Armored Core 4

Its been a while since I posted, been busy and also having fun playing Armored Core 4 (AC4). I have always liked playing with mech games, I have played MechWarrior from 1 to 4. I guess maybe since I was a kid I got exposed to Gundam and one of the first games I placed on my PC XT was Battletech.

I really liked AC4 because its fast and yet you need to think. As one reviewer put it "its a cross between Virtua On and MechWarrior". I really like the fast pace battle and it has the Japanese touch to mechs, something I missed on MechWarrior where things are much slower and less Japanese touch. I also liked how you can customized your mech, but veterans of the AC series indicated that AC4 had less depth than previous games. I think I have missed this series, much like Grand Turismo and was only able to discover it much later.

Forza 2 Hire driver

I have been playing a bit for Forza 2, its really nice. I normally play with the max difficulty settings (no driving aids, hard, simulation, etc.). Its been hard playing the endurance races as I don't have continuous time at hand, I have to take care of our baby daughter.

I find the hire driver to be poor compared to GT4 b-spec mode. Here is what I think:

• You can't dictate the strategy to the driver, like aggressive and cruise, etc. You are essentially an audience unlike in GT4 where you are like the pit crew.
• There is practically zero pit strategy. In GT4 I don't always change all of the tyres and do a full refuel, this gives you full incentive to think about pit strategy.
• You can't swap drivers. In GT4 sometimes I take the first drive and be aggressive, then make a pit and let the computer take over with cruise mode. I have driven some endurance races in GT4 fully, but there are tracks that are a bit boring and sometimes b-spec is nice too.
• You can't fast forward the time line. I guess its not much of a real issue since all of F2 endurance races are short compared to GT4

Forza 2 is great, but it sure can improve on the Hire driver feature. Can't wait for Forza 3 or GT5.

Forza 2 quick review

Its been a while since I last put a blog, I have been busy at work and playing with Forza 2 (F2). Forza 2 is a really nice driving/racing game, I bought a XBOX 360 since there is no Grand Turismo 5 yet for PS3. Forza 2 is the closest to Grand Turismo 4 (GT4). I am comparing F2 with GT4, here is quick take:

• F2 has less cars, but has more better spread of cars. You get good representation from different manufacturers and eras. Not that GT4 has poor selection of cars, its just that F2 has a better coverage.
• F2 has pretty good physics, not sure if its better than GT4... but its pretty good.
• I normally turn off music while driving, but I do miss GT4 and other Grand Turismo soundtrack. F2 soundtrack is... errr not my era?
• I miss the sound of 4 rotary engine Mazda 787B, however the Porsche 962 in F2 do make up for the absence of the screaming Mazda.
• I like F2 damage model, its not realistic but its a lot better than none at all.

Overall GT4 has really raised the bar, however F2 has responded pretty well. I just wish I don't regret buying a XBOX 360 when GT5 goes out.