The Crew Motorfest Review

The Crew Motorfest is an open-world racer, similar to that of Forza Horizon, with a Motorfest festival set theme, spanning the entirety of the United States, the game allows players to traverse iconic locations from beaches to coast, from the bustling streets of New York City to the sun-soaked highways of Los Angeles. The sheer scale of the map is awe-inspiring, and it contributes significantly to the game’s sense of freedom and exploration. Whether you’re tearing through the winding roads of the Rocky Mountains or cruising along the sandy shores of Miami, the attention to detail in the environments is nothing short of breathtaking.

As mentioned the game is set within a festival, meaning there’s a buzz of excitement in the air with colourful banners and lots of vibrant colours in towns and cities. The Crew Motorfest successfully captures the spirit of real-life motorsport events, making it feel like more than just a race – it’s an entire celebration of speed and adrenaline. Supported by licensed car manufacturers such as Lamborghini, Ferrari, Ford and so many more.

In terms of gameplay, The Crew Motorfest provides a varied and dynamic experience. The game features a wide range of vehicles, from nimble street cars to powerful muscle cars, each with its own distinct handling characteristics. What stands out even further is the game’s vehicle customisation options which are extensive, allowing players to fine-tune their rides to suit their preferred driving style. Each vehicle part is given a specific car type, so you can add sports car wheels to a pick-up truck if you wish, which in turn tunes a car out to ride in style. Whether you’re into high-speed pursuits on the asphalt or conquering treacherous off-road terrain, the game caters to a broad spectrum of racing preferences.

“One of the game’s standout features is the seamless integration of both single-player and multiplayer modes.”

Through completing races and events, players earn experience points and currency, which can be used to unlock new vehicles, upgrade existing ones, and purchase cosmetic enhancements. Through these upgrades and purchases, you’ll be able to experience more of the racing in a variety of vehicles and vehicle setups, giving you a fuller picture and experience of Motorfest.

One of the game’s standout features is the seamless integration of both single-player and multiplayer modes. The Crew Motorfest blurs the lines between solo and cooperative play, allowing players to seamlessly transition between racing with AI-controlled opponents and competing against other players in a shared open-world environment. The multiplayer experience is particularly engaging, as it introduces a sense of unpredictability and competition that is absent in the single-player races. You can matchmake to join up with Crews and drive across the open world together or competitively race in events for the glory and bragging rights.

Visually, the game is a treat for the eyes. The game boasts impressive graphics, with detailed car models, realistic lighting effects, and a day-night cycle. The dynamic weather system further enhances the visual experience, as races can be impacted by rain, snow, or fog. Who doesn’t want to drive a Lambo blaring out some epic saxophone music while the sun is setting!

However, it’s not all sunshine with The Crew Motorfest. Some players may find the learning curve steep, especially when transitioning between different vehicle types. The handling of certain vehicles, particularly those in the off-road category, might feel less intuitive for players accustomed to the precision of traditional racing games. I particularly found the drift events where you have to slalom between gates fairly difficult in some of the more difficult to hand cars, which means you have to go back to your garage, change up your car and retry if you want to have any level of success at obtaining the target points required to complete these. Additionally, while the open-world design is a strong point, it can occasionally lead to long stretches of driving with minimal action, which offers a lot of barren landscapes in between towns and cities. Luckily though you can effortlessly switch between land, water or air vehicles on the fly, which is unique to The Crew if you’re not familiar.

In conclusion, The Crew Motorfest for Xbox stands as a commendable addition to the racing game genre. Its expansive open-world, diverse range of vehicles, and the electrifying atmosphere of the motor festival create an immersive experience that caters to both casual and hardcore racing enthusiasts. Some players may find it too similar to Forza Horizon and the vehicle type handling may be a put-off to some, but in essence The Crew Motorfest does manage to successfully delivers on its promise of a thrilling ride in a glorious landscape.