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Forza Horizon Review Thread

Phinor

Member
Good God, please not. The dynamic AI in FM4 was broken beyond belief and made the World Tour mode (ie the interesting career mode) pointless to play. AI seemed permanently set on Easy.

Indeed, the dynamic AI made Forza 4 almost unplayable because it didn't adjust properly, it was just always too slow.

In general AI is one of the biggest problems racing games have had for the whole generation. Too slow (for example Forza series), too fast, too stupid (Shift), too inconsistent (F1 series), too consistent, too much rubberbanding, not enough rubberbanding. Has anyone got it right in a console title in the past five years? Give me Simbin-style % slider and I'm good to go but sadly that won't happen because, well, you just can't have that in a console game.

One of the reasons based on the demo and reviews of Forza Horizon is that the races are too short so if you set the AI to hard or insane and have to start on the back row, you never have a proper chance to catch up the cars starting on the front row because the race is over in a minute or two. Using ramming tactics on corners helps a lot but some people prefer to drive clean. Now this is obviously not limited to Forza Horizon, it is a problem with many racing games.
 

Gowans

Member
This game looks unbelievable. I actually find it a little hard to believe this is running on a 360.

Between this and Halo 4 this Autumn it's amazing what the 360 can do so many years in.

Almost make a thread about it the other day after playing Horizon, can't wait for the DF tech analysis.
 

NinjaBoiX

Member
I always felt the same about test drive unlimited. The physics were sim enough.
The difference is, TDU's handling model was atrocious. As were its collision physics. And damage modelling.

Ugh, TDU 1&2 are two of the worst games this gen, thoroughly, thoroughly awful. What good is a driving game with terrible driving?
 

Mascot

Member
I've always got my ear to the ground :)
Good man..!
The adaptive AI in FM4 was a fantastic idea, badly implemented. It never worked and was never fixed. Do you know if it's being tweaked for FM5? If it performed as originally claimed it could be one of the best innovations in the series.
 

derFeef

Member
I watched the simracing guys review and they seem to have fun with the game. Also funny to see Jeff from giantbomb driving a Lambo (I think) in their multiplayer video ;)
 
I don't get the graphics praise this game is getting. I haven't played a lot of other racing games, but can anyone explain to me how it compares to other racing games?
 

saladine1

Junior Member
Liveries on AI cars is certainly an excellent idea.

If there's one thing I want from next gen racers, it's damn good AI. I really hope the devs come up with a breakthrough in regards to this often neglected aspect..
 

acm2000

Member
I don't get the graphics praise this game is getting. I haven't played a lot of other racing games, but can anyone explain to me how it compares to other racing games?

TDU x360 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dk0nV99Vtxo
TDU2 x360 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNApB8c3FvU
MNC:LA x360 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c82QLvECtIE (pure arcade)
Burnout Paradise x360 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dikcXs0NCo (pure arcade)
Driver: San Francisco x360 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Otqo7YkSlzE (pure arcade)
FUEL x360 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anWDwL_jODk (pure shit)
Wheelman x360 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21W42urjvqQ (pure lulz, unreal engine wat)
 

adamsapple

Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
I don't get the graphics praise this game is getting. I haven't played a lot of other racing games, but can anyone explain to me how it compares to other racing games?

Visually ? It's pretty good, personally I would say it's head and shoulder above other racing games on the 360 (visually). I would go as far as to say it's one of the best looking games on current console(s) period.
 
Visually ? It's pretty good, personally I would say it's head and shoulder above other racing games on the 360 (visually). I would go as far as to say it's one of the best looking games on current console(s) period.

One of, indeed. But I've read lots of comments along the lines of 'I can't beleive this is running 360'. I guess the visuals appear to be impressive because of the open world nature of the game.

I have to say though, I don't like the brown Codemasters™ glare all over the game.
 

acm2000

Member
One of, indeed. But I've read lots of comments along the lines of 'I can't beleive this is running 360'. I guess the visuals appear to be impressive because of the open world nature of the game.

I have to say though, I don't like the brown Codemasters™ glare all over the game.

piss filter™ is only during dusk, which is ok, since it should be piss filtered™ then, see here for example of non piss filtered ™ http://www.giantbomb.com/quick-look-forza-horizon/17-6675/
 
One of, indeed. But I've read lots of comments along the lines of 'I can't beleive this is running 360'. I guess the visuals appear to be impressive because of the open world nature of the game.

I have to say though, I don't like the brown Codemasters™ glare all over the game.

The visuals appear to be impressive, because it's pretty clean.

And the correct term for the Codemasters glare is "piss filter".
 
I dont get the complaints about the difficulty jump. I started on normal and switched to hard. Since switching to hard I only have come is second twice(both times because I crashed towards the end) but every other race I win no problem.
 

BADNED

Member
Has the song list been released yet?
Quite some time ago:

Horizon Bass Arena:
Levels (Skrillex Mix) - Avicii
Reckless (With Your Love) - Azari & III
Cinema (Skrillex Remix) - Benny Benassi
Blind Faith (feat. Liam Bailey) - Chase & Status
Hot Mess (feat Elly Jackson) (Duck Sauce Mix) - Chromeo
Encore - Digitalism
The Power (feat. Dizzee Rascal) - DJ Fresh
Silicone Lube - Feed Me
Lies (Alex Metric Remix) - Fenech-Soler
Icarus - Madeon
Show Me A Sign - Modestep
Lick The Rainbow - Mord Fustang
Remanence (Junior Remix) - Mr Magnetik
Me & You - Nero
Reaching Out (Fred Falke Remix) - Nero
Blue Monday - New Order
Language - Porter Robinson
Everyday (Netsky VIP Remix) - Rusko
Somebody to Love (Sigma Remix) - Rusko
The Hope - Scuba
Bass 4 - The Hacker
Illmerica (Extended Version) - Wolfgang Gartner

Horizon Pulse:
Need You Now - Cut Copy
Awake - Electric Guest
Walking on a Dream - Empire of the Sun
Iron Deer Dream (Chad Valley Remix) - Fixers
Don't Stop (Color on the Walls) - Foster The People
Hawaiian Air - Friendly Fires
Hurting - Friendly Fires
No Love - Hooray for Earth
Over & Over - Hot Chip
Black, White and Blue - Ladyhawke
Let Me Go - Maverick Sabre
Paddling Out - Miike Snow
Life is Life (Yuksek Remix) - Noah and the Whale
Take A Walk - Passion Pit
1901 - Phoenix
Bom Bom - Sam and the Womp
Disparate Youth - Santigold
Spirit of the Night - Tesla Boy
Pelican - The Maccabees
Punching in a Dream - The Naked & Famous
Aroused - Tom Vek
Something Good Can Work (The Twelves Remix) - Two Door Cinema Club
Yeah Yeah - Willy Moon

Horizon Rocks:
R U Mine - Arctic Monkeys
Lonely Boy - Black Keys
The Infected - Four Year Strong
Back of your Neck - Howler
Give It Up - LCD Soundsystem
Bring Em Down - Lostprophets
We Bring An Arsenal - Lostprophets
Teenager - Mona
Animal - Neon Trees
Wildfire, Smoke & Doom - Pulled Apart By Horses
Lazy Eye - Silversun Pickups
Surrender - The Duke Spirit
Away from Here - The Enemy
Had Enough - The Enemy
Hate To Say I Told You - The Hives
She Bangs The Drums - The Stone Roses
Rock n Roll Queen - The Subways
Motoring - TOY
Bug - Wavves
Farewell to the Fairground - White Lies
Bite My Tongue (feat. Oli Sykes) - You Me At Six
Get Away - Yuck
 

Bedlam

Member
Seriously bummed out about the rubberband AI. :(

I didn't read up much on this game yet and just found out about it. Not good. I definitely noticed it in the short intro race against the "bad dude" in the demo but I thought it was an exception for the sake of the game's narrative or something.

Also, I hope I can edit those playlists. Some of these songs (Rock n' Roll Queen) and bands (Hives) are so grossly overplayed, I don't want to listen to them anymore....ever.
 
Seriously bummed out about the rubberband AI. :(

I didn't read up much on this game yet and just found out about it. Not good. I definitely noticed it in the short intro race against the "bad dude" in the demo but I thought it was an exception for the sake of the game's narrative or something.

Also, I hope I can edit those playlists. Some of these songs (Rock n' Roll Queen) and bands (Hives) are so grossly overplayed, I don't want to listen to them anymore....ever.

That Ferrari better catch that Viper.
 

Mascot

Member
Blimey. I just realised I actually like a few of those dubstep tracks. I just didn't know what they were called.
(Modestep's "Show Me a Sign" has an awesome video. Google it)
 

saladine1

Junior Member
I didn't even know what dubstep was until very recently. Honestly, it was Horizon where I actually listened to a full dubstep song (the one Mascot's referring to).

I think I'll just stick to my Bach and Schubert..
 

Snubbers

Member
Seriously bummed out about the rubberband AI. :(

I didn't read up much on this game yet and just found out about it. Not good. I definitely noticed it in the short intro race against the "bad dude" in the demo but I thought it was an exception for the sake of the game's narrative or something.

Also, I hope I can edit those playlists. Some of these songs (Rock n' Roll Queen) and bands (Hives) are so grossly overplayed, I don't want to listen to them anymore....ever.

I don't give two hoots about rubber-band AI, on 'insane', it's a challenge.. that's all I care about..

And I've not noticed any severe rubber-banding on that level either, if it is, it's subtle..

I only dislike rubber-band AI if they defy the laws of physics you are being bound to, if they have some small slow down if you get miles behind, I'm OK with that..
 

HeliosT10

Member
Seriously bummed out about the rubberband AI. :(

I didn't read up much on this game yet and just found out about it. Not good. I definitely noticed it in the short intro race against the "bad dude" in the demo but I thought it was an exception for the sake of the game's narrative or something.

Also, I hope I can edit those playlists. Some of these songs (Rock n' Roll Queen) and bands (Hives) are so grossly overplayed, I don't want to listen to them anymore....ever.

I've spoken to the devs about this, and can confirm that rubberbanding is present ONLY in the initial race right at the start of the game with Darius. This is just an intro sequence with deliberate rubberbanding for effect though – the races DON’T have rubberbanding.
 

acm2000

Member
I've spoken to the devs about this, and can confirm that rubberbanding is present ONLY in the initial race right at the start of the game with Darius. This is just an intro sequence with deliberate rubberbanding for effect though – the races DON’T have rubberbanding.

sit down, drop your pants, and prepare to be milked, for you sir, are a manly god man type man
 

p3tran

Banned
Polygon isn't alone anymore!

That should make Phil feel a little bit better :)
Thanks to a sloppy handling model, it lacks the precision required of its predecessor, so sim racers will probably struggle with the controls.


??? Uhh....

I think that aside of forza 3/4, horizon has the best handling on the platform.
If somebody has other opinion, please mention the game.

ok, I will give the reviewer maybe one point for his considerations about the removal of mechanical damage, even as an option.
still, this we will have to see... in forza 4 lobbies I have had races with damage off, it was very playable, and however did shit was voted/kicked at the end of the race.

but in any case, if the T10 codebase is shared as we where told it is, either the inclusion of mechanical damage, or the "insane" driving model (copy/paste from f4), probably could be only a patch away.

I can understand a non-racing fan review that goes as low as 80%. Any lower than this and I disagree. Unless of course, there is somewhere within the game a serious flaw, that everybody has failed to mention yet :)
 

noiseman

Neo Member
This game looks gorgeous. Does anyone know if there is a way to turn off or remove the neverending line of guide arrows on the road that show the "optimal route"? They are such a distraction to me. Thanks,
 
This game looks gorgeous. Does anyone know if there is a way to turn off or remove the neverending line of guide arrows on the road that show the "optimal route"? They are such a distraction to me. Thanks,

If I'm not mistaken, those lines aren't show you the route. They're optimal speed lines, showing you when to lay off the gas, when to brake hard, and when to put the pedal to the metal. When you have a destination selected on your map, those lines are obviously going to lead you to your destination. Turn off that assist and the lines should go away.
 
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