Forza is widely regarded as the king of racing games. Back in the 360 era I used to play the games pretty extensively but as we entered the most recent generation our household opted to only pick up a PS4. This unfortunately left Forza in my rear view mirror for several years.
Over the last few months though we decided to upgrade our PC. This now gives me access to all Xbox and PC exclusives and re-opens the doors to the wonders of Forza. Despite this being my first Forza Horizon experience I knew roughly what to expect going in. The signature Forza experience but in an open world setting. Being from Scotland the setting really intrigued me as well. It is not often I get to drive around areas an hour from my house in a game.
GRAPHICS
It is hard to do justice to the graphics in words. Playing on the PC I have many options when it comes to graphical fidelity. In the end I settled on high, which gave me the optimal performance. Every single car is expertly crafted inside and out. If you turned the HUD off you would be really hard pushed to tell it was a game and not video footage of a race.
This level of detail also extends to the world that Playground Games has created. They have went to great lengths to make the surroundings feel authentic, right down to the design of the brick walls and wooden fences that destruct beautifully when trampled on.
Edinburgh was a real highlight for me. Driving around areas I have visited many times in real life was something I have never done in a game before and it was a seriously cool experience getting to do so. Sure the roads are a little wider in the game than in real life. The Edinburgh streets also wouldn’t be that empty if the local Wetherspoons decided to start selling pints for 5p, but these are sacrifices to improve the driving experience. Narrower roads would lead to frustration in races and a more densely populated world lead to a GTA style perverse obsession with trying to knock people over.
One downside about the graphics is the character models. While this obviously isn’t a big deal in a racing game it is worth mentioning. Perhaps if the game wasn’t so jaw dropping in all other aspects it wouldn’t be as noticeable, but NPC’s you meet throughout the game look almost like mannequins or puppets on a string. Even worse is the odd splattering of people you find around the world standing outside pubs and other sociable locations.
AUDIO
Audio is key in a driving game. You need to hear the roar of the engine to really feel the power and speed be brought to life before you. Unsurprisingly Forza Horizon 4 gets the engine noises spot on. Every interaction with the world is captured with great detail as well. You can both feel and hear distinct differences when travelling on and between different terrains.
In terms of music we are also spoiled with six radio stations including the likes of Bass, Block Party and Timeless. most of these radio stations house around 20 songs, including the likes of The Killers, Kendrick Lamar, The Foo Fighters and even Eric B & Rakim! The audio is often lost in the background when people reflect on games, but here it is thrust into the spotlight and helps bring the game to another level.
GAMEPLAY
Forza Horizon 4 is the perfect blend of arcade and simulation racing. It is both easy to pick up and play but hard to master. Thanks to the new seasons mechanic which is the new feature that the game hangs it’s hat on this year, gameplay is more diverse than ever. You will have to approach winter races in a much different way than you do summer. The way the game pushes the season mechanic throughout did come across a little heavy handed at times, but there is no denying it is a game changer.
Boasting over 450 cars, I was surprised how unique each vehicle felt in terms of handling. The differences weren’t always obvious to onlookers, but you could feel little nuances that adapted your approach to certain races. On the cars as well, given the setting of this years entry the inclusion of the Bond license and cars was a really nice touch.
STORY
Story is a strange thing to talk about in a racing game. Forza Horizon 4 is built around a festival that is going on in the UK. Everything you do in the world you gain credits which can be used to buy new cars and houses. You also gain influence which unlocks new races and items. I should also note that influence can also be gained from both streaming the game on Mixer or even watching someone play!
So while the story is pretty thin on the ground as you would expect in a racing game, the race types are more varied than ever. You can pick up work as a stunt driver and take part in some spectacular set pieces. There is also plenty of off-road driving to be done as well as drifting, speed challenges and more. This stops any part of the game feeling repetitive and allows the gameplay to always feel fresh.
ONLINE
Online functionality is expertly woven in to Forza Horizon 4. In the opening hours of the game you encounter other AI characters known as drivatars. After what is essentially a long prologue these drivatars are replaced with real users, 72 to a server, and you can race around in an interconnected world. Playground Games is aware that the idea of other racers potentially intruding on peoples experience though and at any point you can seamlessly switch to offline mode without having to quit out of the game.
VALUE
The value you get with Forza Horizon 4 is off the charts. A vast and superbly detailed open world that you could spend untold hours just exploring before even committing to a race. With over 450 cars from more than 100 manufacturers on offer you could stick hundreds of hours into the game simply sampling all the different vehicles. Then there is the varied race types and the fact that these can be done in different seasons which can change things up completely. If you love racing games this will drain a large portion of your gaming time.
VERDICT
Simply put, Forza Horizon 4 is the best racing game I have ever played. Playground Games has created a masterpiece here. Gameplay is king and Forza hits the perfect mix of arcade and simulation. Seasons brings a new dimension to the franchise and there are more cars than you could ever ask for. The question I am left with is where can they take the series next? Many would have asked the same question last time around though and they continue to innovate and bring the series forward.
Reviewed on PC. This game is also available on Xbox One. Review code provided by the publisher.