I just got it too and only played with it about an hour yesterday.
Caveat: I am usually a bit underwhelmed after all the pre-hype and
glowing reviews. I tend to be critical at first, then set
back, relax, and enjoy the good things. Bear that in mind ...
Graphics - disappointed. Some say better than GT4, others still
maintain GT4 is better. For now, I prefer GT4's. They are close
enough that either side has its legitimate arguments. It isn't
that much better or worse and given the XBOX power, I expected
more (or credit PD as just that expert at milking the PS2's
capabilities). You do get 8 cars on a track vs GT's 6.
At first I stared at Forza's replay mode wondering why they messed
up the nice interface they had in PGR2 (different but related
development team). Now when you switch cameras or cars, it slowly
rolls up letterbox borders, presents the few options, the slowly
rolls the borders back out. Why? And when you switch cars,
there's a ~2 second delay. Why? And you can no longer use the
L/R view keys. And why all the hazy backgrounds? Going for GT
artsy, I guess.
But then I tried the telemetry screens (readily accessed from
replay). Brilliant! So MSG, you are partly forgiven :-)
Physics - I'm non-discerning enough that I find both believable.
GT4's brakes are too forgiving, just plant and forget. Forza's
are still way too touchy. There were claims that the demo had
known problems here and would be fixed. I don't think they were.
Hampered by lack of good wheel support. It's hard to go back to a
small jerky controller.
Racing AI?
Well, I've raced (and won) two races. Jury is still out. I
think they are deliberately slow and gentle at first. At least it
isn't bumper cars. Can't be worse than GT's.
On the plus, besides the telemetry, they have autoX courses (with
5 second cone penalties?!).
I'm sure I'll end out enjoying it. But right now it doesn't jump
out at me as better than GT4. If you are into on-line, I'm sure
it is a no-brainer though.
