FORZA 2 impressions thread

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Thu May 31, 2007 4:26 pm

Terry,
I understand that you would like the game to be as realistic as possible, but others might like the crutch that the line provides. I think its great for the first few laps to help assist you where to brake and such, but I agree that I much prefer to learn to drive the track and memorise hwo to negotiate it. But in the end, I think it all comes down to personal preference.

You're going to whip our butts anyway......line or no line

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Thu May 31, 2007 4:41 pm

TCrouch wrote:After re-reading that, it appears that I'm saying guys HERE are the instant gratification crowd. That's not it at all. I just think guys would be surprised at what they could actually do if they gave it an honest try...it's just very easy to go "I need it, I can't do it" and not actually see if it's possible.

I tried driving without that line and had it turned back on within 10 minutes.

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Thu May 31, 2007 4:52 pm

That's kind of my point, tjung. 10 minutes. It takes a little more than a few minutes to really get a hold of something, but you of all people I can't expect to hold out for very long

Seriously, though, I just have to realize that I'm not the leader of a fascist nation and I cannot get the masses to conform to, or obey, my way of thinking. No point. If you must race with "the line", then so be it. In the end, like Kruza was saying, it's a hindrance...no two ways to say it.

At the end of the day a guy like me won't be running the slot-car line and braking at the same point as guys who do run with it, so I'll be able to gain ground almost every corner by NOT having the line on. Not necessarily "me", but whoever. When you get in a pack of cars, you can't trust the line any more and you have to adapt...without that track knowledge and knowledge of your car's abilities, it will always be a step-behind type of effort, and it makes me cry.

Nah, not really. But there really will always be a definite line between anyone who really NEEDS to use the line, because once you learn the line, that's it. You will have a much harder time adapting or pushing yourself to be faster because 'the line says brake here'.

But the assists will stay enabled for whoever wants them, I'll quit whining about the subject and quit trying to force my way of thinking on the masses

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Thu May 31, 2007 5:04 pm

What's going to be really hysterical is when you "anti-liners" end up begging us to turn the line back on after a few online sessions!!!

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Thu May 31, 2007 5:07 pm

Spooky wrote:What's going to be really hysterical is when you "anti-liners" end up begging us to turn the line back on after a few online sessions!!!

The crashing aspect of it is my concern as well. I actually agree with everything Kruza and Terry say about how it's better to learn the track with the line off. But in learning that way in online multiplayer, Kruza's car might be the bull I'm taking by the horns and yanking right off of the track!

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Thu May 31, 2007 5:08 pm

For the non-racing crowd, I would say you don't need the racing line just the braking line.

Last night I saw a lot of people flying into cornors going head first into walls and cars. I even saw a few people drive into the on-coming cars.

Anyhoo, I don't care if people use racing lines but it's better to use just the braking line. Plus if you have car in front of you, watch that car if it's not millinium. If it's Terry, I'll just copy him throughout the turn.

Plus I think ABS is a must if you aren't a racing gamer. With ABS off you are skidding everywhere leading to a spectacular reaming of the pack.

How come we only raced D-class cars, is it only open to what people have unlocked?

Lastly, this online racing is a great way to rake in the cash. I think I had 20,000 points just from my online mode. But in 7 races I had 40,000 plus I had a few bonus items thrown in.

Who's up for some racing tonight?

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Thu May 31, 2007 5:16 pm

I'll be firing up a room in 2 hours and inviting whoever I see online.

And we ran a series for the majority of the time you were there, and we couldn't change cars from one race to the next. But overall, it was the first night and it was my attempt to let some people adjust to the D cars. We did run a couple of R1 races (with all assists forced off) and that was downright hilarious. I think I passed JohnnyTheSkin 3 or 4 times with his car doing doughnuts in a smoke cloud.

The D Cars with the TCS off and whatnot are at least controllable for most people. We'll run a mix, though, I'm always open to suggestions when racing. I'll run anything, anywhere, I'm not picky.

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Thu May 31, 2007 6:32 pm

My feeling about the Forza 'line' is that most people should have the braking line on at least for a good little while. It's very dynamic and in a way it becomes a bit of a game of 'can I keep it orange, juuuuuust not quite red?' or 'where can I go through it when it's red but still be OK,' that kind of thing. It is, without doubt in my mind, the single coolest teaching aid for learning how to drive in general, and to learn a given circuit. It is a bit of a crutch no doubt, but over the course of many laps, most people will get to the point where they are ignoring it, and at that point they can just turn it off. Or just ignore it.

If you want to do some hard core, competitive league racing, then by all means set games with all assists and everything including the line off; heck, go ahead and pick a camera and limit the room to that. But for relaxed, 3-5 lap Poker Night racing, the point is to have fun with competitive, involving racing where as much of the field is in the mix for as long as possible. Those who don't need the line, well, they don't need it. Those who can get something useful out of it should by all means use it. Please! It will help coalesce the field, and that's a good thing in the Poker Night type of room. The degree to which it helps avoid the corn-holitis cannot be understated. For competitive, win-at-all-costs racing meant to test the relative skills among racers as purely as possible, turn it off.

I really think any degree to which folks we like to game with together are discouraged from entering a room, either for fear of screwing up other people's nights or races, or for fear of being completely blown away race after race, is a negative thing and should be avoided. I can apreciate that the line unbalances the playing field a little bit, but I don't think that's a problem for the kind of racing we are talking about here.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Thu May 31, 2007 7:38 pm

Well here's a work in progress. I'm creating a Football Manager car. Here's a pic...
FM Car

jondiehl · Post by **jondiehl** » Thu May 31, 2007 8:15 pm

I don't mind the racing line, as it helps even the scales a bit between the every night racers and the once per week guys. The braking line is a good compromise too, as it forces you to still memorize the track, but also gives you a braking warning (much like a sign or other marker in braking zones on a race track).

ABS is a must, especially for us gamepad users. I tried racing w/o ABS last night for one race and it was an absolute joke, locking it up on nearly every corner. Real cars have it, no reason that we shouldn't race with it.

Traction control, most cars also have that, even race cars, although I think it actually slows you down overall (but for most people. you'll want to leave it on for getting a good jump off the grid, and for keeping tire spin down during acceleration in the fast cars). I typically only use it for RWD cars or anything that's overpowered.

Stability control I can see restricting, but even more so than traction control, it will slow you way down compared to someone not using... so it's more of a risk/reward thing. I personally never use it, it feels too much like autopilot and crushes lap times.

Wilk5280 · Post by **Wilk5280** » Thu May 31, 2007 8:52 pm

I'm by no means a good racer on the closed circuit, but I'd without question vote to have the line "off" if I were racing online.

Agreed with Terry, Kruza and the other anti-liners.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Thu May 31, 2007 8:54 pm

Im probably a middle of the road racer...I need the line more than some and less than others...

I do get a much greater sense of actually doing something with it off... With it on I dont feel as part of the race as I do a robot following a strip on the road and its pretty changing colors.

One of the things I liked about the TOCA2 league we had , for as long as I was in it, was that we would run those practice laps so everyone, espicially those who didnt play everyday(ME), would learn the track a bit and get a feel for everyone....

The practice laps were in the DSP league?...werent they?

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Thu May 31, 2007 10:30 pm

Must...not...scratch...the itch.

Great impressions, guys. Hopefully I can get my hands on a rental tomorrow and get online for some racing, it sounds like a very cool experience.

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Thu May 31, 2007 10:34 pm

still not in at Best Buy tonite

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Thu May 31, 2007 11:26 pm

Whoa, I'm watching you guys race. That was a nice move Terry put on Seminole. In one of the final turns.

Forza might have the best online features I've ever seen.

Here's a another cool thing. Inside the wheel itself, the brake actually glow bright red.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Thu May 31, 2007 11:41 pm

My impressions...Game kicks ass!

Darkbandit · Post by **Darkbandit** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 12:36 am

Great impressions so far...I am almost at the point of trying my 5th 360, but am strongly fighting the urge. Although knowing myself and how I like racing games, I'll wind up having it and another 360 by this time next week.

greggsand · Post by **greggsand** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 3:15 am

Watching your buddies race online is strangely hilarious...

I feel a "rent to own" coming on with this one. I'm not a big 'tinker-er' when it comes to racers, but I found myself loving forza1 thanks to online. So may have to break down this weekend.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 5:15 am

If there's one big negative for me, it's the amount of tracks. I think for the scope of this game there are too few.

I know there are different variations but it seems there should be like 30-50 different tracks.

I bet there will add-on tracks that you can buy.

Wilk5280 · Post by **Wilk5280** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 9:16 am

How is Forza 2's version of "the ring"? That track alone is what is going to make me break down

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 9:19 am

PRBoom wrote:How is Forza 2's version of "the ring"? That track alone is what is going to make me break down

The side rails are really well done!

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 9:42 am

I finally get to play this game tonight for the first time. I have had it since Wednesday but with school winding down and coaching I haven't even had time to put it in the 360. This past week has been a blur.

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 9:54 am

Gamefly said it shipped on Wednesday. Supposedly the new shipping center in Pittsburgh should service me so we'll see how fast it will get here. I'm hoping it will be here by tomorrow. If it doesn't get here by tomorrow the new shipping center isn't really making things faster. Sounds like I'll be well behind the curve by the time it arrives.

Slumberland · Post by **Slumberland** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 9:58 am

I recently re-upped with GF and my shipping time to NYC seems to have gone from 3 days to 2. So it's something, at least.

mixdj1 · Post by **mixdj1** » Fri Jun 01, 2007 10:03 am

Sorry for any of the accidents I caused last night. I'm determined to learn to drive with manual transmission and all of the assists off but unfortunately some of you got caught up in my struggles. Later in the evening I realized I should just drop to the back at the start and try to gradually work my way up as far as I can. Definitely looking forward to more racing this weekend.