Wow, that looks like a miserable bug.
When one races over the abyss, the abyss races over you…
Here is my best finish so far starting last (20th). Spa in the rain. It’s too bad multiplayer replays are broken. Half of the field was wiped out at T1. I was already 9th! 
It was like the start back in 2012 F1 at Spa.
3 Likes
Races versus AI are decent at the 3 to 6 lap setting. Longer races, the top 3 AI tend to run away. There seem always the chance of a stupid AI move, but I’m still at AI strength 3, so maybe this will improve when I up it to 4 or 5 (I forgot before my races). I actually did manage to win a race against strength 3 AI… so I’m getting there.
One weird thing… anytime there is a countdown rolling start, the AI driving during the countdown is going for broke, the wheel has zero resistance or FFB, and then when it hands off the control to me… BAM! Massive FFB response, the car feels like was shot out of a slingshot and barely (maybe) under control.
A couple of screens of graphical glitches I’ve spotted. In the top screenshot, you’ll notice in the river, there’s a massive upside down reflection of my car. In the second screenshot, you can see that in fog, my mirrors are almost textureless white, aside from cars and people along trackside. I deliberately wanted that overhead to appear in the rear view mirror for scale/reference. but when it’s just a white field with several non-foggy cars… hahaha.
3 Likes
I just remembered you are racing with a gamepad on the xbox instead of a wheel. More power to you as I don’t have the hand eye coordination to do so. 
I am comfortable racing at AI level 6 where I seem to be laying down equal lap times. If it’s a track that I am not familiar with, I may dial it back to 5. 7 is just about as high as I can barely keep up, but only at tracks I know backwards and upside down.
From my experience, once the AI sorts itself out after lap 1, they appear to do a good job being competitive and not so much on rails. I even see them go wide and off track on rare instances.
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I did get a wheel. Thrustmaster T128, entry level product (I wasn’t sure the racing bug had bitten well enough to spend more) but quite solid for me. My speed should improve with practice. Even on tracks I know, all my visual cues are different from other games so it’s like starting over.
And a few screenshots exploring the better side of the graphics. No on-track ray tracing here of course, but sometimes the reflections and lighting really come together. Other times, the cars might seem a bit flat and lifeless. Weird.
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I was driving Forza Motorsport 6 which was a with NHL 17 + Forza Horizon 2 (all games were not available on the PC those days) a reason why I bought my first console ever: Xbox One S if I will not count the CCCP copy of the Nintendo console in the past (see picture below). The paradox is that I played more FIFA 17 digital copy which was included with XOS than NHL17, simply because it was a better game than NHL. 
Unliceced CCCP copy of Nintendo console Game & Watch.
Well back to Forza Motorsport. I bought Porsche as well as NASCAR and others to complete FM6.
I know that Forza Motorsport 6 later became to PC with a non-full version of Forza Motorsport 6 Apex. Despite that Forza Motorsport 6 (later 7) is still the best on the Xbox console because only there is available local split-screen functionality which I love a lot.
Later when Turn10 released Forza Motorsport 7 I was a little bit disappointed. FM7 was not realistic like FM6 but later it was a good racing game, more arcade than FM6 but still good, and the driving model was approximately on the same level, with better graphics. The authors added more and more context and in the end, FM7 was so close to FM6. But for me was FM6 always the best.
Nowadays when Turn10 released Forza Motorsport 8 (Gamepass) I had to try it immediately on my Xbox Series X. I also bought a PS5 2 years ago mainly because I wanted to play Driveclub (a PS4 title) and especially try Gran Turismo Sport (still a PS4 title) and finally relatively recently Gran Turismo 7 (PS5 version).
My favorite car in the whole FM series is the Lamborghini Miura 67 and the best track is of course Nürburgring Nordschleife (Germany), the second is Maple Valley (USA). I already earned enough in-game money to bough a Lamborghini Miura 67 as my first car in FM8.
And here is my light review of the best Forza Motorsport title ever!
Pros
- Stunning graphic in RT performance or Visual mode on XSX.
- RT reflection on track + the best realistic lighting in racing games in general, try to sunrise, sunset, evening, or night. In combination with the rain (valid also without it) are visual special effects incredibly good. I was shocked by HDR on the LG OLED TV while racing in the sunrise. Rising sun bedazzlement was incredibly realistic like in the real world.
- Realistic lighting with RT has a direct impact on the atmosphere and driving and the visual is stunning.
- You can choose any daytime (hour) at any track with any weather. This simple function which I remember from the time of Need For Speed III/IV is finally back!
- Car (front) headlights are really useful, not like in FM7 where I was not able to see anything on the track even if the car headlights were turned on or off, this was especially frustrating during night or evening driving, the effect was approximately the same. Well with turned on a little bit better.
- There is not definitely a filter in the cockpit (valid only for FM7 and FH4) which made the view from it darker than was with the behind camera (absolutely clear view) despite of sunny day. Now you can see the track like in real life from the cockpit.
- A driving model with all assistance off or realistic/simulation is like in FM6 or FM7 but more realistic due to the new tire model simulation, more advanced and legible than was in FM6/7. Now I’m especially comparing the same car (Lamborghini Miura 67). Cars are not oversteered like was in previous FM titles.
- There is more realism everywhere but you need to first set it in the menu before start racing the game!
- Boxes, Fuel, and Tire strategy to find the ideal setup to win.
- Realistic rules on the track, penalties
- AI on the higher level (4+) is always a challenge
- AI (me and 23 cars on start) is not doing demolition derby in the first one or two turns like was typically for FM6/7. I couldn’t believe it, AI was able to turn in the first turn almost without crashing any car on the track and if crashed it was slightly sideways. These realistic rules have a direct impact on the player as well to drive clearly without contact especially if there a many cars in turn.
- AI because of realistic track rules and penalties is trying not to crash you or any cars on the track
- Back is also an option to start each race from a position like was in FM6 but not FM7 and you can also choose a position (1-24) which gives you the opportunity to still have a challenge if you think that you are too good. In combination with AI level 4+ difficulty/faster is a good choice to keep yourself challenged.
Cons
- before AMD released GPU drivers for MF8 I had strange behaviours with LG OLED TV. I had to turn off Dolby Atmos (including gaming) because the game was not fluent in RT performance or Visual. The strange is that yesterday when I enabled Dolby Atmos again is everything OK and Visual in 30 fps was absolutely fluent as well as RT performance
- some strange visual glitches in Replay mode, I faced issues with micro-stuttering on XSX with Dolby Atmos enabled.
- sometimes there are graphic glitches, and for example, the door opening lever in the Lamborghini Miura 67 looks strange in comparison with the rest of the cockpit.
- The penalty system needs to be slightly improved but still, that is a huge difference between FM6/FM7 and FM8
Could be better and I’m sure it will be:
- more race tracks, including Prague which is fiction but good
- split screen at least on XSX
- bring RT Global Illumination at least on the PC version
Comparison with Grant Turismo 7/Sport
- Forza Motorsport 8 is from a visual perspective the real next-gen game on next-gen consoles = PS5/XSX.
- GT7 has a superb driver’s license school where you are really motivated to drive clearly and do not get any penalty because simply you failed.
- On the other hand in a real race (not driving license school), there are no rules, you can any car hit an obstacle like Beton and nothing happens. If you have enough time you still can be a winner. No real damage! A car always shines despite if you are on the grass or sand, no visual effect here.
- The driving school in GT Sport is awesome. There are different segments of all famous tracks and you must not make any mistake to win and unlock the next stage. Very satisfied feeling about completing it.
- AI in GT7 is not crashing you maybe because of the behavior above. No visual damage or very light.
- GT7 I would say is also a next-gen racing game even the fact that FM8 is visually more advanced even if RT is not on the track. RT reflection in GT7 Replay on the cars is more focused than in FM8.
- Car detail is better in GT7 including the cockpit because of materials modeling which is more realistic.
- The GT 7/Sport driving model is a little bit different than in FM but both games are so close to compare it together. Hard to say who has a better driving model. I will bough a Lamborghini Miura 67 in GT Sport and will tell you my opinion later.
Note: you still can buy cars for real money, at least until 1st December! Do it if you want a car that is really in-game money and expensive, otherwise grinding is only a way to get in-game money. - Earn in-game money to be able to buy a Lamborghini Miura 67 in GT7 is very difficult, you need to repeat and repeat races because you need to earn a lot of money! In Forza, I spend approximately 5-6 hours playing to bough it.
- The split screen in the Forza Motorsport series is better than in GT Sport/GT7 because the game still looks more graphically advanced, GT Sport/7 is graphically degraded, and the horizontal split screen is better than vertical on modern TVs like 55"+.
Result
- The best Forza Motorsport ever. More realism everywhere but still a good mix between a real simulator and an arcade.
Warm greetings from a big Forza Motorsport fan here.
7 Likes
I would agree with that review… I think the AI, I play at 4, still is a little aggressive then should be, I clearly make a clean pass and hear them hitting on me like crazy as I try to pull away. I guess a little programmed respect would do, if I cleanly passed get off me, cleanly pass me back. lol
Hey @adlabs6 how did you get a screenshot of that clean cockpit, I’ve been trying and not seeing that in replay? Even when selecting the game camera option.
I think the UI is bugged, but I accidentally discovered a way around it.
First select the UI button where you choose the camera types. This lets you select from “Game Cameras”, “Replay Cameras”, etc. Choosing “Game Cameras” doesn’t work for me, unless I first choose some other camera, then switch back to “Game Cameras”.
I can tell it worked because after this, the button tool tips at the bottom will then have something like “(X) Choose Camera” there. And pressing X will cycle the in-game cameras, including the cockpit.
Now if I switch to photo mode, I can’t get the cockpit view. Instead, once I’m in the cockpit camera, I press the button to “Hide UI”, and then tell the XBox to take a screenshot.
Hope that helps.
1 Like
Thanks, Adlabs, figured it out…
Good thing I had already taken first place by this second lap when the sun started rising… man imagine seeing that first lap all bunched up. lol
Full throttle up the esses at Watkins Glen… wish the AI knew it didn’t need to brake climbing that hill. lol
1 Like
I play as full sim as I can but with the braking ribbon. Racing has never been my thing. A friend who’s a bit more experienced at it told me (after lapping me in a ‘29 Bentley) that the ribbon forces bad braking decisions. Do you use it? If not, do you brake by memorizing the turns, watching the map or simply reacting to the upcoming turn?
I play with the braking ribbon on.
I use to not use it but as I got older i decided to play for fun. The ribbon gives me braking points that I can see.
I use it as a guide i will brake later or earlier depending on the situation.
Is it a crutch that might hurt lap times? Sure but so is a million other things.
I use to be of the mind that aids are bad but they are there so use them.
Now i have no desire to be competitive in a multi-player enviroment so i set everything up to make sure I can have fun.
Years ago when I didnt use the ribbon i would pick out a object along the side of the track to tell be when to brake.
2 Likes
I did an interesting test last night. Usually racing games reward you with faster times when you don’t use and assist but not FM. I have always, even with a gamepad used no assist or aids except for the brake line on new tracks. And always manual.
Last night I did 5 laps on my favorite track Watkins Glen with no assist, the best lap being 2:15. I then tried 5 laps with the default some assist which was also automatic transmission with a best time of 2:12 and then finally with moderate assist, auto, with the same time 2:12.
I repeated the same test on Road America… simular result.
FM seems to reward you with better driving with aid assist on… which is not the norm.
Now I’m not a good racer, just love the games. But I know this car and these tracks inside and out, the Ford GT, been racing this set since the beginning.
Doing the same test with AC my aided laps were slower then unaided, AC seems to do it right. Just my unnecessary observation.
PS: Not sure how cross play works but do those rivals so we can compare times. I’m Magnum9846 on Xbox. 
2 Likes
I still see you when you log on @Magnum50. We used to play together back in Battlefield 1. Smokinhole1.
@Magnum50 Which Rivals event did you do at the Glen?
I hate the way Rivals is set up without being able to at least sort by friends list, I see your times at Maple Valley in the Vette and at Road America in the KTM but not finding much else.
I didn’t do a rival at the glen, that was just my test.
I don’t do the open rivals on the left, I do the set rivals in the middle tab and the VIP rival on the far right tab. Currently only 3 of those types of rivals, will change every week.
I still have some of you as friends but on the bottom right where it shows times of rivals, it says friends 1 of 1 so not reading any of them, I guess.
Wouldn’t mind a small-scale private MP race between us Mudspike members once in a while. I like the practice, qualify, race format. Any day/evening but Sunday.
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Gotcha! The open rivals is a mess to navigate through.
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220 mph at Lemans…
Loving it.
Just switched from wheel to controller. Both are great but the controller feels better for me.
Compared to GT7 its kinda not fair.
GT7 really dosent reward you for higher difficulty levels and in fact has some of the longer races harder to challenge you. Forza does reward you for a higher level but dosent take the fun out.
I do LOVE the GT 7 photo mode. Forza just cant match that.
That being said, Forza is my favorite. Its a racing sim that is fun to drive and the car levels are great too.
GT 7 is in between Horizons and Motorsport. Its a sim but wants you to collect cars and has a map to navigate.
Love all 3, and each has its place.
3 Likes
The AI is currently making it nearly impossible for me to enjoy Forza. I attempted 3 races today. Finished last every time, due to AI spinning me and ramming my car off the track.
The final race at Grand Oak, I was spun into a barrier along the start/finish, and rammed until my car wouldn’t move due to damage. DNF. AI just raced away after this, as though nothing had happened.
My AI setting is 6.
I know I’m slow. But if perchance my car is not rammed off track, I can indeed move up the field. I’ve even managed to win a couple of races on these AI settings. But it all comes down to simply getting ahead of AI, and staying away from them. Relying on the fact that once passed, the AI just seem to disappear in the mirror.
I’m going to stick with it for a week or two. Maybe with some more time. There is a lot good here, otherwise.
4 Likes
Agreed… no matter what it is set on the AI is still terrible. They crash the hell out of you in the low range, but you can usually come back and win too easily.
In the high end, they still crash you but even if you get off the start and first lap clean, even if you run a perfect race 1 or 2 will be like aliens and way out of reach.
The AI IMO is the A (don’t know how to spell it, lol) heel of this game.
But I do love the rivals… oh BTW @weaponz248 SUCK IT! (You’ll know when you see the leaderboard, took me 5 laps too do it thou, you’re my A Heel. lol)
1 Like