Forza 4

[Naples39]

Is this game playable online without getting run off the road by 12 year olds?

Or 43 year-olds? Because if I was playing, it would be Demolition Derby, and I would be trying to avoid making contact.

Well I trust that you would try and avoid, rather than banging off the inside of other cars as an active strategy in corners.

[DChaps]

I successfully resisted the Gears 3 hype here, but now I'm feeling lured to this game.

I had Forza 3 but never played it. Just got bored so quick, and if I recall I found medium AI too slow (beat them every time), but hard AI nigh impossible to get higher than third.

The demo seemed fun, with more cars on track, and racey AI with several different levels.

But are people finding enough truly new here?

Naples, like you I barely played Forza 3 as it felt more like work than fun, particularly in career mode. However, so far in Forza 4 I am feeling the opposite, while much of it is still very familiar feeling. Like db said, much of this for me has to do with their implementation of the Top Gear license. That may be clouding my overall judgement right now as I am a big fan of the show and really had not paid attention to the pre-release info on Forza 4 and did not know it was such a big part of it. Normally I would not look too much at mainstream reviews, but a couple have summarized what I have seen so far in a night of play (so take that for what it's worth).

“Turn 10 already had a fantastic racer with Forza 3, but they somehow managed to add more even features and polish to this sequel, and the end result is a game that seems to have covered every base perfectly. They've also managed to add something else that you'll never see as a bulletpoint on a box: personality. Forza 4 is so much more lively, and it shows so much more character than its predecessor. The game practically shines with signature touches that show that the developers truly loved making it. I'm sure that's probably why I love playing it so much. I'm sure you will, too. And again, Forza Motorsport 4 is the king of racers.” – Destructoid 10/10

"Like the step up from FIFA 11 to FIFA 12, there's no going back to Forza 3 now. The changes and updates are too welcome and widespread. The improved visuals, the added cars on track, the wealth of new race types, the tweaked AI and closer racing, the ferocious sound and superior sense of speed, the even better livery editor, the lot. With Forza 4 Turn 10 has crafted a driving game like no other; it's hands-down this generation's premier racing simulator.” – IGN 9.5/10

By the way, the leaderboards are available online:

http://forzamotorsport.net/en-us/commun ... board.aspx

Here is a great starting page for info regarding the Monthly Community Rivals and the Turn 10 Select Hoppers

http://forzamotorsport.net/en-us/wir_10-7/

[XXXIV]

I like that site.

[DChaps]

It's Teal03, btw.

Hmmm.... It is telling me that is not a valid gamertag.

[TCrouch]

Knucklehead doesn't even know his own gamertag...

there's a space between "Teal" and "03".

Like This

[TCrouch]

Also (I forgot why I clicked this thread in the first place, then got distracted by Teal's redneck-y-ness), I'm REALLY digging the World Tour mode. I think it's pretty slick how it seems to change each race to match whatever car I choose. First I was in an A Class Ferrari and went "man I really don't want to try this car around that tight little track" and I switched to a C class car. It instantly swapped the race to a C-event on the same track.

Being able to mix up and change what I'm driving from race to race really goes a long way when you're talking about an extended career mode. I'm not stuck in 5 consecutive races in the same car.

[vinny-b]

Also (I forgot why I clicked this thread in the first place, then got distracted by Teal's redneck-y-ness), I'm REALLY digging the World Tour mode. I think it's pretty slick how it seems to change each race to match whatever car I choose. First I was in an A Class Ferrari and went "man I really don't want to try this car around that tight little track" and I switched to a C class car. It instantly swapped the race to a C-event on the same track.

Being able to mix up and change what I'm driving from race to race really goes a long way when you're talking about an extended career mode. I'm not stuck in 5 consecutive races in the same car.

Terry: if you're racing offline, how is the opponent AI? From the takes have read, the AI is said to start off very easy and then increase in difficulty via intervals

[TCrouch]

I'd say that probably 95% of the races I've been in, the AI has been really slow--but the problem is getting past them. They didn't decrease the power in the cars at all, so coming off a corner you're both going to accelerate the same if you're in an identical car. What I've seen is that they made them really cautious--braking earlier, slowing down more for a corner, etc. That leads to some crazy rear-end collisions when I don't expect them to come to a stop getting into a corner or something.

In year 3, they've started to pick up a little, where I've actually had a couple of good duels--muscle cars at Road Atlanta last night springs to mind where I was actually dicing with the top 2 cars for a good lap and a half. But what gets me is that it takes a lot of work to ever get a leaderboard time that isn't "flawed" due to the AI running so slowly that I clip them...and if you clip them in the last few corners of a lap, even your NEXT lap won't count, so that's driving me nuts.

They race pretty human-like, but whether that's good or bad is debatable. At the start I could have a car with much better acceleration, and I split between 2 cars in front of me down the opening straight. One of the cars almost always slams right down into me, exactly like a knuckleheaded online racer would. I've seen a lot of that sh*t. I've never cursed at AI drivers like they're real so much in my life. They make mistakes like humans, and block/punt like humans.

[dbdynsty25]

Also (I forgot why I clicked this thread in the first place, then got distracted by Teal's redneck-y-ness), I'm REALLY digging the World Tour mode. I think it's pretty slick how it seems to change each race to match whatever car I choose. First I was in an A Class Ferrari and went "man I really don't want to try this car around that tight little track" and I switched to a C class car. It instantly swapped the race to a C-event on the same track.

Being able to mix up and change what I'm driving from race to race really goes a long way when you're talking about an extended career mode. I'm not stuck in 5 consecutive races in the same car.

Yeah, that was one of my two reasons that 4 is significantly better than 3. Being able to pick and choose whatever car you want to play on whatever track is a phenomenal addition. Makes it so much more customizable and the only time you're really shoehorned into a crappy car is the first few races and then as soon as your garage starts to expand and you can choose whatever series you want.

And btw...those multi-class events are insane. Coming up on E class cars at top speed with some A class cars is pretty hairy.

[vinny-b]

I'd say that probably 95% of the races I've been in, the AI has been really slow--but the problem is getting past them. They didn't decrease the power in the cars at all, so coming off a corner you're both going to accelerate the same if you're in an identical car. What I've seen is that they made them really cautious--braking earlier, slowing down more for a corner, etc. That leads to some crazy rear-end collisions when I don't expect them to come to a stop getting into a corner or something.

In year 3, they've started to pick up a little, where I've actually had a couple of good duels--muscle cars at Road Atlanta last night springs to mind where I was actually dicing with the top 2 cars for a good lap and a half. But what gets me is that it takes a lot of work to ever get a leaderboard time that isn't "flawed" due to the AI running so slowly that I clip them...and if you clip them in the last few corners of a lap, even your NEXT lap won't count, so that's driving me nuts.

They race pretty human-like, but whether that's good or bad is debatable. At the start I could have a car with much better acceleration, and I split between 2 cars in front of me down the opening straight. One of the cars almost always slams right down into me, exactly like a knuckleheaded online racer would. I've seen a lot of that sh*t. I've never cursed at AI drivers like they're real so much in my life. They make mistakes like humans, and block/punt like humans.

thanks, Terry. At this point in the timeline, it's amazing AI in console racing games is this deficient. While the AI in PC race sims is apparently phenomenal. Have to wonder if it's a case of development's priorities or lack of system resources. I would think the former..


that said, really happy this title is impressing everyone. Only thinking out loud

[XXXIV]

They race pretty human-like, but whether that's good or bad is debatable. At the start I could have a car with much better acceleration, and I split between 2 cars in front of me down the opening straight. One of the cars almost always slams right down into me, exactly like a knuckleheaded online racer would. I've seen a lot of that sh*t. I've never cursed at AI drivers like they're real so much in my life. They make mistakes like humans, and block/punt like humans.

Like I said before, they drive more like me than you. You are as good as it gets and Im middle of the road at best so my experience with the idiots isnt exactly the same as yours.

Though I do curse at them too. Like when they are dueling each other, are two across, its the end of the last lap and I cant get through.

[DChaps]

thanks, Terry. At this point in the timeline, it's amazing AI in console racing games is this deficient. While the AI in PC race sims is apparently phenomenal........

I would say that is debatable. Outside of Grand Prix Legends(AI is probably too hard in that one) and to a lesser extent NR2003, I can't think of a recent PC racing sim that I would classify as having phenomenal AI. The AI in GP4 is supposed to be good, but that is also a very old sim at this point, and one that I never could get working on my PC despite numerous attempts. AI in racing sims, whether consoles or PC, has always been a challenge.

PS - Is anyone else with the Collectors Edition having problems redeeming the codes? I can't seem to get the muscle car pack, even though it is telling me that I have already redeemed the code.

[Teal]

Knucklehead doesn't even know his own gamertag...

there's a space between "Teal" and "03".

Like This

Bite me, ass head! It's like people asking me my cell phone number-hell, I don't call my own number!

[XXXIV]

PS - Is anyone else with the Collectors Edition having problems redeeming the codes? I can't seem to get the muscle car pack, even though it is telling me that I have already redeemed the code.

I downloaded them but they are not in my garage. It should be a total of 25 with 10 of them being the muscle cars. I think you still have to earn them in the game. You can use them in free play as to hot lap with but not in career mode.
I dont know if that makes any sense but I think that is how it works. Try and hot lap one to see if they downloaded.

[XXXIV]

My first paint job. A work in progress. The numbers and the Greek flag are mine but the game came with the Lamborghini decal so I didnt make that. I tried making a Canadian flag but that didnt go so well. I think I might use some driving credits and buy of those from a storefront but that ruins the fun a little.

Some of these people make some amazing car designs especially noting the tools or lack of they are given. Maybe Im missing something and it exists but how about adding the ability to use a pc paint program????

[Teal]

I got that same effect, Chaps. Don't know.

[vinny-b]

My first paint job. A work in progress. The numbers and the Greek flag are mine but the game came with the Lamborghini decal so I didnt make that. I tried making a Canadian flag but that didnt go so well. I think I might use some driving credits and buy of those from a storefront but that ruins the fun a little. Some of these people make some amazing car designs especially noting the tools or lack of they are given. Maybe Im missing something and it exists but how about adding the ability to use a pc paint program???? :evil

one bad-@ss Greek racing machine.

[Rodster]

Where's the sheep racing logo?

[GB_Simo]

The manager of my local Gamestation talked me into getting the limited edition and the Wireless Wheel this morning. I only wanted the standard game. His pitch amounted to nothing more than "Go on. Go on, buy them", which leads me to assume that I'm just hopelessly weak.

I've already taken the wheel back. It's my own fault for listening to him when he assured me I wouldn't lose any functionality - upon getting home I discovered that for some reason, it does not have LB and RB buttons. I need those buttons when I'm racing and I can't use Autovista mode without them. I tried F1 2011 with the wheel and the steering control was very good, while the longer travel on the triggers compared to those of a gamepad was helpful, but I still didn't have enough buttons to use all of the controls. Clearly, this is something an ounce of decent research would have told me, but no matter.

Forza 4 is marvellous, though. I've enjoyed being the Star In A Reasonably Priced Car, had a really enjoyable Quick Race with some very convincing Professional AI (two laps of Infineon isn't much of a sample size, but there was great racing all through the field) and been absolutely blown away by the sense of speed. I tried the Track Day at Le Mans event in the Rivals area using a Bentley Speed 8 and couldn't believe how fast everything was moving. Oh, and the noise it makes...

[vinny-b]

nice impressions, Adam.

these reports on Forza 4 make me happy

[Rodster]

nice impressions, Adam.

these reports on Forza 4 make me happy

Is a 360 on your wish list?

[vinny-b]

nice impressions, Adam.

these reports on Forza 4 make me happy

Is a 360 on your wish list?

Rod: last winter remembered there was $100 off (via giftcard etc) for ps3 and 360. If this offer repeats, along with decent available price-point on Forza 4, then may bite.

either way, liked the orignal Forza. Hope Forza 4 proves to have a little longevity on DSP. Makes me think of the TOCA days

[Rodster]

That Target Kinect deal is pretty sweet because you get the camera which Forza 4 uses, 360 Slim along with a $75 gift card.

[Teal]

This is always, for some reason, my first creation in racing games that allow this level of customization, and that have a 69 Charger:



And trust me, the 01 was a helluva lot more involved and harder than the flag...had to do the 0 with squares of all sizes to get it right. Yes, I can be obsessive...

[dbdynsty25]

When you're from the south you're REALLY from the south.