Forza Motorsport was supposed to be a follow-up to Starfield this October. Its launch, highly anticipated, represented a possibly stingy second half of the 1-2 jab combination thrown by Xbox Game Studios against its main competitor, Sony, which has been notably absent this holiday season.
But, while a successful release could’ve allowed the Xbox to gap its rival before Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and the PlayStation 5 Slim comes out on October 20 and at a still-undefined date in November, respectively, this didn’t happen.
Historically, Forza Motorsport was renowned for its stunning visuals and realistic car handling, traits that attracted fans – a complete opposite to the arcade-like, free-spirited and open-world racing of Forza Horizon. While critics gave it a collective score of 84 on Metacritic, reflective of its captivating simulation racing elements, Steam users held a mirror to some significant shortcomings.
No more than days into its release on Steam, Forza Motorsport saw its user reviews plummet. Of approximately 1,399 reviews shortly post-launch at the time of writing, a concerning 791 tilted to the negative side. This was perplexing, to say the least, particularly since Forza Horizon 5, its predecessor, was hailed by thousands on the same platform.
The predominant criticisms on Steam zeroed in on subpar performance issues such as crashing, inability to alter graphical settings, and the game’s overall inconsistent port. A recurring sore point was the progression system. Gone were the days where players could swiftly transition between vehicles. Instead, they were now confronted with playing hours for each car upgrade. A pivotal attraction of simulation racing has always been the allure of tuning and experimenting with different cars. This edition’s demanding progression architecture seemed antithetical to that ethos.
Review bombings aren’t uncommon, especially these days. Most developers dread the day that their games suffer from negative reviews. Still, in reality, they can be a valuable beacon, directing attention to areas that require refinements. A chunk of these reviews embody the thoughts of concerned gamers – a passionate core that invests time, emotion, and money into these virtual realms. Their feedback is the compass that can steer the direction of future updates and game iterations.
A good example is CD Projekt RED and Cyberpunk 2077. It wasn’t just the efforts of the Polish studio that turned what’s easily the poster child for overpromising into a 2.0 version of itself.
This isn’t to say that Turn 10 Studios crashed and burned at launch, like so many other studios and their games did so in the past. It’s clear that the engineers behind this Forza Motorsport “reboot” aspired to engineer a harmonious blend of racing exhilaration with the intricate nuances of simulation. This tonal shift was unmistakably evident in its mechanics, where racing was no longer just about speed but also about precision, dedication, and realism. While the intent was a commendable effort, it wasn’t enough to mask its shortcomings.
Reviews on Steam, such as those shared by the user, [Grolsch]TheOnlyMaverick, pointed out that while the car upgrade system was understandably designed to prolong game longevity, it might be a misfit for a title many approach casually. The penalty system, though innovative, was inconsistent and seemed unfairly punitive at times. The review highlighted the issues with understeering, which, while perhaps tailored for controller users, detracted from the driving experience.
As per the review by Real Human Bean, and a real Hero, players yearn for the era when games were all-inclusive and devoid of content silos or enticing early-access paywalls. Trust in developers is paramount, and perceived discrepancies between promotional content and actual gameplay can fracture that.
Mr.Kitters the Friendly Cat encapsulates in their review, the disillusionment many felt. Here was a game that felt lackluster despite a development span of six years. The absence of features, bugs, and perceived laziness painted a picture of a developer that perhaps had lost touch with its core audience. However, the same review also acknowledges the brilliance in the game’s physics and the genuine authenticity of the driving experience.
True enough, there are moments where Forza Motorsport shines. Its physics mechanism might even be the pinnacle of the series. Everything, from the sheen of cars to the dynamic interplay of weather and even the roaring of engines, are unparalleled.
For Turn 10 Studios, the current situation represents a crucible. The outpouring of feedback, candid and impassioned, is a treasure trove. It’s a reminder to step back and remember that these comments are from people who actually play. It represents a potent opportunity to recalibrate, enhance, and elevate the game.
Even if Forza Motorsport might still fall short of what Forza Horizon 5 achieved, it has a legitimate chance at closing the gap between itself and the rest of its competition.
