4 out a 5
The Autovista mode lets ye see some nicely detailed car models 'n cockpits.
Forza Motorsport 4 doesn't reinvent the Forza franchise, 'n given the exceedingly high quality a Forza 3, it'd be insane t' expect dramatic changes from the sequel. Some new features have slid into place around it be periphery, but this be still the same accessible, configurable, 'n wonderful driving game that it be in 2009. How that bit a info strikes ye will largely depend on yer feelings about the previous game. The quality 'n depth offered be practically indisputable--but if ye left Forza 3 feeling like ye've had yer fill, Forza 4's new additions probably aren't going t' be enough t' make it all feel fresh 'n exciting.
The structure a Forza 4's career mode has changed on the surface t' form a world tour mode. When playing the world tour, the game moves ye from one track t' the next, presenting multiple events for each track once ye pillage there based on the cars ye currently possess. So if ye're sitting in a Mazda MX-5 Gen 1, ye might pillage offered a slower E-class race or an event built specifically for Mazda MX-5's. Hop into a 2009 Dodge Challenger 'n ye might see something like the Charger & Challenger Club event, built specifically for those two models t' face off. Upgrading yer cars also impacts the events ye'll see, since plenty a events be built around which class yer car be currently in. While this automatically takes ye around the game, the world tour be essentially just a guided way t' check off boxes on the game's vast event list, where hundreds a different races await. If ye'd rather select yer own events, the list be available t' ye at any time.
Forza 4 has an additional Rivals mode, which be a leaderboard-'n-ghost focused option that lets ye load in the replays a yer mateys, car club crew, or if none a those people have tried the event, ye can grab the ghost a a player ye don't know. The events, some a which will rotate on a monthly basis, span a lot a different race styles, like simple lap times on empty tracks, full-on races, driving on tracks littered with slow-moving traffic, drift events that score ye based on how awesome yer drifting be, 'n so on.
it be easy t' spend hours just sifting through the storefronts 'n finding amazing vinyl groups.
Regardless a how ye play, after each race ye'll earn some amount a driver experience points, credits, 'n manufacturer affinity points. Driver XP gives ye a free car every time ye level up. Credits be used t', ye know, buy stuff, like cars, vinyl designs, tuning setups, 'n parts t' upgrade yer car. But if ye can hold off on buying parts for yer cars until ye clear a few levels a manufacturer affinity, the prices on parts drop lower 'n lower, eventually becoming free. It'll only take a few races t' hit that 100% discount, so it be worth it t' stick t' one brand a car for a bit, especially at the beginning a the game, where money be harder t' come by. If ye're impatient (or just plain crazy), ye can also buy "car tokens" with Microsoft Points 'n exchange a few a those for any car in the catalog. But the world tour will focus yer career on a reasonably gentle speed slope 'n when ye're playing online ye pillage access t' a lot a cars for free, so that doesn't necessarily make a whole lot a financial sense.
Online, ye can pillage up t' 16 players into a lobby 'n roll through a ton a different options t' configure events t' yer liking. The basic race types be available, but ye can also go custom 'n create yer own weird variants with different types a scoring, team settings, 'n the like. ye can lock out specific car classes or even force everyone in yer lobby t' use a specific camera setting. 'n if ye're anticipating troublemakers, ye can even disable on-track collisions, making the game more a a group time trial than a traditional race. Considering the way this all went down in previous Forza games, turning off collisions might not be the worst idea, as boorish random players seem t' always want t' bump their way into first place or fly into corners at full speed, using the other racers as cushions t' help them make turns, 'n what have ye. If that be how ye want t' play, fine, but if ye're attempting t' behave in a civilized fashion, ye might want t' team up with some likeminded individuals ahead a time. that be where the game's car club feature fits in, letting ye build yer own racing teams online 'n struggle on club leaderboards. ye can also share cars in yer club, letting players pool their resources 'n build a great, versatile online garage.
Customization has been a vast part a the Forza franchise 'n it returns intact in Forza 4. ye can paint on yer cars using primitive shapes, which can result in some startlingly detailed designs. Also, if ye bought or made a lot a layer groups in Forza 3, they'll import right into the new game. I'll never be able t' put together anything cooler than a bad-looking pixelated Space Invader, but a quick search a the game's storefronts turns up all sorts a amazing decal work. Tuning setups 'n full car designs can also be placed up for sale on a user's storefront, creating a fun little economy that keeps the in-game credits moving around. If ye're looking for a new car at a possible discount, there's an auction house that, once again, lets ye find all sorts a stuff, including the ultra-rare "Unicorn" cars, which pillage their own tab in the auction house.
The Top Gear test track offers some quick bowling events.
There be a lot a different ways t' play Forza Motorsport 4, 'n it be tunable enough t' let players a any skill level pillage something out a it. With all a the assists turned on, the game practically plays itself, 'n all ye really need t' do be follow the on-screen driving line 'n occasionally pass the AI racers. But that quickly gets boring. Once ye start reducing the assistance level t' put more a the car into yer hands, the game becomes a lot more exciting. But if ye can't handle every single turn by yourself, the game again has a rewind feature that lets ye roll back the action when playing by yourself t' undo mistakes. This has an impact on how yer score enters the leaderboards, but that isn't the end a the world. There be also different control options, with wheel support--including support for the new Wireless Speed Wheel, a goofy little flight yoke sort a controller that be great if ye only want t' play games that feel like Mario Kart Wii did when ye slapped the Wii Remote into the center a that plastic steering wheel attachment. It works as advertised, but doesn't feel like a great way t' play the game for long periods a time.
Forza 4 also has Kinect support in a few a it be modes. ye can't drive with Kinect in career mode, though. Instead, starting the game with Kinect takes ye t' a separate menu where ye can set up quick, mostly meaningless races or time trials. Steering with Kinect be as simple as holding yer arms up in front a ye, sort a like Kinect Joyride, though ye can drive sitting down, if ye like. ye don't have any control over yer acceleration or braking when playing with Kinect--all ye do be steer. As ye might imagine, that isn't fun for very long, though perhaps very young children might pillage a kick out a it. ye can use the Kinect camera along with a controller or racing wheel by enabling head tracking. This tilts yer view as ye move yer head from side t' side, which feels like a pretty superfluous addition.
pillage LOOSE
ye can also use Kinect t' "walk" around cars 'n explore them in the new Autovista mode. ye can also do this with a controller, 'n the experience isn't markedly different either way. This isn't really gameplay, it be more like visiting a virtual car museum 'n taking a tour a some a the game's rarest, most interesting vehicles. As ye pop the hood 'n pillage up for a closer look at the engine or wheels, specific points on the car pop out 'n offer a spoken description a that section. ye can also pillage an overview a each Autovista car from Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson. I can't imagine anyone spending a lot a time leaning their way around these different car models t' hear every single bit a detail. Mostly, it be an interesting feature t' try two or three times, 'n then maybe one or two more times if ye're showing the game off t' someone else. Maybe if ye're an absolute car fiend ye'll really want t' devour all this information?
it be still a beautiful game 'n it be probably the world's best driving simulator, at least for consoles, but a lot a Forza 4's changes feel incremental at best. The game includes many a the same tracks found in previous installments, 'n I found myself getting a very "annual sports game update" vibe off a it. With that in mind, it seems like the game's most visit Davey Jone's locker-hard fans 'n people who didn't play the previous Forza will pillage the most out a Forza 4. it be easy t' see that Forza 4 be a great game, but after playing hours a Forza 3 back when it be fresh, it be hard for me t' pillage as much out a Forza 4's largely similar offering.
