Forza Horizon review
One word of advice for newcomers to Forza Horizon; turn the volume up. This is a game that shines when the music is blaring and the cars are raring to go on the starting grid. As soon as a race starts and you hear that familiar cacophony of car noise you can't help but feel excited about what is coming next, no matter what stage of the game you're at. This is because Horizon is what all games are generally aspiring to be above all else - fun.
Most of you who haven't been living under a rock will have heard about the Forza Motorsport series of games by now. Microsoft's answer to Gran Turismo comes with marvelous car physics and jaw-dropping visuals to go with it. The Forza games are so popular that many fans were taken aback when it was announced that Forza Horizon would be an open-world game rewarding players for driving recklessly. Disappointed, even. Street races? Speed traps? Extra skill points for driving so quickly that your car becomes airbourne before you take out a signpost and miraculously manage to avoid that oncoming Mercedes? In a Forza game?
But fear not, fearmongers! It turns out Forza Horizon is just what the series needed to refresh the franchise and possibly appeal to a whole new fan base in the process. It manages to merge the features that made Forza 4 such a pleasurable drive - faithful car models and realistic handling - with a whole new experience that feels almost like a completely different game.
We'll start off with the fictional Horizon Festival, a celebration of cars and music based in a recreated Colorado that really brings the game to life. Car aficionados from all over the globe travel to the festival once a year to get involved and test their skills, or just show off their rides. You play a nameless character who has just parked up at the local diner in a modest VW Corrado before the radio DJ informs listeners that there are spots going in the next event. A mass exodus ensues with everyone rushing off to grab the last places and before you know it you are in the driving seat with the music pumping and a race to win. Horizon can't be criticised for starting slowly.
So it hits the ground running, but what of tutorial modes? Learning the basics? Time to get to grips with the fundamentals? Horizon prefers to push players into the action instead of holding their hands through it, giving some hints and tips on the go before letting them wander off into the open world on their lonesome.
On the subject of the open world, it really is impressive. Miles upon miles of Colorado's finest driving roads have been recreated next to beautiful backdrops featuring mountains, waterfalls and wildlife. A 24-hour cycle means you can admire the landscape under different lighting, and while it looks fantastic whatever time of day it is, seeing fireworks going off in the distance during night drives is a lovely touch. It's the way Horizon manages to combine the fast and frantic feel of the festival with the scenic surroundings of Colorado that's really striking. Don't be surprised when you take a break from racing to just go and explore and bit more of the map.
Of course, it's the racing that we're all here for and Horizon delivers in substance and style. The festival revolves around status, with different coloured wristbands being the indicator of a driver's level and your entry to higher profile events. The premise is simple; win races to gain points and work towards the next coloured wristband. The races are mainly circuit and point-to-point, with some random ones thrown in to mix things up (fancy racing a Mustang against a fighter jet, anyone?), but add in the classic Forza mechanics and you've got a very pleasing game indeed.
And it doesn't lack in things to do, either. Whilst racing for wristbands you'll also be tasked with collecting skill points to increase your popularity at the festival and unlock showcase events. Near misses, drifting, destroying signposts and the like will all result in extra points so players are encouraged to throw caution to the wind and just put their foot on the throttle.
There are also underground street races to take part in and the chance to challenge other drivers to a sprint when you pull up behind them on the roads. Not to mention the speed traps which urge you to drive faster to set personal best times and rivals events which are unlocked after every race. You'll also be notified of old cars rumoured to be hidden away in barns that you can search out to add to your collection. Basically, there is a lot to do.
Now, this wouldn't be a street racer if it didn't have car customisation and again, Horizon delivers. You have the option of applying different paintjobs, adding vinyl, changing the bodywork, adding performance upgrades and so on. If you boost your car so much that it isn't eligible for a certain race anymore then you can simply choose to downgrade it just for that event before going back to having the superior specifications. This is a time saver and it also means you don't have to keep a multitude of cars in your garage.
Moving online and while we tested it before the game's release, this is the only part of Horizon that lets itself down slightly. It's decent enough, allowing players the chance to join a lobby and take part in circuit or point-to-point races with their own cars, or if your car isn't up to scratch you can borrow one from the garage. You'll also gain XP from races and level up, giving you the impression that you're always working towards some type of overall goal. It just feels slightly lightweight in comparison to the thrill ride of the main campaign. We will be keeping a close eye on the multiplayer in the next few weeks to see if the experience is improved upon.
As it is, the single player is where you'll be spending most of your time in Forza Horizon. As you move up the ranks and unlock new and improved cars the experience only becomes more entertaining. This is a superbly crafted racer that hooks you in and, once it does, you'll never look back. So turn up the music and hit the open road.
