The singleplayer campaign is stale, but the rest of the game succeeds admirably.
At least, if you're interested in Forza 3, you're after realism and a gluttonous selection of cars.
I've always grappled with the debate between realism and accessibility. Is it possible to have both? Ultimately, I think, a game is always going to straddle one line more than the other, and Forza 3 certainly makes a case for realism first and foremost. But, to its credit, it certainly has no intention of alienating anyone. A clever set of assists and a rewind mode make the challenge of getting from start to finish slightly more manageable.
This is by no means a Burnout Paradise, however. Turn 10 have set their sets on recreating the thrill of driving as accurately as possible. In the 400-odd automobiles, you get a range of old and new, slow and fast, bumbling and sleek, and each car feels appropriately singular. The difference in speed, too, is brilliantly conveyed. A quick jaunt in the Bugatti Veyron feels significantly different from an outing in a Land Rover, for instance, and it's a testament to Turn 10 that they've managed to differentiate the cars so well.
As a racing game, it's fantastic. The cars are numerous, they handle realistically, and there's a perfect balance between realism and enjoyment. Sadly, in the efforts made to craft the actual driving mechanics, Turn 10 has neglected to include an interesting campaign. Yes, you progress from car class to car class, steadily rising the ranks, but it's an exercise in tedium more than anything else. There isn't a plot or story-thread tying any of the racing together. It's simply one race after another, which begins to feel like a slog towards the end. The rewards of unlocking new cars are there, but since you can race them in free-play anyway, it does negate the wow-factor somewhat.
Besides the single-player campaign, the game cannot be faulted. It handles well, looks beautiful and sounds authentic. There's not a lot more you could ask. Racing against a friend, or online, is great fun and many gamers will likely neglect the solo-excursion altogether. And perhaps I'm nitpicking; I just truly wish that the singleplayer campaign was more engaging.
Still, a worthy 8.5 -- Forza 3 has everything you need, even if the singelplayer campaign is a little stale.