CarX Drift Racing 3 Review: Experience high-end drift racing

As a car enthusiast with a soft spot for the iconic JDM culture, I can confidently say that CarX Drift Racing 3 is a game that has truly captured my heart. Having grown up watching Initial D and dreaming of owning a Sprinter Trueno AE86 just like Takumi Fujiwara, it’s been an absolute thrill to dive into this immersive drift-focused world.

CarX Drift Racing 3 is a versatile drifting racing game, created by CarX Technologies. This title allows you to construct your ideal drift vehicle from over 60 legendary body types and approximately 3000 body kits. Moreover, you can perform thrilling drifts and races on a variety of iconic circuits such as Ebisu, Nürburgring, ADM Raceway, and others, while driving cars inspired by renowned JDM brands, like Nissan, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Subaru, and more. In this review, I’ll be sharing my thoughts on the game and offering an unbiased rating for your consideration.

Engaging gameplay but Drifting is quite challenging to master

Let’s dive into our discussion about the CarX Drift Racing 3 review. We’ll focus on the thrilling gameplay that delivers a captivating drifting and drift racing adventure. On renowned race courses, you can hone your drifting skills, scorching your tires on some of these historic tracks.

Not only do you get to experience the thrill of drifting with your personalized dream drift car, reminiscent of legendary JDM models, but you also have over 80 customizable elements per vehicle to tailor each one to your unique preferences. For those who wish to delve into the origins and progression of drift culture, the game offers a single-player campaign with five immersive chapters that provide an in-depth look at the evolution of drift racing, from its roots in the 1980s up to the present day.

CarX Drift Racing 3 Review: Experience high-end drift racing

Through playing various game scenarios, you can gain access to extra gameplay options such as the car dealership, diverse race circuits, and other perks. However, these levels are demanding, with penalties for veering off course or skidding, which leads to disqualification. Despite its initial difficulty, I found this game incredibly engaging and enjoyable. Just like real life, drifting isn’t a simple feat here.

But what hooked me to the game is the new damage system, which is properly detailed. It gives a realistic feel when you crash, like bumpers popping off, body kits getting damaged over time, and more. Not only this, if you crash a lot while drifting, your car performance starts to decline, and the game even shows tire condition. You will need to repair your car after your drift sessions like you would in real life, which takes time but makes the experience more real.

Customize your real-life inspired cars with iconic body kits

Among car enthusiasts and racing fanatics, there’s a shared passion for personalizing vehicles, and this game does an excellent job of satisfying that craving, a trait that CarX games are known for. You have the freedom to design your ideal drifting machine from scratch, drawing inspiration not only from iconic Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) manufacturers but also European and American brands, with the customizations closely resembling their original counterparts.

In this game, you’ll find 60 renowned car bodies and an impressive collection of 3000 kits, providing ample choices to create your ideal automobile. Navigate to the tuning section where you can swap out and finely adjust your vehicle, altering suspension settings and visiting the dyno stand. Customize everything from body components, wheels, and windows to interior trimmings, paint jobs, and liveries. You have over 80 parts at your disposal for each car, allowing you to optimize performance and enhance your gaming experience.

CarX Drift Racing 3 allows you to enjoy drifting sessions on some iconic tracks

One engaging feature of this game is its authentic licensed race tracks and winding mountain roads, such as Ebisu, Nürburgring, ADM Raceway, and Dominion Raceway, hailing from various parts of the globe, making it a realistic edition for an immersive drift racing or overall car racing experience. Additionally, it offers two other tracks, Kami Road and South Port, which can be found in the game’s Asia and Oceania regions.

You’re welcome to engage in drift sessions or hone your abilities using the free-ride option. To begin with, only the Ebisu track is accessible for free, providing you with seven different courses to practice drifting and enhance your skills. Additionally, you can have fun drifting in the test drive mode without any limitations, giving you a chance to relax and enjoy yourself.

Stunning graphics and immersive music complement high-level drifting

The game’s exceptional gameplay and difficulty level warrant high praise, but its visuals and soundtrack are equally impressive. The developers have clearly spared no effort to deliver an outstanding drift racing adventure. The graphics are breathtakingly beautiful, skillfully conveying the thrill of drifting on diverse tracks, resulting in a highly engaging and captivating gaming experience.

The only issue is it doesn’t run well on low-end devices and even mid-end devices can struggle to maintain a smooth gameplay performance, for which you can lower your graphic configuration, sacrificing the quality.

Apart from that, the music within the game is fantastic, boasting a total of approximately 10 songs, some of which may be familiar to you. They create an incredible atmosphere as you push your car to its maximum speed. I find the funky, upbeat tracks especially appealing, as they harmonize flawlessly with the drifting experience and the overall concept of drift racing. Furthermore, the sound effects are remarkable too, ranging from the realistic engine sounds to the braking and drifting noises. These elements draw you deep into the game world.

The game features a clean UI with smooth controls for a precise drifting experience

The game boasts a straightforward and uncomplicated user interface that allows users to effortlessly navigate its diverse features and settings without feeling swamped or bewildered. It’s neatly arranged with large font sizes and clear icons for easy comprehension. Whether adjusting your car, fixing it up in the tuning section, or taking it out for a spin or competition, the intuitive UI ensures a smooth journey.

Regarding the control options, this game provides four distinct control configurations: there are two touch-based control schemes, a gyro-tilt mode, and compatibility with Bluetooth controllers. Personally, I found the controls to be seamless and somewhat authentic, particularly during drifting. Nevertheless, I must admit that the gyro-tilt controls posed a bit of a challenge for me.

You can Race for free but be careful with the tempting IAPs along the way

The game additionally offers an in-game marketplace where you can acquire a range of vehicles, including the Kyoyo E86 Touge Rush, modeled after the beloved Toyota Sprinter Trueno AE86 from the iconic anime Initial D, driven by Takumi Fujiwara. Beyond cars, you can also procure engines categorized as Powerful, Legendary, and Top-End Engine, along with other automotive components.

Instead of immediately purchasing these vehicles and enhancements for improved performance, you might choose to focus on accumulating points through extensive play instead. This way, you can have fun drifting in different modes without the need for immediate upgrades. However, keep in mind that you may eventually need better cars for the Top32 championships or Tandem races, but your current setup should suffice for now.

Final Verdict

Game CarX Drift Racing 3

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I must say, I was particularly captivated by the intricate damage system in CarX Drift Racing 3, which lends an authentic touch to the gameplay experience. Whether you wreck your car, veer off course, or gradually wear down your tires, it all feels incredibly realistic. What’s more, you can fix up your vehicle, tweak the suspension settings, and personalize it with renowned body kits – adding a whole new layer of immersion. For car enthusiasts and those eager to learn about drift, this game is an absolute must-play. It boasts a wide array of iconic JDM cars, drift kits, and race tracks designed to help you perfect your drifting skills.

CarX Drift Racing 3 Review by GamingonPhone

Gameplay Mechanics – 8.5

Car Customization – 8

Graphics and Music – 8.5

Controls and UI – 7.5

Free-to-play Elements – 7.5

8

Good

If you’re a fan of cars or simply enjoy racing games, CarX Drift Racing 3 is definitely worth checking out! This game features popular Japanese Import (JDM) vehicles, custom drift setups, and exciting race courses designed specifically for drifting.

2024-12-14 11:11