually have fun again with a racing game.

Oh, and if you see a garish, green-and-purple Alfa Romeo waxing your tail in Forza 3 this weekend, well ... that would be me.

So, what are you playing this weekend? Anyone else have a Forza Motorsport 3 review? Post 'em below.