It’s the second consecutive year that Turn 10 and Playground Games have delivered a Forza Horizon title where players navigate “on the left,” adhering to British road conventions. Following last year’s excellent, yet somewhat understated, Forza Horizon 3, set in Australia, Forza Horizon 4 transports players to Great Britain, specifically the northern regions of England and Scotland. The environment is visually impressive, although drivers continue to adhere to left-hand traffic.
Fundamentally, Forza Horizon 4 remains a racing game focused on delivering driving enjoyment, with a measured approach to realism. While not entirely devoid of realistic elements, it doesn’t reach the hardcore simulation level of the Forza Motorsports series or Project CARS. Set within an open world, players progress from unknown rookies to Forza Superstars by winning races, challenging rivals, performing stunts, and participating in showcase events. The game creates an engaging and visually appealing environment. This year introduces dynamic seasons, impacting surface conditions and gameplay. While the core concept remains stable and well-executed, significant conceptual changes are not present.
Given our previous reviews of both the second installment and the third installment, we assume most readers are familiar with the Horizon formula. If not, please refer to the provided links for more information. This review will primarily focus on the new features in Horizon 4. As expected, the fourth installment elevates the presentation further, a notable achievement considering the series’ long-standing reputation as one of the most visually impressive racing game franchises. The Xbox One X offers enhanced support, enabling 4K resolution at 30 fps, or a slightly reduced resolution at 60 fps. While we at senses.se generally prefer 60 fps, Horizon 4 remains visually appealing at a locked 30 fps, offering enhanced detail. The details are particularly important at high speeds, where motion blur becomes dominant, minimizing any perceived loss of detail. The 60 fps mode provides a smoother control experience, albeit marginally. Ultimately, the choice of mode is a matter of preference, as both perform admirably. The game exhibited minor pop-in and texture clipping issues during our early access, suggesting that these flaws may be resolved by the release date. A faster SSD may also improve the overall experience.
The sound design remains exceptional, with accurately reproduced engine sounds that dynamically shift based on the player’s perspective. However, the radio stations remain largely unchanged from the previous two installments, featuring similar playlists. This area presents an opportunity for improvement. Our preferred station, Timeless FM, while ideal for cruising in a vintage Ferrari while listening to Mozart, has become repetitive. The frequent and lengthy inclusion of Peer Gynt’s In the Hall of the Mountain King imparts an unwelcome children’s program vibe. Given the relative ease of acquiring rights for classical music, we anticipate a completely new playlist for Horizon 5.
The Horizon 4 world is expansive and densely populated with activities. The number of Horizon boards to smash has reached nearly five hundred. Completing all races in first place and achieving three stars on every stunt would easily require over 100 hours of gameplay. Collecting all 450 cars from over 100 different manufacturers adds further to the longevity. Special editions of the game and DLC are available, providing access to classic Bond cars and clothing. New customization options allow players to alter their avatar’s appearance and face, although precise control over features such as hair color is limited. While these additions are welcome, collecting 500 clothing items and accessories can become somewhat tedious, particularly when repeatedly winning duplicate items in the Horizon spinner. A premium mode is now available, offering three rewards per spin, but these spins are relatively expensive. A more focused approach to the main map content, reserving new highlights for upcoming locations and DLC, may be beneficial. The abundance of content in Forza Horizon 4 may lead to saturation. Reducing the repetition of certain activities, such as one-way ramp jumps, and introducing new challenges such as precision jumps, could enhance the experience.
Races can be experienced solo, in co-op (online), in PvP mode (also online), or in Rivals mode (where the aim is to set the best time). As in the third installment, players can customize races for specific car classes, with custom rules and restrictions. New for this year, players can now encounter their online friends on the roads, provided they are playing at the same time and connected to the game server. Due to receiving an early version of the game, we were unable to extensively test this feature, but expect it to function effectively.
Summary: Forza Horizon 4 upholds the high standards established by previous Horizon titles. It offers stunning visuals, highly enjoyable open-world driving, and a wealth of content. The game’s focus on competitions, stunts, and the exceptional showcase events (featuring races against trains, hovercrafts, and airplanes) combined with the allure of collecting new cars, makes Forza Horizon 4 a highly recommended title for racing game enthusiasts, particularly fans of the Horizon series. While more polished and contemporary than Horizon 3, it doesn’t quite reach the captivating level of Horizon 2, which impressed us significantly. Great Britain has never appeared so appealing and fantastical, leading us to add these regions to our travel plans. Until then, we’ll see you online in the highlands!
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