Forza Motorsport 4 Game Review

I’ve been a driving game fan since video games came out. Driving and racing games are the one type of game I can play anytime and have fun. Since making the switch from PC to Xbox 360 I’ve collected the best racing games available. I have a better choice of racing games for the Xbox 360 than I did for the PC.

When I bought my Xbox 360 I knew I wanted to get a racing wheel and try games that are not available for the PC. I posted about my driving set up and driving games in A day at the virtual races. This post is about one of the best Xbox 360 racing games out, Forza Motorsport 4. Being a new Xbox 360 user this is the first Forza game I have played. I can’t compare Forza Motorsport 4(FM4) to the earlier versions since I have not played them. After playing FM4 I see no reason to go back and play them. As much as I love racing games, I’m not a virtual mechanic needing to have every customization option around. I love to race. My personal racing taste lies in between arcade and simulation with a slight tilt toward simulation. I like to have enough control that my decision make or break the race. I’m not a fan of gas and smash racing.

FM4 was the first new racing game I purchased for the Xbox 360. I try to pick up racing games at a shop that sells used CDs and games. After playing the demo several times, FM4 seemed like a must buy for a racing fan like myself. As I stated before, I’m not a die-hard racer that needs to tighten every bolt in a car game. I want enough options so I can drive like I feel my decisions effect the outcome. This review comes from the standpoint that I want enough options to tweak things a bit, but overall I want a fun racing game. If it’s not fun to race, it doesn’t matter how detailed it is does it?

The most important thing is I want the ability to use my Microsoft force feedback wheel with a racing game! Let’s get on with the Forza Motorsports 4 review!

Graphics and Sound

This is a beautiful game. When I first played the demo I was surprised at the graphic quality. This is coming from a long time PC gamer. The biggest difference between a PC game and any Xbox 360 game are the dreaded jaggies, those broken lines seen in many console video games. Jaggies or not, this is a great looking racing game. Everything from the reflections to the lighting is top-notch and add to the realism of racing. Colors are bright and animations smooth. FM4 is one of the best looking racing games on the Xbox 360.

The sound is equally amazing. The sound for my gaming setup consists of a Sony 5.1 Surround Sound system. FM4 utilizes Digital Dolby and really adds to the racing experience. Everything from the motor sounds to screeching tires sound great.

Game play

Forza 4 is just dam fun to drive with a force feedback wheel. I’ve used the controller and if you’ve never used a force feedback wheel you don’t know what you’re missing! There’s a range of vehicles and tracks to race. I’m at level 22 and have driven about 45 races so far. The tracks have a nice range of technical skill to them and some of the tougher ones I’ve found myself using the rewind feature of Forza 4. I try not to use the rewind but it has saved my butt a few times on that final lap. I’m having a blast with Forza Motorsport 4!

Game play is fun and simple. Drivers receive credits based on their performance and with the credits they can buy new cards or upgrade their existing car fleet. You can get affinity points from car manufacturers and receive discounts on parts as well as other benefits for car brand loyalty. The A.I resembles human racers because I’ve seen some pretty aggressive racing styles as well as common mistakes. It’s nice not to have the other drivers kick your butt while making no mistakes. They are prone to making the same mistakes I am. I’ve won at least one race where the 1st place A.I. car took a corner too fast and spun out. Good A.I. in a racing game lends itself to a true multiplayer experience. I have yet to play multiplayer but then I never really have when playing racing games.

I tried the Kinect option which tracks your head when you are driving but found it too distracting. I’d have to turn my head beyond what I normally would to get the Kinect to sense it. The best ‘first person’ racing I have ever experienced is still Need for Speed: Shift 2 Unleashed.

The cons of Forza 4

The only cons for me so far is no night-time racing and no weather effects. Would either of these stop me from playing Forza 4? Hell no:)

Final thoughts on Forza Motorsports 4

I really enjoy Forza 4 racing game. It has great visuals and sounds and solid game play. There are both free and paid downloadable cars you can get for the game. There are options I have not fully explored yet such as Rivals Mode and Car Clubs. Now that it has been out for a while it’s price has gone down. I highly recommend Forza Motorsports 4 racing game for the Xbox 360!

Forza 4 has a great selection of cars. I’ve been able to relive a bit of my youth by driving several cars in the game that I had in real life. I had a 72 Chevelle, 69 Mustang and a 74 Firebird. It was cool to drive the Chevelle, Mustangs and Firebirds in the game. New car packs come out often so one day your favorite cars could be added to the game! Get Forza 4 if you’re a racing fan, you’ll love it!

Forza Motorsport 4

Rating: List Price: $29.99 Sale Price: $23.54? (as of 06/08/2013 03:20 UTC - Details) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Product Description

Forza Motorsport, the highest rated racing franchise of this generation, makes its return to the race track in Fall 2011 with Forza Motorsport 4.

Details

• Genre-defining.
• Controller-based racing.
• The power and freedom of Kinect.
• Content from leading brands like Top Gear to create an automotive experience unlike anything before it.