I believe The cut scenes and unskippable voice over instructions were a big annoyance in the original game. I know a lot of people complained about it so it is odd to see them keep it as is.
Gift cars should go into your garage. I thought the Day One car packed worked like F5. You don't get them all dumped into your garage but the first one you purchase from the marketplace should be 0CR like you said. I kind of like it that way so my garage is only the cars I select but I can see if you are trying to collect everything it would be more annoying.
I don't think you could switch cars at will in the original. However, it was laid out more like a sandbox so all the events for your particular wrist band would show on the map. You could switch cars out by pulling into any new event and after it would always ask if you wanted to stick with that car or go back to the one you pulled up in. I much preferred that freedom to roam around the map mixing up events rather than locking into these 'series' from the hub. That type of hand holding is really draining some of the fun out of the game for me. I guess this was done because many people feel lost if someone is not dragging them around by the nose, but I would rather just be set free to my own devices. Makes me think of Crackdown and how so many people complained that it didn't lead you when that is exactly why I loved it. Give me a cool enough sandbox and I will entertain myself. I don't need someone telling me how I should be entertained.
It also feels like FH2's multiplayer may have also got a dose more of this hand holding as well but I haven't really sunk enough time in it to know. I have only jumped into a few pick up matches so not sure what kind of control, if any, you have by hosting. It seems like the MP events I joined were a glorified hopper with voting where the only difference was you have a few minutes to drive to the start of the event. If I remember correctly, in the original game, the host set locations on the map and people screwed off driving their. I tried to host but every time it just tried to add me to a hopper event.
Also trying to get a feel for the Clubs which I FINALLY unlocked. I joined one that had hundreds of uses but it seemed to bug out the leaderboard notices that pop up when you do a speed track. It would always list the other player a [][][][][][][][] instead of a name. Once I unjoined that club it went back to displaying names. I probably need to join the VFG club as it will probably be a more personal experience. I see where there is an XP ladder but is there anything else? Can the clubs setup seasons or their own event ladder, time trails or competitions with other clubs?
If you host is there a way to lock down options? I was running 'sim' damage and noticed in a MP free roam run up to the start line I crashed into a pole and pretty much killed car. I couldn't get it out of gear or to speed up and was just stuck in a ditch for two minutes until everyone got to start of event. Seems a bit of a disadvantage for those that run sim damage since someone could easily take them out. Would like to see a way to lock people into sim damage and c*** pit view. That view makes off road races so much more exhilarating. That view is also awesome with the weather effects but too disadvantageous if everyone else is running chase cam. Driving line is another thing I would like to see disabled. Need a 'hard core' multiplayer mode
