This is one of those never ending debates: GT5 is better than Forza. Okay firstly the Forza-is-a-simulation-or-arcade issue: Screw that.. anyway around people would still go around bickering whether its a sim or arcade. Personally I consider it a sim, because the Project Gotham Racing series seems to be the arcade style racer on the 360.
The A.I.
The GT series has been known to have the 'Zombie A.I.'which is a standard feature up to it latest incarnation.. GT5. There are many videos on YouTube defending this issue however and obviously it was made by GT fanboys. I'll put it this way: the AI in GT5 is still zombie-ish. Its like they're running on rails, no matter what you try.. they just stick to the racing line. It's not even hard. You can beat them with a bog-stock car with absolutely no mods. In FM3 (hardest setting) it's not easy to win with an unmodded car. Also in FM3, the AIs would outbrake you, pressure and even squeeze you off on a corner. It doesnt happen on GT5. Once you pass them all you're considered a winner already.
The Cars.
Now this is where GT5 wins. 1000 cars. Nearly every car ever produced you can try out. However would you really give a damn about racing in a Fiat 500/ Subaru 360 that goes like... 20 or 30 mph? About having the latest cars thats just a matter of downloadable content. 1-1 the scoreline.
Venue Realism.
This one also goes to GT5. You can basically feel all the bumps, crests and kinks on any track in GT5 especially at the Nurburgring Nordschleife. FM3's curcuits are just flat pieces of tarmac. This is why probably some people consider FM3 to be arcade. Score is 1-2.
Graphics, Sound and Damage Realism.
Ok i dont get the sound part of GT5. Polyphony claimed they sampled the sounds from real cars but how can a Ferrari 512BB end up sounding like an Integra from GT2? Which by the way is also far from real? I guess there were too many cars for them to properly sample the sounds so they just used the old sound files from GT2. GT5 may have 1000 cars.. that sound not much different. FM3 sounds much better especially its Ferrari F430 and the American muscles.
About the graphics, obviously GT5 is better because its newer, but I really wish you could look around the car while racing. Not much of a deal, but whats the point of having a nicely rendered car if the only thing you can see is the cars butt?
The damage realism is another part of GT5 that has more of 'manufacturers claim' to it. But go head on to a wall at 160 mph and you dont even get a loose bumper. You just bonce off like you just hit a glass door thet you didnt see. In FM3 it looks much 'better' bad. Scrapes, dings, dents, missing bumpers can all be seen. Score is tied 3-3.
Car physique.
Personally I think FM3s is better because you can really feel the difference between the RWDs, AWDS and FWDs. Fully mod a front driven and it tends to understeer off the gas on corners. Give too much gas on a RWD and the butt snakes out. GT5 doesnt feel bad actually, FM3 just has that 'varying' feel between different drives. 4-3.
Fun Factor Features.
Licences. GT5 has the Licence feature which is indeed fun. Like in real life you'd need a learners licence first, then only you could get the 'full' one. Theres also the kart/ Nascar/ Rally feature but in the Rally races you cant actually slide around corners to go faster.. which is the direct opposite of rallying! 4-4 though.
Car Customization. Now this is one thing that GT should really have put emphasis into. In my opinion this is a make or potentially break feature in a supposedly simulation game. Other than racing there is of course other things you want to do with your car, just like in real life - like getting new paint, new wheels, putting decals. In GT5 you can only change the wheels on 'Premium' cars but you cant select sizes. You can only paint using colors you have unlocked. Racing cars cant be painted. And of course there's no decals feature. This is a really big minus. In FM3 you have far more freedom. You can select far more wheel designs, sizes, body parts (not all cars though) create cool decals which is everyones favorite feature i guess, paint race cars to a single color, tint windows.. and you dont even need to unlock these very basic features. Now its 5-4.
Overall
Overall GT5 only has the upper hand in quantity but having 1000 cars just cant justify the dodgy AI, fake sound, fake rally feel and very bland car customization. It may look better graphic wise but remember.. you cant even look around your car or cockpit using the R thumbstick! Those things should have really been basic.
FM3 may have far less cars, fake looking racetracks but it has the overall FUN package.. which is the main point of video gaming. So if its long term gameplay you're seeking, get an XBOX360 and a copy of FM3. Only if you're a GT fanboy or just love the idea of having 1000 cars, get the GT5.
GT5 is true to its tagline: 'The Real Driving Simulator'
but..
FM3 deserves the tagline: 'The Real Enjoyment Simulator'
