132 December 2011 BTM downtimecomputergames Forza Motorsport 4 (Xbox 360) RATING: WHAT IS IT? Forza 4 is an ode of sorts to the automobile world. It was an attempt to create the world’s best and most comprehensive racing sim which has succeeded in a way. The game embraces car culture from all over the globe without a disproportionate focus on vehicles from just one country. It captures the cult of cars better than any racing game before it. GRAPHICS: The first thing you’ll notice about this new edition will be the improved visuals. Its new image-based lighting model makes the cars look perfectly seated within tracks. The car models themselves are also hugely impressive. They look as good in motion as they do while stationary. The frame rate is smooth. Forza 4 doesn’t just look and feel better, it sounds better too. There are new sounds for collisions, wind rush and more. GAMEPLAY: Forza 4 feels more authentic than ever. Turn in is sharper and the feeling of grip is well-translated. The lock-to-lock steering rate has been increased dramatically and a simulation steering option has been added. Forget slow and soggy steering rates. The braking upgrades are unbelievable. With a tweak on your artificially intelligent opponent, the races are closer than you’d hope for and ultimately more satisfying. Car levelling has been changed too. In Forza 4, the player builds manufacturer specific levels called ‘affinity’ levels. The Legend of Zelda Remarkably, this Zelda game captures a grandness and scope we haven’t seen since the 2D era. It advances combat and control in the most significant way. This is the Wii game we’ve been waiting for. The Elder Scrolls V Featuring the same kind of thrilling freedom the series is known for, along with excellent visuals and soundtracks, Skyrim is a rare kind of intensely personal, deeply rewarding experience, as it is one of the best role-playing games yet produced. However, you might be left slightly unsatisfied. Uncharted 3 There’s a reason most gamers gave it a perfect ten. This is so exceptional that it is hard to imagine a game being better. From start to finish, single player to multiplayer, this game is almost flawless. The characters, graphics, sound and story are all top notch. Be prepared to play one of the finest in the gaming world. GAME OF THE MONTH Swashbuckling Suspense 2011 has proved to be a great year for sequels and the wait to the final quarter proved to be well worth it with Fifa, Batman and Call of Duty. We spotted a few more that could be added to that list. VERDICT: With changes that are too welcome, there’s no going back to Forza 3 now.
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