Game review: Forza Horizons
If the saying "another nail in the coffin" ever applied to gaming, now is the time. The nail is the latest in the successful Forza racing simulation series, and the coffin belongs to Polyphony Digital's Formula Gran Turismo.
Forza Horizons takes everything that was amazing about Forza Motorsport 4, unlocks the shackles of the track and takes racing to the open roads of Colorado's countryside.
The setting is the Horizon Festival, and it comes with a festival atmosphere around great cars and music. Your task, of course, is to win the festival challenge by competing in races.
Taking the game to the open road hasn't compromised the driving physics at all, and Forza Motorsport 4 fans will not notice any difference between cars in the two games.
Upgrading cars is still a feature but the ability to tweak the tuning has been removed, as has damage on vehicles. This invites a more aggressive driving style, and a little more push and shove with opponents that otherwise wouldn't have been attempted in Forza Motorsport 4.
Outside of the festival there are a host of unsanctioned street races to indulge in. These don't count towards your Horizon placings but can net you a load of spare cash to spend on your cars.
These races can be held day or night as the game completes a full day/night cycle.
Graphically the game doesn't skip a beat whether under headlights, the setting sun or with rays of light filtering through a tree-lined backroad.
It's a visual feast and a must-have for any simulated-racing enthusiast.
Forza Horizons
From: Playground Games
For: Xbox 360
