If you listened to the Show a couple weeks ago, then you know my feelings on Forza Motorsport. I saw what looked like a potentially awesome game displayed at the Microsoft press event, only to be severely disappointed by the playable demo they had available on the event floor. The physics felt downright twisted, and the graphics looked awful. Well, thanks to Xbox Official Magazine, and their demo disc, I've had a chance to play an updated demo of Forza, and, while my general opinion of the game is much higher now, a select few things still bug me.
What I loved most: The sound. It's probably not the most technically advanced sound out there, but it's a dream come true for a car geek like me. I swear to you, I almost sprayed my shorts while doing doughnuts in an Evo 8. The four howling tires, the engine roaring near redline, I could barely contain myself. And there's more for me to delight in. Like, when out on the track, mild slip angle will yield a faint tone, while a good yank of the e-brake will create a symphony of wailing tires. Equally as symphonic is the exhaust note of some select cars, like the Evo 8 and Corvette ZO6. They're so good, I seriously consider switching to a manual transmission, just so I can maximize the aural pleasure of the downshifts.
I'd now like to name what I hated most…
…but I'll ask you to remember that it's a demo I'm talking about here. Both complains will probably be fixed in the retail version. Now then, I'll say that the load times were atrocious, and the upgrading system was insulting. Next to GTA: Vice City, these are some of the longest load times I've ever seen. Yes, I know it's a demo, on a disc packed with other demos, so access times aren't going to be great, but it's still irritating when trying to try out different cars, with different modifications. Speaking of modifications, I was really disappointed with the demo's method of modding. You simply said yes to the "Modify" option, and then the game proceeded to deck out your choice car with unnecessary wings, body kits, and extravagant paint jobs. Again, this is a demo, so I'm sure much more will be offered. But if there isn't some more involved tuning in the retail version, I'm going to be very pissed off.
What puzzled me the most: The physics. This is what bugged me the most at E3, and, while the overall physics have changed since then, there are still a few quirks. Take drifting, for example: Controlling a drift is a breeze, once into it, but getting there is somewhat of a mystery. The braking motions needed to produce a drift never seem to be consistent. And at the last corner at Leguna Seca, a slow, 90-degree right-hander. No matter what car, modded or otherwise, I always get sudden, severe oversteer while going through it. I'm not e-braking, and the speed going into it is completely reasonable. It's little things like these that stop the playing experience from being seamless and fun.
