Back on Track

So initially this was going to be a review of Forza 4 but seeing how the game has been out for a few weeks already, this will be more of a joint opinion piece on the game between myself and Sol Lekz. Why did I choose Sol Lekz? Well, because he’s a part of the Chocolate Lemon Racing team.

First off I own both Forza and Gran Turismo 5. I tend to play simulation racing games at times because I feel there are more skills and strategy involved in playing them. Do no get me wrong – sometimes I do like the arcade style drifting around around (Project Gotham Racing, Initial D, Ridge Racer Type 4.) I’ve been a fan of both series while Gran Turismo took forever to finally count to 5 Forza has been quietly building it’s rep with me. The 4th installment is pretty damn good and it gives GT5 a run for it’s money but at the end of the day it is all matter of preference since both of these games do similar things.

Forza 4 is very pretty. The tracks almost have that you’re really there beauty them. The lighting effects,most notably the accurate shadow cast by your car as you drive around and take turns is impressive. The cars look good and for the most part stuff that is on the track looks okay. The buildings tend to look a bit blocky, it sounds weird but the way the game handles buildings and such they look a bit arcade-ish (like out of Outrun) while GT5 the tracks at times just flat out look amazing. There’s a track (Seattle) after you come out of a tunnel they simulate your eyes adjusting to the light, it wows me every time. The cars and tracks are the stars of show for both games but things like the surrounding scenery and objects on the track are costars which can make or break the deal for someone.

Music is another important factor. While if you’re playing on Xbox you’ll be using custom soundtracks the default soundtrack for Forza is vastly inferior to GT5′s. You get this song in your loading screens randomly or in a post race while your car takes a victory lap:

Soo good. While the music in Forza 4 isn’t intrusive it gets repetitive. It was done by one guy Lance Hayes and consists of electronica, ambient and downtempo with some ambient breaks, illbient and acid jazz,yeah that’s fine but Gran Turismo’s soundtrack is available here compare it to Forza’s and you’ll see the point.

The community aspect seems better on Forza simply because it’s Xbox live. PSN while free is a very weird and lonely place the menus and navigating things are similar between the two games. Forza lets you build a racing team and share cars. GT5 let’s you keep track of everything your friends are doing see their progress. You can obviously race online, while finding races on Forza being easier for a few reasons. Just simplified interfaces and car break downs by grade and easy to read stats. GT5 you’d have to know what you’re racing.

Both games control great. Forza allows you to simplify things a bit more while GT5 just says deal with it. Voice chat is obviously easier on Forza.

I feel that GT5 has more cars but Forza for what it has focuses on what it does have to optimize that experience. GT5 and Forza have some overlapping tracks.

Forza 4 and GT5 are sort of like sisters or bothers while GT5 is the older sister that’s super hot and sophisticated, Forza 4 is the more fun sister that is a bit more versatile in style. The deal breaker for many may be GT5′s license tests.

Simulation racing is not a genre that you see frequently competed over between gaming developers. Some may argue it’s due to lack of a strong following, others feel that the focus of console gaming is heavily dominated by first person shooters. Turn 10 and their newest labor of love Forza Motorsport 4 solely holds it’s own argument which is “WE GOT THIS, Don’t even bother”, leaving any developer pretty hard pressed to stand any chance of even being considered a rival for that spot. I try my best to avoid heavy words like “perfect”, yet at the same time anything below phenomenal when regarding this title and whats it’s brought to the table for simulation racers would be an understatement.

Just about anything you could put down in your wishlist for a great racer is not only met in Forza Motorsport 4 but in some cases overwhelmingly exceeded. From the start of the very first introduction race, players will be consumed by the photo realistic environment, the lively purr of the engine and attention to detail on every nook to cranny in the cement of the track, right to the dashboard and side/rear view mirrors of the car. The sensation is fast effecting and well enough to convince the player they are no longer playing a video game and almost fearing the possible damages should they collide with another vehicle. The most impressive aspect of Forza’s immersion is that it’s a feeling that doesn’t die over time, instead it only gets better as you visit more locations with different day/night settings that can almost make any same track seem different and unlock other vehicles that each have very unique feels and control schemes than the last.

The presentation doesn’t take the wheel entirely here, a mistake most racers make, the real fun to be had is on the track and actually getting behind the wheel. Real life decisions have to be made when not only choosing which vehicle to drive but how you will control it as well. All factors from actual professional driving are well placed into the mechanics of the game such as the class rank of your car, acceleration, top speed, steering, tire strength, weight and even distribution of stress placed on the vehicle depending on how you handle turns at certain speeds. These spot on and game altering mechanic creates an ever lively feel that no race is the same and no track is to be treated as the next. Guidelines are in place for the less experienced gamers who may be turned off by such a heavy flurry of challenges, predetermined and fully customizable difficulties assist players in finding the perfect mix of settings to create an experience that’s not too overly challenging nor under their performance abilities.

If there was anything this title would need a helping hand from, it would be the soundtrack. Sadly, this is where Forza falls well beyond a mark short of anything worthy of praise, the music is boring and sometimes you almost forget anything is playing. Racers always benefit from a great soundtrack, I guess because it reflects how we all love our radios in the car, so if possible it’s highly suggested you plug in an MP3 player to the system although it may take away from some of the in-game audio, which standalone is great.

Community service was a focus of Turn 10 as online Car Clubs have been introduced for players who are interested in starting up their very own “clans” or groups as they would love to in real life, but may not have the resources or millions of dollars to play with. Creating or joining a car club allows you to unite with other players with similar interest of the sport or maybe just simply for the love of the game. Here you can not only participate in club races or show of your club tag in outside races, your also able to use your club as an audience for customizing, trading, buying and selling the many vehicles you will aquire throughout the single player career and driver bonus’.