Forza 2: Flood of images!

BlimBlim
Saturday, May 5, 2007 | 7:01 PM
75 comments

Xbox 360

I've finally received my preview build of Forza 2, unfortunately too late to be able to record videos like lots of others did before they were notified that they actually weren't allowed to. Oh well, you'll have to live with these images until the review build I guess. A word of warning though, these images are captured with my brand new HD hardware, so you can't directly compare them to the framebuffer shots other sites posted, my images will be slightly more blurry, but with a better color contrast. This method allows me to play normally and just save the images I like afterwards, so it's much better than the other way. (gameplay impressions in the news)
Update: Added a few images from 2 other tracks.

As for the game, the gameplay itself is just mind blowing. Honestly this is the first time I'm so impressed by a simulation game. Of course the fact that I'm playing with the FF wheel certainly helps, but still each car feels so different from the others that it's like a brand new game each time you try a new one. The wheel also just works perfectly, each slight loss of traction is felt immediately, each small bump is there too. Just perfect handling all around. Graphically though as expected this is a mixed bag. When everything goes right Forza 2 looks really good, but when the lighting goes bad it looks like toy cars racing. It just feels exactly like Forza 1 did, it's not far from "there", but still not good enough.
Let's hope the review build will follow soon so you guys can get some 720p 60 fps videos!

Preview version images

2 other tracks

WarriorSan

Commented on 2007-05-04 22:28:54

Wow I can't wait anymore!..

In reply to

KahL

Commented on 2007-05-04 22:32:08

OMG, that looks amazing! This game is gonna kick @$$!

Trebby

Commented on 2007-05-04 22:33:28

Amazing. Just simply stunning shots. I have my copy on preorder! :D

OriginalBuckRogers

Commented on 2007-05-04 22:34:09

thanks alot blimster!

alimokrane

Commented on 2007-05-04 22:35:59

The graphics for me are good enough and it makes SO GLAD that the gameplay si top notch which is FAR MORE IMPORTANT. Thanks A bunch Blim :)

Freniger

Commented on 2007-05-04 22:41:16

I don't get people on this site. It looks fine, but certainly not amazing.

I'm a huge fan of Forza 1, and can't wait for Forza2 , but I'm not going to sit here and lie to myself saying this game looks incredible. It just doesn't.

Viginti_Tres

Commented on 2007-05-04 22:43:21

Wow, thanks for the impressions. I'm really thinking about buying the racing wheel now and of course Foarza 2... :D

fatefodder

Commented on 2007-05-04 22:47:33

Yeah. I would say that graphically these shots are well below expectations. The fact that they run at 60fps does not temper the truly horrid low level of detail those shots convey.

I had this title pre-ordered, but now I am going to have a long hard look at the demo first. Especially given the Project Gotham Racing 4 shots revealed yesterday...

http://www.gamereactor.se/nyheter/10398/Project+Go...

What was a strong Microsoft-owned summer is looking weaker every week. One can only hope that the videos reclaim some of the former glory this title shined before.

lukasblue

Commented on 2007-05-04 22:50:20

thanks for this, blim

synce

Commented on 2007-05-04 23:04:01

Maybe the game doesn't look completely photo-realistic (impossible in this gen), but I won't be buying it for that anyway. I'm most excited about the GAMEPLAY aspect. You know, physics, customization, online. It will consume my life like Dead or Alive 4 before it (been playing that game and not much else for over 16 months).

bloodforge

Commented on 2007-05-04 23:04:13

Looks fantastic, I don't think I have ever anticipated a game so much before. I personally think the lighting looks fantastic as well. I would love to get the racing wheel for this but I just don't have the room for it.

Milhouse

Commented on 2007-05-04 23:07:13

The shots looks great. BlimBlim seems to be the first one who can make great shots of this game. The graphics are awesmome, but Sebring really doesn't look good. If you remember Sebring was the circuit in the render trailer (with those awesome tightly planted darkgreen grass). But man, the ground visuals on Sebrings looks so terrible. Also all those standing cars on the side looks far worser than from render trailer.

privatejohn

Commented on 2007-05-04 23:08:57

Ok, these screenshot really does show Forza 2 engine isn't build from the ground up for xb360. (at least it looks like)
Anyway i guess for real simulation racing game, gfx isn't everything. Gameplay is more important.

CARB

Commented on 2007-05-04 23:18:06

blim.. i love you
awesome
ive never been so excited for a game.....since, i honestly cant rember

Scarface

Commented on 2007-05-04 23:19:00 In reply to Trebby

Posted by TrebuTa

its tempting, but i have a feeling that they will release a Wheel+forza combo which would be awesome.

Posted by Freniger

I'm not going to sit here and lie to myself saying this game looks incredible. It just doesn't.

I haven't seen one gameplay image that has impressed me from this game. But i haven't seen one video of gameplay that hasn't impressed me. This game looks so good in motion. 720p 60FPS, we cant expect perfect looking stills aswell.

Commented on 2007-05-04 23:20:54 In reply to Scarface

Posted by Scarface

I haven't seen one gameplay image that has impressed me from this game.

i was wrong...
http://www.xboxyde.com/pop_image.html?G=5337&N=37

Mr_Fujisawa

Commented on 2007-05-04 23:23:42

Can I make a request please Blim?

If you can, do a lap of the Ring and post it, you'll have my undying love! :) ;)

Kethmach

Commented on 2007-05-04 23:26:45

I'm not biting my tongue here- the graphics are nowhere near as good as the shots we were shown last month- and nowhere near as good as GTHD. Period.

But I'm not going to bash it either- I can't WAIT to feel the speed and sense of 'holy crap this is almost TOO fast!' gameplay this offers. IGN just put up an article as well and was talking about how you'll feel like you almost have to hold onto the edge of your seat it's so fast. That to me- is a LOT more important. And tuning and tweaking my car to MY standard of 'perfection' is something that no other game on ANY system offers.

I'll take the graphic hit to experience a game that's supposedly this good. Gladly.

Commented on 2007-05-04 23:37:01

Here is a X06 video:

http://www.gametrailers.com/umwatcher.php?id=35148

Sure, the car looks much worser than now, but the environments looks so much better. Look when the Ferrari stops over the grass. The grass looks so damn real and much more tightly planted. It's a totally different typ of grass than the grap now.

Nit3m4re

Commented on 2007-05-04 23:39:22 In reply to Scarface

In things like this, its hard for screenshots to do it justice, just see it in motion and all will be good :)

Commented on 2007-05-04 23:42:02

Baby Jesus was once heard to say "Graphics do not a game make", it could of been Yoda, I was young and drunk at the time, but the point is valid.

After Forza 1, I kind of always knew that Forza 2 wouldn't look like the most amazing world changing driving game known to man. It doesn't matter if you have individualy modeled rain particles, you aren't going to pay any attention to them whilst your driving at 130mph, if you are you're going to cash pretty soon.

It's all in the gameplay and handling, I'm confident this is where Forza 2 will win.

I haven't said it before, but GTHD is GT4 with high detail car, I say car as there's one of them on screen, not 8 running at 60fps, but one. It's a pointless comparason.

However when GT5 does appear in 2009 or something, I'm sure it will look great. But no doubt you won't be able to spin your wheels up for the 6th game in a row.

OsciBosci

Commented on 2007-05-04 23:47:32

Have you notices that there are real opponents like Alphand??

citizenx

Commented on 2007-05-04 23:52:57 In reply to Kethmach

the graphics we were shown last month were from photo mode or captured from replay mode. Both have post-processing effects like depth of field, and further anti-aliasing, but runs at 30fps.

GTHD does the same. The replay graphics are significantly better than the in-game.

Screenshots don't do this game justice, but even then, its not a hugely impressive game visually.

Commented on 2007-05-04 23:57:02 In reply to Kethmach

Posted by Kethmach

I'm not biting my tongue here- the graphics are nowhere near as good as the shots we were shown last month- and nowhere near as good as GTHD. Period.

.

bangs head agains the fucking wall, when will it ever end !!!!

when gthd, has 8 cars on track at the same time, does pysics at 360fps, runs the graphics at 60 frames per second, has full damage modeling then compare the two

untll the QUIT WITH THE FUCKING GTHD COMPARISONS BECAUSE THEY ARE GETTING QUITE OLD HAT NOW.

Freak

Commented on 2007-05-04 23:57:17

Here are 119 screens of Forza 2, too ;)

http://www.xboxfront.de/news-945-6936-Forza_Motors...
http://www.xboxfront.de/news-945-6945-Forza_Motors...

There is also a review of the beta available but i don't know if it's interesting for you because it's in german....