POSTED 6/10/11


FORZA MOTORSPORT 4

Microsoft
Xbox 360

We’d like to welcome all the representatives of Gran Turismo’s fanboy community who’ve chosen to join us here at Gamesblip at this time. We hope you enjoy the show and remember people that no matter who you are and what you do to live, thrive and survive, there's still some things that make us all the same. You, me, Forza fans – everybody!

The fervour that envelops Forza vs GT debate’s a beautiful thing, just like Holden vs Ford. Even if overzealous, passion’s usually admirable – and it permeates every pixel of FM4.

Forza’s always looked more, erm, ‘hyper-real’ than its competition, but the FM3-to-FM4 visual leap’s astonishing. This is very pretty indeed, and playable be you neophyte or petrolhead thanks to adjustable assists. As for cars to play with, hundreds include everyday gruntbuggies to exxy exotics and V8 Supercars. Having owned some featured, little details aren’t always super-accurate – especially sonically - but enjoyment outweighs anally-retentive finickitiness.

Autovista’s showroominess alone will satiate some. Pick a car, drool, kick tyres and hear Jeremy Top Gear Clarkson’s opinions. Logic may say he’s a pompous git, but he’s an amusing pompous git, and adds heaps to proceedings – as does the Top Gear test track and the star of ‘Star in a Reasonably Priced Car’, the putt-putty Kia ce’ed. Compete to defeat Slack Bladder in such detail that you can almost discern rivets on the track’s perma-grounded 747.

Crucially, FM4’s super-smooth navigationally. GT5 had stunning stashes of stuff, but finding them was lucky dippy. Menus here are slick and logical, yet contain fucktonnes to explore.

Speaking of navigation, Kinect’s useable for ambling around Autovista and, super-effectively, for ‘head tracking’. Even if you almost go schnoz-smushy against the screen it works, allowing you to look around whilst racing. It sounds minor, but boosts realism hugemongously.

Horniest. Car porn. Ever. Even if we couldn’t find a Bluesmobile.

CLICK THIS!



CLICK THIS!