Hi guys,
My name is Gabriel. I’m from Portugal.
It’s the first time I post here, but I’ve been so excited about the new Forza 6 that I wanted to share my thoughts on it. I read the forums occasionally, but not as often as I’d like. Maybe that’ll change now…
I just got my Xbox One a few days ago, and of course, the first game I played was Forza 6 - That’s what I bought the console for, after all. Forza 4 was the game that finally made me purchase a 360, so I’ve been a fan for a few years. I believe once you experience Forza there’s no going back to other games and not comparing them. Over the years, Forza evolved to be the standard in racing instead of just following what the competition does. It’s what I like to refer as the perfect driving game, pure driving nirvana…
Since I just got the Xbox One, I missed out on Forza 5, which at the time I didn’t think it was worth buying a console for. It seemed like half a game, at least content-wise. Because I was curious about it, I also got the previous iteration of Forza and I am now playing both, and enjoying them thoroughly in equal parts. I find that there’s good things on both racers to keep coming back. It may be more of the same, but when the same is so darn good, you can’t ask for more, now can you?
My first impression with Forza 6 was simply amazing! The controller (not playing with a wheel yet) feels great, it gives more feedback and the handling feels more solid (not sure if this is the right adjective). Also, this is the only racing game where I don’t have to bother messing around with deadzones and sensitivities – the handling is already perfect as it is. And it’s the only game I play with the cockpit camera – For others I use the hood camera. Overall, the controller is a nice way to play, at least until I get a wheel. I used a Wireless Speed Wheel by Microsoft with Forza 4 and loved it. It was better than the controller and quite an affordable alternative, but unfortunately I can’t use it on the One. Hopefully they’ll release a new version soon, since I can’t afford a $300 wheel right now. Maybe Turn 10 can help and relay the message to the execs at Microsoft about creating a new Wireless Speed Wheel.
I like the new Career in Forza 6, although I still prefer the way we progressed in Forza 4. The career then was more engaging, had more variety of events and had the Events List. I just loved seeing those checkboxes getting ticked. I feel there’s less variety of events now. Yes, the new Showcases are awesome, but where are the Manufacturer-specific Events, or the Drivetrain-type events, the Continent Championships, etc? Maybe I’m missing something?
There are still some things I miss from previous Forzas, maybe we’ll get to see them in future updates or with DLC. I know we are creatures of habit and that any changes have us wishing for past things, but still I’d like to see some improvements. I miss the Japanese tracks. Fujimi Kaydo? It was my favorite. I’d rather have some track DLC’s than cars, since the current list is already pretty impressive and covers much of the automotive history. Forza Vista still seems incomplete. I see that there are some cars we can’t see under the hood. I like to look at the motor. It’s a shame we can’t do that on many of the cars. Penalties are absent this time, for when we are competing in Career races. We used to be penalized for using Rewind or for collisions, but not anymore. I like those features, because it forces me to race cleaner. Now, I don’t care how many times I use rewind or smash against other cars, because there’s no consequences.
I also have a minor complaint about this year’s HUD in Forza 6. It seems there’s a trend in recent games to have very tiny fonts in the menus, but this isn’t practical at all. I have a 32" TV and am probably 2-3 meters away from it, so it shouldn’t be a problem having to read menus or the in-race HUD, but there they are, in the tiniest fonts possible and I have to squint or lean forward to read times and other info. I prefer the HUD in Forza 5, it has more style and you can read it better. Still, both have the Split Times appearing at the top right, but I think it’s much more practical having them placed at the top center, like Forza 4. Looking at the corners of the screen during a race may be suicide. Another thing I noticed in Forza 6 is that the invalid lap time’s symbol doesn’t show anymore during the race, so you’ll only know if you had a clean lap at the end of the race. Seems an odd decision.
Other improvements I’d like to see: choosing the time of day for each track; dynamic weather; more tracks from previous Forzas. I believe it’s a compromise to get all that beautiful and fluid 60 FPS, so I guess I have to live with it. I still prefer playability over fancy features.
OK, enough of bad things. There’s a lot to love in the new Forza, and in no way am I disappointed. It’s a near-perfect game, except for some small improvements it could have here and there. Maybe it’s because Turn 10 have spoiled us so much with perfection that we always expect a flawless game. It’s getting there, with every new iteration, though…
I love night driving, and driving in the rain. The way the track looks with water is jaw-dropping. It would be nice to also see the wet track without rain, though – As if it had just been raining. Having Drivatars is great and being rewarded by yours when you’re not racing is even better. It was definitely a welcome addition to the game. I love how we can choose community designs when we get a new car. I love how Rivals has been seamlessly incorporated into Career races – It gives you an added challenge. I like the new prize spins feature, because it’s more exciting when we achieve a new level. The new Mods are cool, and I especially like the “Dare” ones, but I avoid using them often, since lap times are invalidated if we use them in races – Understandable, because they improve the cars’ performance.
I’m still taking in all the new content in Forza 6 and I’m loving every minute of it. It’s a gamer’s paradise and I wouldn’t trade it for any other game series.
Finally, if you want to add me to your friend’s list, to compare times and possibly to race, please do. I usually play alone, but I sometimes hop on Rivals and Leagues, so I look forward to seeing you on the tracks. My gamertag is the same as my username here: Gabrielmpf (not very original, I know).
Sorry for the long post, and thanks if you’ve read it all.
Happy Driving!
Gabriel