Ford Racing 3

Overview

Ford Racing 3 is a racing game featuring a variety of Ford vehicles released between 1923 and 2004.

Gameplay

The sole focus of FR3 is on circuit racing, and unlocking the included vehicles and tracks; there is no plot or continuing campaign.

The racing style in FR3 tends more towards arcade racing than simulation; drifting (in this case, effectively just skidding sideways) and collisions slow cars, drafting has no effect on speed and most tracks are unwinnable under constant maximum acceleration, but the game lacks even a cosmetic damage model or any car tuning or upgrades. Some race types also include a boost ability, and properly timing acceleration at the start of a race can provide an additional 'super start' boost. There is also no direct penalty for collisions or unsafe driving, and many obstacles on tracks have invisible walls that guide the player away from direct impacts. AI cars rubber-band towards the player on at least some levels of difficulty, mostly obviously when the player falls behind. The game includes two 'chase cam' views and a bumper cam, but no cockpit view, and does not permit the player to look around freely.

As the player completes events and places highly, they are awarded points, which slowly upgrade their rank, in order: Rookie, Amateur, Semi Pro, Pro, Expert, Ford Legend. The game tracks several other statistics, including fastest lap for each vehicle class on each track, and longest jump, drift and wheel spin (the latter is measured in tenths of a second). These records are purely informational. The game displays the longest for each during individual races, but only saves the overall best.

Racing Events

The game includes eleven different races, most of which must be unlocked for free play by winning events involving them.

• Standard Race
• Time Attack
• Boost: Standard Race with a maximum of two short-duration boosts per lap
• Elimination: Beginning with six cars, the last two cars each lap are eliminated until only two remain, then the first across the line wins
• Overtake: The player must overtake a number of AI cars in convoys ahead in a time limit, with clean overtaking adding a time bonus
• Duel: The player races one car, then two, then three, each for one lap, with no pause between and increasing difficulty
• Drafting: The player must catch up to and follow AI cars driving in a convoy in a set time limit
• Racing Line: Boost with no limit on boosting but a requirement to drive closely to a suggested racing line to 'charge' boosts
• Relay: The player races one car at a time for three laps, drafting behind their next (temporarily AI-driven) car at the end of each lap to pass the 'baton'
• Driving Skills: The player must complete a single lap within a set time limit while driving cleanly between a minimum number of sets of cones on the track, with passes between cones adding to the time limit
• Seconds Out: The player must complete a single lap within a set time limit while driving over a minimum number of bonus pickups and avoiding negative pickups

All race types are eventually available in free play, but are otherwise limited - Overtake, Duel, Drafting and Relay alter AI behaviour and so are never used in multi-race events, and Driving Skills and Seconds Out don't involve AI cars at all.

Gameplay Modes

Quick Race

This starts a singleplayer Standard Race with no customisation, selecting randomly from the cars and tracks currently unlocked.

Ford Competition

A series of multi-race events, each unlocking further events, increasing in length and difficulty. Player and AI cars are awarded points for finishing position at the end of each race (10-6-4-2-1-0). The car with the most points at the end of the event wins; if the player places highly, they are awarded a Cup, and also unlock a bonus car for use in other modes. Collecting all Cups awards a Trophy.

Race types are limited to Standard Races, Boost, Elimination and Racing Line, as all events have five AI cars; the majority of races are three laps (with exceptions - early races are limited to two laps, Oval races are 6 laps due to its short length, and the single Vintage event has single-lap races). Most events are themed by track or AI car selection; the player is free to choose any unlocked car from the relevant class, but cannot change it mid-event. The player can retire from an individual race at any time (scoring 0 points) or from an entire event (receiving no awards), or replay previously-completed events, but cannot replay or restart individual races within an event.

Ford Challenge

A series of pre-designed challenges, using a specific race type, car and event. Each can be played on three difficulties; winning on Easy rewards the vehicle used, winning on Medium awards the car paint options (if available) and winning on Hard awards the challenge's Token. Most challenges are locked at first, and unlocked as previous challenges are completed, with the player occasionally given an option on the order to unlock them. Collecting all four tokens for a particular group rewards the player with a Shield. Collecting all seven Shields awards a Trophy. If the player has collected both the Competition and Challenge Trophies, they are awarded the final Trophy (for 100% completion).

Thunderbirds

Mustangs

Generations

Concepts

GT

Trucks

SVT

Ford Collection

This is the name for the freeplay mode. The player can choose between unlocked cars, race types and tracks and play them in singleplayer, but cannot unlock any further items in this mode.

Multiplayer

FR3 includes both split-screen, LAN and internet multiplayer options. Races can be played with any single vehicle class and track, from one to nine laps. Race types are limited to Standard Race, Boost, Elimination and Relay.

Driver Details

This is the location for records and statistics, as well as viewing collectibles - Ford Competition Cups, Ford Challenge Tokens and Shields, and Trophies.

Tracks

Five track themes are provided, with two limited to Off Road vehicles. All tracks are circuits. Several provide 'shortcuts' of dubious use. Often, tracks within a theme take place on a single map, with barriers preventing access to the other tracks. WIth the exception of the Raceways theme, all tracks can be played in both forward and reverse directions.

Pacific Drive (Off Road only)

White Sands, Voodoo Village, Colonial Grounds

Arctic Breeze (Off Road only)

Fishing Town: A flat but winding track through a canyon, over and through rivers, and past a number of huts and wood buildings

Logging Company: An extremely uneven track through a forest, industrial buildings and past a harbour

Oil Refinery: A flat track through a refinery, constructed largely of straights and sharp corners

Colonial Run

Harbour Side: Rural streets through a seaside town of old mansions, past a lighthouse, completing the circuit via a highway

The Railroad: Winding roads through farmland, even directly through a cornfield, occasionally alongside, over or under a railroad with moving train (the train itself is never an obstacle)

Mountain Drive: Tree-lined country roads through a national park, along and over a lake and stream

Asuka Battle

City Highway: A night track largely on highways and interchanges, with skyscrapers occasionally visible in the distance

Lost Village: A mix of paved and dirt roads, passing several Japanese sites including a large Buddha statue and construction area

Summit Trails: Fast roads up and down hills including a damaged snow shelter, highway cutting and a short dirt road portion

Raceways

Oval: A short track with two parallel straights and titled corners, with high fences and grandstands

Racetrack: A sealed wide track featuring rumble strips, tire walls and sand traps, with several straights and tight bends

Vehicles

The game includes vehicles across Ford history, as far back as 1923 and up to its release. Cars have working suspension and brake lights, and partly-working headlights (a glare effect is shown, but nothing is lit), and most have visible interiors. Customisation is limited to paint, and only if the player has unlocked the paint option for each specific vehicle; some cars only have one design, and can't be repainted. Several cars have convertible models, with the roofs permanently lowered. The game does not include a cosmetic or functional damage model. Most cars have unique number plates.

Vehicles are separated into various classes, and races can only include cars from a single class. Each vehicle is rated in four categories, with ratings from 1 to 8.

Vintage

Only two Vintage vehicles are included, with a fifteen-year gap separating them from the next-oldest car. The single Competition event they are featured in is the shortest (totalling only three laps across its races), and they are used for a single Challenge event.

Classic

Modern

Performance

Off Road