Ubisoft’s The Crew Motorfest marks a significant evolution for the franchise, narrowing its focus to the picturesque island of O’ahu. This scaled-down environment, while significantly smaller than the game world in previous entries, proves to be a masterstroke, allowing for a more intimate, focused but also varied racing experience. The attention to detail in depicting the diverse biomes of Hawaii is commendable as well, with tight city corners in Honolulu, sweeping coastal roads, and challenging mountain trails providing a dynamic backdrop for high-speed racing. We checked it out on a PlayStation 5.
One of the standout features of The Crew Motorfest is its handling model, which strikes a near-perfect balance between arcade and simulation. Cars respond intuitively, whether you’re tearing through city streets or navigating off-road trails. While some may find the on-road driving to be slightly prone to sliding while drifting, it adds an extra layer of excitement, especially during tight turns – and it makes it clear there’s a learning curve here. The implementation of the DualSense’s haptics and triggers enhances the tactile experience in this sense, providing subtle feedback that amplifies the immersion.
The Playlists system is the linchpin of the game’s structure, presenting themed campaigns that immerse players in various car cultures. From Japanese vehicles and drifting to high-speed Formula-style racing, each Playlist offers a curated experience. If you’ve played Gran Turismo 7, it’ll feel somewhat similar to the menu book system. But while it serves as an effective guide through what Motorfest has to offer, some might feel that it occasionally verges on being an overly extended tutorial – which you can also say about those menu books. Nevertheless, completing Playlists unlocks an array of challenges and activities across the island, ensuring a constant stream of engaging content and a wealth of choices when you’re done.
O’ahu itself stands as a testament to developer Ivory Tower’s meticulous craftsmanship and attention to detail. The island is not only visually striking but also a joy to explore because of it. Rain-drenched roads reflect the azure sky, creating breathtaking vistas that’ll make you want to pull over just to look at it and take it all in. Though occasional visual glitches may crop up (in the pre-launch version we played), they hardly detract from the overall experience. The Crew Motorfest’s garage boasts an impressive collection of over 600 vehicles, providing ample choice for players. However, the car customization system, while intuitive, may leave enthusiasts longing for more in-depth options – this is where The Crew Motorfest is more arcade-like than other titles, despite the extensive lineup of cars.
Multiplayer in The Crew Motorfest embraces the chaos and scale of Ubisoft’s own Riders Republic, offering a range of events and activities that support very large player counts. Grand Race, a 28-player race featuring dynamic vehicle switching, and Demolition Royale, a battle royale-inspired destruction derby, inject an adrenaline-pumping frenzy into the multiplayer experience that should give this one plenty of online lasting appeal. But while these modes are undeniably fun, they cater more to those seeking ‘something different’ than to people looking for a more traditional, precision-focused kind of racing adventure.
Despite its achievements, The Crew Motorfest faces fierce competition in the open-world racing genre. It doesn’t quite reach the heights set by Forza Horizon 5 though, which remains a benchmark for this type of racer. However, Ubisoft’s live service approach suggests ongoing improvements and content updates, potentially elevating the game’s standing over time, and of course you can’t play Forza on a PlayStation either. As it stands, The Crew: Motorfest offers a compelling and entertaining racing experience, with the promise of even greater things on the horizon.
Score: 7.9/10
Press Play Media 