MOST SEQUELS offer incremental improvements. They're baby steps in the march toward perfection.

Developers tout one special feature or another as if they justify the whole game. It's rare that every chapter in a franchise offers an evolutionary leap, but then again, not every developer is Turn 10 Studios and not every game is "Forza Motorsport 3."

The team's latest title improves on every aspect of the past two iterations. The gameplay ideas embedded in the series have blossomed to create something that's altogether distinct.

How good is this racing sim? Visually, the 405 cars are almost indistinguishable from their real-life counterparts. If it weren't for a few blurry textures here and there, players would swear the vehicles and tracks were real. When it comes to handling, "Forza 3" has a huge variety of cars from pickups to high-end racers. They all handle as they're supposed to, even going as far as to roll over if players aren't careful. A driver will see his car turned upside down, and he'll have to flip it over and maneuver a trashed vehicle around the track. It's a huge penalty for bad driving, but in a new feature borrowed from "Grid," players can take a mulligan and rewind the race at no penalty to redo a curve or work on drafting behind a rival.

The game's core always has been solid, but Turn 10's work on the Internet features gives "Forza 3" its identity. In the previous game, players could

share pictures, look up stats and auction off cars via the official Web site. In the sequel, the developer has expanded that idea so that players have their own storefronts where they can auction off cars and sell designs, tuning load outs and decals. It's another way for players to earn credits, the game's life blood. They don't have to be expert racers, wheeling around in online or offline contests. They can craft amazing designs and earn credits by selling them.

That's what separates it from "Gran Turismo," the real driving simulator, and "Need for Speed," focused on visceral action racing. "Forza" always has been about fostering that strong sense of community, offering new ways to share its enthusiasm for cars. Turn 10's latest entry does this better than any racer out there. When it comes to community, "Forza 3" runs laps around the competition.

A NEW CHALLENGER: "Tekken 6" proves that players can have too much of a good thing. BandaiNamco throws everything it has into its latest fighting game.

There's the usual staples of an arcade mode, online play and a practice option. But along with that, the developer decided to create a brand new scenario mode, which acts almost like a beat-'em-up grafted onto the fighting game's system. Players take on the role of rebel leader Lars, who with his robotic sidekick Alisa pound and smash their way through foes in an effort to defeat the Mishima Zaibatsu corporation.

The mode is a more polished version of the Tekken Force minigames in the previous versions. It's expanded to include dozens of levels and wearable items that offer bonuses to health, defense and attacks. It's an interesting, although risky, alternative for a single-player campaign. Thankfully, fans also can tackle a conventional story mode, but players will have to unlock characters by completing scenario mode stages.

That's where the rub is for "Tekken 6." The fighting game is too big for its own good. Players will have to unlock 40 characters, not including Lars and Alisa, and this huge casts stretches out the story beyond the realm of believability. It's almost as if a 5-year-old wrote it after hearing random words thrown his way. Players will encounter a talking bear, sumo wrestlers, an heiress, a kangaroo and an army of robots.

Without a clear narrative, "Tekken 6's" characters don't have much appeal aside from their physical appearances. It also makes learning the matchups and the dozens of moves and combos for each character intimidating. On top of that, BandaiNamco tweaked the fighting more, adding a rage system that powers up as players attack when their health is low.

It's a lot to take in and "Tekken 6" will be difficult for novices to learn. There's a lot to master with 42 characters and 18 stages. On the other hand, veterans will revel in the game's new characters and tweaks. Meanwhile, those caught in the middle will find an intimidating title with enough modes to keep them busy until the next big fighting game.

Reach Gieson Cacho at 510-735-7076 or gcacho@bayareanews group.com. Read his blog at blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/