All in all, Forza 4 undoubtedly sets the bar for what all racing simulators should hope to achieve. Whether you've been grinding away at Forza 3 or if you're just a casual racer, anybody with an interest in driving games can easily find something to enjoy here.

Racing games never get dull for some reason. We still feel the need for speed from time to time. That irresistible urge to get behind the virtual wheels and burn some rubber. It therefore comes as no surprise that publishers like Sony, EA and Microsoft continue to pump up their racing franchises -...

Terrific driving game; balanced perfectly between hardcore and arcade-style racing; the choice of cars is brilliant; delightful visuals and generally more than enough content for hours of racing fun

AI makes things a bit easy at times in single-player; lack of night races and weather effects; oh and no Porsches...

It concerns me and pains me deeply that, short of some amazing financial windfall, by the time I am anywhere near being able to afford a proper, full blown supercar, there won't be any left to buy.

Incredible vehicle and trackside visuals; Excellent; believable vehicle physics and handling; A host of entertaining and absorbing race modes; Robust; fully featured online community element

Kinect functionality seems superfluous

Return of the king? It's been along time coming. We've waited patiently for the daddy to return. I have played GT5, I have toiled with NFS Shift, and enjoyed GRID, but for me; nothing does racing like Forza Motorsport.

Lacks atmosphere, still feels quite sterile; Crash physics and effects need updating

Do you have a passion for cars? Sleep at night under your Ferrari duvets in a bed modeled after a Testarossa, and wake to the smell of petrol and burning rubber being pumped through your humidifier? We've got a feeling that you're quite going to like Forza Motorsport 4 then.

Looks stunning; Rivals mode is inspired; Handles beautifully

Not enough new content

which is the racing game we have kept coming back to even after the initial thrill of its rival Sony's

The Kinect stuff is not perfect, but Forza Motorsport 4 is one of the most satisfying and rewarding games of the year.

I fell in love with the Forza series six years ago on the original Xbox because it delivered a sim racing experience that I found enjoyable, an online setup that wound up being years ahead of its time, and the decal creator completely blew away any other visual car customization tool at the time...

These minor points aside, Forza 4 has been given plenty of polish to make it a worthwhile purchase for those gaming racers who feel the need to strap themselves in to the motoring cockpit once again.

Comprehensive online modes for 16 players; Easy and welcoming game progression; Engines sound like engines should

World Tour AI not selectable; Kinect gimmicks; Car Tokens

Does one wind down a generation of hardware by resting on past success? That's the inevitable question you're left with after hours upon hours of tearing up asphalt in Turn 10's latest iteration of its Forza Motorsport franchise.