Review: Forza Motorsport 4

Forza Motorsport 4 is finally here and its sure to make a splash. Compared to its main competitor, Gran Turismo, we’ve been seeing a new Forza game every couple of years it seems. Usually when we see frequent iterations in a franchise its disappointing, and we see a lot of repetition without much novelty so there was some concern with this title. Would it bring something new to the table or be a rehash of the last game?

Well the verdict is in; Its clearly bringing us something new, not just a mere patch or title update. Is clear when you start this game up that its really at the forefront of racing games. Its so sharp and beautiful that you’d be shocked to compare it to Forza 2 or even 3, both running on the same hardware amazingly. It even runs at an silky smooth 60 frames per second to top it off.

The title has partnered with BBC’s Top Gear too which seems like a match made in heaven. It seems like they’re really playing off each other to turn the most casual observer into active car fans, and let the most hard-core car fanatics dive deeper into their hobby than ever before.

The presentation of the game really emphasises this with much more announcement and guidance through the dynamic career mode which seems to have been engineered to be all things to all players. It is tremendously accessible without sacrificing any hardcode simulation credibility at all. Somehow this game exists on both ends of the racing spectrum.

The audio is mostly great with the cars sounding fantastic. The only problem I have is with the in-game music. In the menu screens the music is good but when you’re racing its horrible. That isn’t to say it just isn’t my preferred style in music. No. It is actually irritating and jarring. I found turning off the in-game music made racing a much more enjoyable experience, instead of the engine noises competing with the cymbal-heavy soundtrack creating a tinny cacophony.

The career mode is very rich and deep, and it tailors itself to what you prefer to do. If you like a certain type of event or car, it will start to present you with that sort of challenge and really tailor itself to your interests. You’re never stuck for something to do or forced into events you hate.

Of course, being a Forza Motorsport title, it has over 400 detailed cars, with amazing customization and community options. The new Auto vista mode lets you explore some of them in amazing detail, showing how this game goes beyond just racing to really let you explore this hobby. You’ll probably spend (and enjoy) as much time off the track as on it in Forza 4, being able to walk away knowing a thing or two about cars. Not many driving games can say that.

Overall the game is phenomenal once you sit down with it and can sink your teeth into it. Even if you don’t love cars, you’ll surely be able to find something here to enjoy. Even if you have all the previous Forza titles, as I do, you’ll find this one fresh and exciting. This is the car game for everyone. It’s the best arcade racer. It’s the best racing simulation. It’s the best way to explore the world of cars. It’s the best way to try and beat the Stig on the Top Gear test track.