GH Review: Forza 2 Motorsport - Xbox 360

Zardon · May 30, 2007, 12:20 PM

Read The Review Here
__________________________

Much has been said about Forza Motorsport 2, and the challenge it will pose to the massively successful Project Gotham Racing 3. To be fair, there are distinct differences between both titles, with Forza 2 being extremely focused on the cars. If you are fanatical about cars then Forza is sure to get you turned on.

JohnDoe47 · May 30, 2007, 01:04 PM

WickedSick!

Will read the review now, probably the only reason I would get an Xbox 360

bananaman · May 30, 2007, 10:31 PM

good review.

Cant wait to get this game, just angry it is delayed here in the UK...

HAve been loving the demo and with the wheel it is driving bliss

mainman · Jun 1, 2007, 07:26 AM

Just one correction. Driver region selection upon starting a new career was present in Forza 1. Other then that great review and i can't wait for the game to hit here!

Customgamer1 · Jun 7, 2007, 04:39 PM

This is one amazing game! I give it a 9 out of 10 stars! The MP is what really makes it and I have been waiting for this game for a long time!

I just bought the wireless wheel and the racing chair from playseats off eaby! I should finish this project soon and maybe post a few pics of my set up once I am done!!!

bananaman · Jun 7, 2007, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Customgamer1

This is one amazing game! I give it a 9 out of 10 stars! The MP is what really makes it and I have been waiting for this game for a long time!

I just bought the wireless wheel and the racing chair from playseats off eaby! I should finish this project soon and maybe post a few pics of my set up once I am done!!!

I wish I could get a seat, just got no space at the mo :/

Keep us updated with pics!

check this out:

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/sho...php?t=17729898

sweet set up

Customgamer1 · Jun 8, 2007, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bananaman

I wish I could get a seat, just got no space at the mo :/

Keep us updated with pics!

check this out:

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/sho...php?t=17729898

sweet set up

Well that takes care of my pics lol.

I have that same seat! I loved that color when I saw it on amazon and it looks even better when you get it to your house! You can adjust everything and find the perfect spot for everything. The seat is also of nice quality and everything seems like it was built good and will not fall apart any time soon! That wireless wheel is also cool but you need to plug it in to get it to do the force feedback...

I just game on a 32" HD LCD tv. No projector for me.

Lelisevis · Jun 14, 2007, 11:17 PM

Damn, i've been watching and waiting for this game for years, took my cash down to the store today and was just about to pick up a copy when I noticed they had it running on one of the machines. I picked up a controller, chose the Integra DC2 and was instantly struck by how jagged and rough the car models looked. Racing was fun (though I noticed even though they dedicated an article to it on the site they still havent managed to get a realistic Vtec sound or feel) but I kept finding myself distracted by the jaggies. I'm sad to say that I don't think I could live with it and ended up putting it back on the shelf. I'm extremely disappointed

Sandok · Jun 14, 2007, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lelisevis

Damn, i've been watching and waiting for this game for years, took my cash down to the store today and was just about to pick up a copy when I noticed they had it running on one of the machines. I picked up a controller, chose the Integra DC2 and was instantly struck by how jagged and rough the car models looked. Racing was fun (though I noticed even though they dedicated an article to it on the site they still havent managed to get a realistic Vtec sound or feel) but I kept finding myself distracted by the jaggies. I'm sad to say that I don't think I could live with it and ended up putting it back on the shelf. I'm extremely disappointed

Agreed, the jaggies sorta ruin it for me too... I love the FPS and the cars and all, but I'd almost rather buy a PS3 and GT5 when it comes out in the end...

Zardon · Jun 15, 2007, 09:22 AM

and yet you can happily live with less than smooth frame rates in a racing game at 20-30fps?

I don't know guys, I always notice jaggies on xbox 360 games, they can't raise the AA high enough, and its either always 0aa or 2aa. I mean I was playing call of juarez and it is in serious need of 8aa on a 52 inch screen.

I think its just part of the console package, sure they have the resolution now, but it will be the next generation before they can apply huge AA, which is unfortunate but ive managed to tune it out somewhat (after all when you are moving around you don't tend to notice a lack of AA as much as you would studying screenshots on a webpage). If I want high AA and the ultimate quality I fire up the PC.

Sandok · Jun 15, 2007, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zardon

and yet you can happily live with less than smooth frame rates in a racing game at 20-30fps?

I don't know guys, I always notice jaggies on xbox 360 games, they can't raise the AA high enough, and its either always 0aa or 2aa. I mean I was playing call of juarez and it is in serious need of 8aa on a 52 inch screen.

I think its just part of the console package, sure they have the resolution now, but it will be the next generation before they can apply huge AA, which is unfortunate but ive managed to tune it out somewhat (after all when you are moving around you don't tend to notice a lack of AA as much as you would studying screenshots on a webpage). If I want high AA and the ultimate quality I fire up the PC.

The reason I can live with 25 FPS is because for many years, I've only had that on PC... Oblivion ran at 25 FPS, HL-2 did when I first played it, Company of Heroes, Supreme Commander, GRAW, etc have always run at such pathetic frames on my PC and as a result, I guess I'm "used" to it and don't mind it anymore. There was a time when anything below 60 got me angry but nowadays, I just couldn't care anymore... Good thing or bad, I don't know.

The thing is, in most games AA is not easily noticable (Kameo and Perfect Dark have horrible AA levels but as you said, in motion you don't really notice it). However, in a car game I find it really sticks out, showing the jaggies that are way to prominent. PGR3 also has this problem which I find sad, but again, that's just me and my personal tastes

Personally, I'd prefer 25fps + no jaggies > 60 fps + jaggies.

Zardon · Jun 15, 2007, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandok

The reason I can live with 25 FPS is because for many years, I've only had that on PC... Oblivion ran at 25 FPS, HL-2 did when I first played it, Company of Heroes, Supreme Commander, GRAW, etc have always run at such pathetic frames on my PC and as a result, I guess I'm "used" to it and don't mind it anymore. There was a time when anything below 60 got me angry but nowadays, I just couldn't care anymore... Good thing or bad, I don't know..

A FPS or RTS running at 25-30fps is in no way comparible to a racing game running at the same frame rate. Thats certainly my view on it. If I had a racing game running at 25fps on the PC I would immediately alter the settings to either lower the AA/resolution. I guess everyone is different, however 6 or 7 friends have been over and they all agree that Colin McRae not only runs very poor but it plays very poorly, from the handling to the physics. In fact if it was only a slightly sluggish frame rate i would accept it, but its not. I still can't believe it got scores of up to 90 percent on some sites.

Nonetheless you seem very keen to point out you don't care if a game runs at sub 25fps, if it looks awesome you are happy. This is certainly the opposite to what I feel with racing games, it needs to be smooth or the whole experience is ruined. With PC games I want it all, but with consoles im more than happy for the game to run smoothly and play well than have a ton of eye candy which slows it down and ruins the immersiveness. Sometimes you can get it all if its coded extremely well, but with CMD that is certainly not the case. I think if they had killed the overuse of HDR in parts it might have helped.

I agree with you about the graphics in PGR3, they needed more AA, but I overlooked it because it played so well in multiplayer and the controls and vehicle physics worked fairly well.

SFOSOK · Jun 16, 2007, 12:26 AM

Ok...so I'm trying to figure out if I should buy Forza 2. I read the article, played the demo but I'm still not sure. I liked the first after I got into it and I'm just wondering what the new one has to offer. Besides 300 cars.

Lelisevis · Jun 16, 2007, 07:39 PM

Well i'd just like to add that maybe my initial thoughts may have been a bit off the mark. It works something like this, the trouble with those booths in the game stores is that your about 1 foot from the screen, I still believe that at this sort of distance this is one pig ugly game but then again who plays this close to the screen? Using my fiancee as a somewhat unwilling assistant I fired up the single player and had her rather amusingly try to race, this time however I stood back at my usual gaming distance of about 8 foot and the game looked amazing.
The moral off the story is when you demo a game in a store ignore the graphics completely and try to stand at your usual gaming distance. I guess sitting 1 foot from a 24 inch computer screen running two 8800GTS in SLI throws your comparables all to bits.

May 30, 2007, 12:20 PM	#1
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 179	GH Review: Forza 2 Motorsport - Xbox 360 Read The Review Here __________________________ Much has been said about Forza Motorsport 2, and the challenge it will pose to the massively successful Project Gotham Racing 3. To be fair, there are distinct differences between both titles, with Forza 2 being extremely focused on the cars. If you are fanatical about cars then Forza is sure to get you turned on.

May 30, 2007, 10:31 PM	#3
bananaman banana muncher Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: London Posts: 1,254 Rep Power: 64	good review. Cant wait to get this game, just angry it is delayed here in the UK... HAve been loving the demo and with the wheel it is driving bliss __________________

Jun 7, 2007, 04:39 PM	#5
Customgamer1 Fell off the tech wagon Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,273 Rep Power: 74 System Specs	This is one amazing game! I give it a 9 out of 10 stars! The MP is what really makes it and I have been waiting for this game for a long time! I just bought the wireless wheel and the racing chair from playseats off eaby! I should finish this project soon and maybe post a few pics of my set up once I am done!!! __________________ Asus Laptop: 2.5 Intel Core 2 Duo, 4gigs DDR 2, Windows 7 64bit! Windows 7 > OSX!

Jun 16, 2007, 12:26 AM	#13
SFOSOK 939 Goin Strong Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Ontario Posts: 7,033 Rep Power: 90 System Specs	Ok...so I'm trying to figure out if I should buy Forza 2. I read the article, played the demo but I'm still not sure. I liked the first after I got into it and I'm just wondering what the new one has to offer. Besides 300 cars. __________________ Warning - Explicit Content Preceeding METAL!!

May 30, 2007, 01:04 PM	#2
JohnDoe47 HardwareHeaven Addict Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 319 Rep Power: 0	WickedSick! Will read the review now, probably the only reason I would get an Xbox 360

Jun 1, 2007, 07:26 AM	#4
mainman Mr. Nobody Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: OmniPresent Nightwatcher Posts: 5,961 Rep Power: 71	Just one correction. Driver region selection upon starting a new career was present in Forza 1. Other then that great review and i can't wait for the game to hit here!

Jun 14, 2007, 11:17 PM	#8
Lelisevis Howlin at the moon Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,663 Rep Power: 0	Damn, i've been watching and waiting for this game for years, took my cash down to the store today and was just about to pick up a copy when I noticed they had it running on one of the machines. I picked up a controller, chose the Integra DC2 and was instantly struck by how jagged and rough the car models looked. Racing was fun (though I noticed even though they dedicated an article to it on the site they still havent managed to get a realistic Vtec sound or feel) but I kept finding myself distracted by the jaggies. I'm sad to say that I don't think I could live with it and ended up putting it back on the shelf. I'm extremely disappointed

Jun 15, 2007, 09:22 AM	Thread Starter #10
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 179	and yet you can happily live with less than smooth frame rates in a racing game at 20-30fps? I don't know guys, I always notice jaggies on xbox 360 games, they can't raise the AA high enough, and its either always 0aa or 2aa. I mean I was playing call of juarez and it is in serious need of 8aa on a 52 inch screen. I think its just part of the console package, sure they have the resolution now, but it will be the next generation before they can apply huge AA, which is unfortunate but ive managed to tune it out somewhat (after all when you are moving around you don't tend to notice a lack of AA as much as you would studying screenshots on a webpage). If I want high AA and the ultimate quality I fire up the PC.

Jun 16, 2007, 07:39 PM	#14
Lelisevis Howlin at the moon Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,663 Rep Power: 0	Well i'd just like to add that maybe my initial thoughts may have been a bit off the mark. It works something like this, the trouble with those booths in the game stores is that your about 1 foot from the screen, I still believe that at this sort of distance this is one pig ugly game but then again who plays this close to the screen? Using my fiancee as a somewhat unwilling assistant I fired up the single player and had her rather amusingly try to race, this time however I stood back at my usual gaming distance of about 8 foot and the game looked amazing. The moral off the story is when you demo a game in a store ignore the graphics completely and try to stand at your usual gaming distance. I guess sitting 1 foot from a 24 inch computer screen running two 8800GTS in SLI throws your comparables all to bits.