Poll: Forza 3 vs. NFS Shift: which is the best 360 racer?

[300lb. Samoan]

I've got demos for both of these games and I think at some point I'll buy one of them. But which one? All I have is the demos and the words of reviewers to go by! FYI, I've NEVER played a racing sim and enjoyed it before, but I really like both of these games. Right now, I am leaning HEAVILY towards NFS, but the demo has plenty to offer compared to Forza. Here's what I've gleaned from the demos:

Forza 3
-State-of-the-art graphics
-60fps rendering
-Rewind button (gets a lot of use)
-Sound-track includes Turbonegro's "Do Ya Dig Destruction" - GROOVY

NFS Shift
-Beautiful graphics only slightly outclassed by Forza
-Not 60fps rendering, looks to be in the 40-45 range - no big deal
-Handling has more of an arcade feel, which I really like
-Cockpit view is FUCKING AWESOME - honest to goodness it feels like I'm in the car
-No music, which means no cheesy techno bs such as Forza's rancid filler

Now here's what I'm afraid of: the demo experience is much better in NFS Shift and I think that is what is swaying my opinion.

Forza 3: one track, five cars in five classes. Nothing to strive for, just trying things out.
NFS Shift: two tracks in two different styles, 5 cars in three different classes, one is locked. To unlock the Zonda you need to earn five stars on both tracks by accomplishing challenges - podium finishes, speed threshold, lap times, etc.
I've put a half-hour tops into the Forza demo, while NFS Shift has consumed at least a couple hours.

All of these really doesn't mean much except that I think the NFS Shift demo is better. Escapists, I want your opinion: which game is better?

 

[Weaver]

IMO it's Forza 3 hands down. I wasn't very impressed with shift.
Basically, if you like racing sims go with Forza, if you like a more arcade racer you might like NFS shift more.

 

[300lb. Samoan]

bumping this thread for the afternoon crowd. two votes for forza so far, I played the demo more this afternoon and I'm still not feeling it. let's get down to brass tacks, people!

 

[mindclockwork]

i recommend forza, the driving is so realistic, great fun with assist (abs brakes, stability controls etc turned off). its too damn tricky as its realistic, supercars are allmost impossible to drive.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Midnight Club: LA.

 

[Supreme Unleaded]

Really, REALLY. You have more than 900 posts and youve been here since march, and you created a VS thread, a strait up VS thread, you know we don't like them.

Anyway I can't really say, I have a PS3, but I hear Forza 3 is a bit better so it gets my vote.

 

[jago107]

IMO it's Forza 3 hands down. I wasn't very impressed with shift.
Basically, if you like racing sims go with Forza, if you like a more arcade racer you might like NFS shift more.

I do like arcade racers, but I absolutely HATED Shift. Forza 3 was way better for me. That's my take on it, but seriously, though. Rent both games first, figure out which one you like, and buy that one.

 

[Liberaliterr]

I preferred NFS Shift personally. Never been into full on sims though.

 

[TPiddy]

The Forza demo may have been lacking in substance, but that's because the devs put more time into the final product. More cars and tracks.... and I believe Forza has a cockpit view as well. Forza wins hands-down....

 

[Sassafrass]

Haven't played them, but I suggest Forza 3.
Why?

Spoiler: It has this

And Alfa Romeos.
I love Alfas.

And yes, I am easily swayed by the cars in these games.

 

[Poomanchu745]

Forza 3. It has the history along with Gran Turismo to be the best racing sim out there. If you own a PS wait for Gran Turismo and if you own a 360 get Forza 3.

 

[Weaver]

The Forza 3 demo was pretty bad lol.

 

[MR T3D]

ignore the demo. the full game is freaking awesome (forza3)
one of the best features by a mile is the livery editor, aswell as the tuning.
if you want to go sim, its forza 3 or gran turismo. there is no substitute
damn, that sounds awfully fanboyish of me,
ah well
if you're going arcade, pick up midnight club LA, its pretty damn fun.
ever since underground 2, NFS series hasn't impressed me/done better.
NFS:UG2, best racer of last gen, though, IMO.

 

[Ziltoid]

Haven't played them, but I suggest Forza 3.
Why?

Spoiler: It has this

And Alfa Romeos.
I love Alfas.

And yes, I am easily swayed by the cars in these games.

The Bugatti is in SHIFT man, gotta find a better reason!

I liked Shift, but compared to Forza 3 it is seriously lacking in content. The Cockpit view is amazing though.

 

[Aura Guardian]

The demo was more than enough to tell me how good Forza 3 is. Also, Toys'r'us is advertising Forza 3 in there black friday sales. 35% off.

 

[Bladecatcher]

Forza 3, definitely. All the NFS games have been horrible after Most Wanted. I completely lost faith in the series after buying Carbon (like an idiot).

 

[Teh_Doomage]

After playing both thoroughly, full versions, I got rid of Shift for Forza, Forza is just hands down a much better game.

 

[-Morbid-]

Forza 3 by FAR. I only played Shift a little bit, but I couldn't stand playing it any longer.

 

[chinese_democracy]

Basically, if you like racing sims go with Forza, if you like a more arcade racer you might like NFS shift more.

Simple answers are always the best. Why do folks need to challenge common sense?

 

[Keepitclean]

Forza, NFS never really had a chance