Summary
There are plenty of things to praise about the recently releasedForza Motorsport, from its impressive graphics to the lifelike handling of its high-end cars. One thing the Turn 10 Studios title isn’t likely to receive high marks for, though, is the often aggressive AI opponents players have to face off against in the game’s career mode. Whether it’s turning the starting line into an all-out automotive brawl or sideswiping players as they make a tricky turn on one ofForza Motorsports’many tracks, the AI drivers known as Drivatars make clean racing practically impossible at times.
TheForza Motorsportfranchise has always had a reputation for presenting players with somewhat aggressive Drivatars to race against, but this seems to have been amplified with the latest release. Improvements toForza’s Drivatarswere touted in the lead-up toForza Motorsport’s release, and Turn 10 did manage to add some noticeable variety to the lines that other racers take around the track, but in most instances, they drive as aggressively as ever. This can lead to frustration for players hoping to make it through a race free of scuffs and scratches and puts it in direct opposition to the polite AIs found in its biggest racing rival.
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The aggressive Drivatars inForza Motorsportdetract from the game’s otherwise meticulously maintainedsim racing aesthetic. Taking off from the starting line of a race only to find the other drivers turning the first turn into a free-for-all can break the illusion that players are taking part in the sorts of races normally reserved for the world’s most elite drivers. While players can negate some of the Drivatars’ reckless tendencies by giving them a wide berth on the track, this can lead to taking less efficient lines to avoid collisions.
This habit of driving with little to no regard for the rules of the road can quickly makeForza Motorsport’s often-erratic Drivatars a sore spot for some players. Those who prefer a strictly sim-focused driving experience may find themselves spending the bulk of their time inForza Motorsport’s multiplayer modewhere online opponents usually exhibit at least a bit more interest in self-preservation than their computer-controlled counterparts.Forza Motorsport’s Drivatars are a far cry from the AI opponents found in rival sim racing gameGran Turismo 7, who seem to go out of their way to avoid other drivers.
The AI in Forza Motorsport Stands in Stark Contrast to Gran Turismo 7’s
When it comes to the relatively niche world of simulation racing games, comparisons to Polyphony Digital’sGran Turismoseriesare almost inevitable, and it’s no different withForza Motorsport. Although the realistic physics and detailed car models found inForza Motorsportrival and even sometimes surpass those found inGran Turismo 7, the behavior of the AI opponents in the two series is drastically different. WhileForza Motorsport’s Drivatars have no qualms with sideswiping players to shave a few seconds off a lap, the computer-controlled drivers in Sony’s series typically behave in a more cautious and realistic fashion.
Even when setting aside the impressive abilities ofGran Turismo 7’s GT Sophy, an AI that’s trounced some of the game’s best drivers in competition, the PlayStation exclusive provides generally more realistic opponents to race against.Gran Turismo 7’s advantage in this aspect of gameplay may prove to be fleeting, though. TheForzafranchise has a history of patching particularly problematic parts of its racers after launch, meaningForza Motorsport’s Drivatars could see significant improvements in the coming months.
For gamers looking for an unfailingly realistic sim racing experience,Forza Motorsport’s daredevil Drivatars may make the game a tough sell for now. Luckily, the Turn 10 title will likely receive post-launch patches to tamp down the overly aggressive tendencies of the game’s drivers, but until then early adopters ofForza Motorsportmay be in for a rough ride.
Forza Motorsportis available for PC and Xbox Series X/S.
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