So I’ve decided to go back and finish all the Forza career events and wanted a place to keep track of my thoughts. While I mostly enjoyed this career format, I did notice quite a few things that I felt could be improved and found a few of the events to be downright obnoxious and annoying. I also have some comments on the divisions themselves since that’s such a large part of the gameplay in this mode
These are my personal opinions on the Forza Cup, feel free to share yours as well. I’ll update this as I finish new events with my thoughts.
This will be a LONG post, so get ready…
Seeker Championship
Modern Hot Hatch
This is a great starting division. Also, it feels like the Modern Hot Hatch division really needs to be split in two like it is in FH3. The Ford Focus RS, Golf R, Mercedes A45 AMG and the like are really in their own division above the more traditional FWD hot hatches like the Ford Focus/Fiesta ST, Golf GTI (if it was in the game), Hyundai Veloster, etc.
Forza Trophy Trucks
Why are these in a tarmac circuit racer? It feels like Microsoft marketing wanted as many cars as possible at launch for their sales pitch, so they ported these over from FH3 with little regard to how they fit in with the rest of the game. Even the description for the event mentions stadiums instead of tarmac. If we had dirt stadium events these trucks would be awesome, but as it stands right now these trucks aren’t particularly fun to drive on the tracks. Especially since the homologation rules forbids mounting appropriate racing tires.
Polaris RZR Spec
This is, IMHO, the single worst event/division in the entire game. In addition to my comments above regarding the suitability for off-road vehicles in a game with strictly tarmac, the Polaris RZR has an appalling default tune that makes it practically undriveable around corners with wheel lift, and while this can be partially fixed with an appropriate tune, homologation rules still forbid putting proper track tires on it. I wouldn’t mind seeing FM games put in go-karts so we can have buggy-sized vehicles, but a glorified ATV has no place in this game unless off-road tracks are added.
Historic Road Racing
This is a good fit for the first championship. A lot of people like classic muscle cars, and this lets them race them early on. The only thing that could potentially be improved is rethinking the division(s) a bit since it mixes in cars like the Daytona HEMI which is more of a race car with more traditional muscle cars. Many muscle cars also have been confusingly pushed off into Classic Street Muscle or Nostalgic Drag Racers. If there’s some logic to this, I’m not seeing it, but that generation of vehicles is also well before my time.
Rise of the Supercar
This is a good division, but it doesn’t feel like a good fit for the seeker championship. The cars for this division are 10x (or more) expensive than for the other events in this championship, so it feels like it should be pushed to a later championship.
Open Wheel Legends
Same comments as for Rise of the Supercar. Cars are very expensive for the Seeker Championship, and on top of that these cars are very difficult to drive even with assists. Feels like it should be pushed MUCH later.
Seeker Open
My comment here applies for all “Open” events. They are not really open, it’s a “choose your own division” event. I would have liked to see races like in the older Forza games where they give you a PI target, and that’s the only restriction. The seeker open could start with C or D class, and later open events could ramp up the PI.
Sport Touring Icons
This is another good fit for the seeker. Cars are relatively affordable and forgiving to drive, although I’m not sure why we have Sport Touring and Sport Touring Icons as separate divisions. Should be pushed to the regular Seeker championship instead of only unlocking once it’s elite.
Ultima 1020 Spec
As this is an elite race, I don’t have a problem with this particular event. Although I’m not sure why the Ultima 1020 qualifies as its own division instead of fitting in with other similar extreme track cars.
Seeker Open Elite
See my comments on Seeker Open.
Ken Block Ford Focus 1-On-1
Not a bad showcase, but I find it highly unlikely and immersion breaking that most players would be able to compete anywhere on the level of Ken Block. Would have been better to just have a nameless ghost instead of implying that you’re somehow able to beat this pro racer.
Top Gear Limo Bowling
It’s silly but fun, it’s a good fit for the seeker championship.
High-Speed Chase - Audi RS
Not a bad showcase, but feels a bit out of place in the seeker.
Endurace Racing - Nurburgring
I do not enjoy endurance races. I know other people do and I’m very glad for their sakes there’s a very long option for race length. Being forced to do one to get full completion of the seeker elite is NOT fun. At least I found out that putting everything on super easy effectively gives you autopilot so I could just use a rubber band on the controller.
Passing Challenge - Aston Martin Vulcan
This is a fun showcase, and fits in with the elite championship nicely.
Breakout Championship
Sport Compact
This is a fun division. It’s a good fit for the breakout, and would also fit in well in the seeker.
Modern SUV
Although I prefer to drive SUVs off-road, at least these vehicles generally are more comfortable on tarmac (although why is there an Escalade in there?). Good fit for the breakout championship.
Forza Touring
Another good fit for the breakout.
Mercedes-Benz Racing Truck Spec
I had a LOT more fun with this than I thought I would. The only problem I had is the somewhat high cost of the trucks for early in the game unless you’ve already learned that you can do longer races and use mod cards to radically increase earnings.
Formula E
Not a bad fit. These cars are more manageable than later in the game, and serve as a good introduction to formula racing.
Rally Heroes
Good event/division. I had a lot of fun with this.
Vintage Sport GT
Lots of fun in the races, but there’s only 4 cars total in the division. Some additional variety would be nice. Also noticed that the race was completely dominated by Lamborghini Muiras and Ferrari 365s, not sure if it’s just the AI but all the other models were so far back they were on the second page of the race results. I was driving an Alfa and didn’t have any trouble keeping up so I’m not sure what’s up with the AI.
Breakout Open
See my comments on the Seeker Open
Sport GT
Had fun with the races, but this really needs to be split up into at least two divisions. Right now we have a mix of modern muscle and proper sport gt cars. It’s strange to see a V12 Aston Martin Vantage in the same division as a Mustang or Challenger.
Breakout Open Elite
See my comments on the Seeker Open
Passing Challenge - Porsche 918 Spyder
Good showcase. Only comment is that the hypercar events don’t unlock until the last championship so this showcase slot could potentially be better filled with a showcase that rewards a car with more immediate use.
Moments in Motorsport - Open-Wheel Legends
I feel like this showcase was specifically designed to give players one of the open-wheel deathtraps so they could go back and do the race in the seeker championship. I don’t like this division of cars (although I understand why they’re in the game), this should probably be pushed later or replaced with a showcase that rewards a more immediately useful vehicle.
Endurance Racing - Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
See my comment on endurance racing above. At least this one is less than half the length of the other endurance events, and is about at the limits of my patience for such things. This is the only one I completed without autopilot.
Ford GT Hoonigan Autocross
Wouldn’t it make more sense to introduce autocross events with a slightly slower vehicle?
Ken Block Ford Raptor 1-On-1
See my comments on the first Ken Block event.
Sport Coupe
Good fit, although it could also be pushed earlier.
Forza Group Rally
Fun division, but I feel like we need some mud or dirt to drive these cars through.
Formula Ford Spec
[unfinished]
NASCAR
Fun event (mostly because it has a lot of ovals which the AI doesn’t do well with so easy credits).
Nostalgic Drag Racers
Didn’t really enjoy this. I guess these cars were singled out because they were good drag cars back in the day, but they’re terrible to drive around a track. If you’re going to do a drag division, then put some actual drag races in for it instead of throwing them on tight, small circuits. The one Nostalgic Drag Racers FE car that’s a championship award requires you to go 150mph to get the extra 20%, but absolutely none of the tracks in this series has a long enough straight for this.
Hot Hatch Genesis
Fun little division, could be pushed earlier.
Grand Prix
This event could be pushed a bit later. The cars are expensive and difficult to drive.
Early Protoype Racers
Lots of fun.
Evolution Open
See my comments on the Seeker Open.
Radical RXC Spec
Not sure why this car gets its own division. Kind of annoying to drive, especially in the rain.
Hot Hatch Icons
Why is this a separate division from Modern Hot Hatch? Otherwise lots of fun.
Early Sport Luxury
Nice cars, but it covers TWO DECADES of vehicles from the 80s to the early 2000s. Not sure an 80s luxury sports car could hold a candle to equivalent cars from the early 2000s. Feels like it should have been split up a bit more.
Evolution Open Elite
See my comments on the Seeker Open.
Factory Spec Racing - Porsche 911 GT1
I enjoyed this event and wish we had more showcases like this.
Top Gear Police Car Bowling
More fun bowling shenanigans.
Ford Bronco Hoonigan Autocross
Not sure a Ford Bronco really fits in with this game, or that it’s an appropriate vehicle for autocross.
High-Speed Chase - Mazda RX
You couldn’t think of a more interesting family of vehicles to do this with?
Sebring 300
See my comments on endurance racing above. Additionally, the Ford GT is annoying to drive (had to drive it manually out to the front of the pack).
Domination
Sport Touring
Fun division.
Modern Off-Roaders
Not as bad as I first feared, but still feels out-of-place. Take out some of the more hard-core vehicles and leave the road trucks and it’s not too bad. Also let us put racing tires on them.
Forza GT
Lots of fun.
Mazda MX-5 Cup Spec
Why is this car worthy of its own division instead of racing with the Forza Touring division?
Supercars Championship
Lots of fun.
Rebirth of Muscle
[unfinished]
Early Sport Touring
[unfinished]
Formula 70s
[unfinished]
Vintage GT Racing
[unfinished]
Domination Open
See my comments on the Seeker Open.
Hot Rod Revival
[unfinished]
Major Micros
Lots of fun, needs more cars that aren’t DLC.
Domination Open Elite
See my comment on the Seeker Open.
Ken Block Ford RS200 1-On-1
See my comment on the other Ken Block events. Nice car though.
Ford Fiesta Hoonigan Autocross
Why wasn’t this showcase used to introduce autocross?
Moments in Motorsport - Birth of Grand Prix Racing
Not a bad event, although those early racers are a pain to drive.
Endurance Racing - Le Mans Circuit de la Sarthe
See my comments on endurance racing above. Provided car isn’t particularly competitive with the rest of the pack and was passed on the straight on the first lap before the New Racer AI fell back far enough on the corners. I shudder to think of the AI’s power handicap kicking in on higher difficulties.
Passing Challenge - Ferrari FXX K
Lots of fun.
Masters Championship
Sport GT
Lots of fun, but some of the cars in this division (the Ferraris and McLarens) should really be in the supercars division.
Exotic GT
Lots of fun, but same problem as Sports GT with Aston Martin, Audi, Ford, Lamborghini and Porsche supercars that shouldn’t be in this division.
Forza P2
Lots of fun.
Formula Mazda Spec
Lots of fun, but doesn’t anyone else besides Mazda make a car for this type of racing? What about Formula Ford?
Indycar
Lots of fun.
Classic Street Muscle
How is this different from the other Muscle Car divisions again?
Sport Compact Icons
How is this different from Sport Compacts?
Off-Road Buggies
Has no place in this game. Terrible handling on tarmac circuits, and homologation rules won’t let me put appropriate tires on them. Put in stadium dirt tracks and then we’ll talk.
GT Racing Reborn
Lots of fun.
Sport Luxury
Lots of fun.
Masters Open
See my comments on the Seeker Open.
Radical SR8 Spec
Why is this car in its own division? Kind of annoying to drive.
Masters Open Elite
See my comments on the Seeker Open.
Ford SVT Cobra Hoonigan Autocross
Lots of fun.
Factory Spec Racing - Mercedes AMG CLK GTR
Lots of fun.
High-Speed Chase - Nissan Skyline
Who in their right mind puts FWD on a P1 racecar?!? Annoying to drive.
Moments in Motorsport - Vintage GT Racing
Lots of fun.
Passing Challenge - Lamborghini Veneo
Lots of fun.
Forza Driver’s Cup Championship
Hypercar
[unfinished]
Track Toys
Lots of fun, although it feels like we have two distinct types of vehicles rolled into one division here. The Lotus Elise and such would probably fit better somewhere else.
Forza GP
[unfinished]
Forza P1
[unfinished]
Ariel Nomad Spec
Why is this car in the game, much less worthy of its own division? If anything it should be put with the off-road buggies and dirt stadium tracks should be added. Bad combination of off-road handling and open wheels to snag other cars with.
Supercar Renaissance
[unfinished]
Showroom Rally
Lots of fun, but it feels like the rally divisions need a makeover. This is a jumbled mess of rally cars from the 70s through the 2000s.
Formula 90s
[unfinished]
Prototype Group Racing
[unfinished]
Vintage Sport Compact
Lots of fun.
Elite Factory Racers
Lots of fun, needs more cars.
Driver’s Cup Open
See my comments on the Seeker Open.
Driver’s Cup Open Elite
See my comments on the Seeker Open.
Porsche 911 High-Speed Chase
Lots of fun.
Ken Block Ford GT350R 1-On-1
See my comments on other Ken Block events. Also, how much did Ford pay you to promote their cars in this fashion?
Moments in Motorsport - GT Racing Reborn
Lots of fun, probably my favorite Moments in Motorsport event.
Top Gear Bowling - Baja Beetle
Why is this car in the game? It’s not even in a proper division. Would have been better with a different vehicle.
Factory Spec Racing - Ferrari F40 Competizione
Lots of fun. Probably my favorite factory spec racing showcase.
Level-Up Car Rewards
I should probably touch on this as well since it’s the primary way to obtain new vehicles to complete the events. I like how it only give you vehicles you don’t have (until you’ve unlocked all of them at least), but I do feel that the vehicle awards should be weighted towards classes that the player doesn’t have any vehicles in first before giving out repeat vehicles for other classes. For some of the divisions the vehicles are quite expensive, and find myself skipping events I don’t have vehicles for until I get one discounted/free from leveling up.
