Turn 10 delivered a standout title with Forza Horizon 2, recognized as our top game of 2014. The question now is: can they replicate that success with Forza Motorsport 6?
When Xbox One launched, Forza Motorsport 5 accompanied it, a creation impressive in its graphics and mechanics. However, it was hampered by less successful design choices, such as microtransactions (real money) for vehicle and accessory purchases, likely stemming from a compressed release schedule (resulting in approximately 25% of the content from Forza Motorsport 4 being absent). Forza Motorsport 6 represents an advancement on nearly every front, although it’s immediately apparent that this is a Motorsport title, distinct from the Horizon series.
The Forza Motorsport games occupy a middle ground within the racing genre, offering a balanced blend of simulator and arcade racing elements. This approach broadens its appeal, attracting a diverse audience, though potentially not satisfying the most dedicated fans of hardcore simulators (such as Live for Speed) or those exclusively seeking pure arcade experiences (like Burnout).
Forza Motorsport 6 showcases a high level of technical execution, featuring an extensive roster of vehicles (460 in total, a significant number) and tracks from various locations worldwide. Included are renowned American circuits like Long Beach, alongside scenic European city courses such as Prague. The game emphasizes career progression, requiring players to achieve top-three finishes in races across diverse classes. New to this installment are mod packs – essentially randomized packages containing modifications that provide temporary or permanent enhancements to your vehicle (additional packs can be acquired using in-game currency, CR). Mod packs also contain “Dares,” unique challenges that impose restrictions, such as disabling rewind functionality or adding extra weight, in exchange for bonus points upon successful completion.
The graphical fidelity of Forza Motorsport 6 has been a recurring topic since the initial real-time demonstrations surfaced. The game now features realistic rain and night racing environments, rendered with a consistently stable frame rate of 60 fps. Regarding frame rate stability, Turn 10 deserves particular commendation. Forza Motorsport 6 stands out as one of the smoothest and most visually impressive games in the racing genre. Whether playing solo on detailed tracks like Prague, or engaging in online races with up to 23 other participants, the frame rate remains consistently locked at 60 frames per second at a maximum resolution of 1080p, a noteworthy achievement. This also highlights the untapped potential within the Xbox One hardware. While cross-platform titles often exhibit slightly superior performance on PS4, with marginally higher resolutions, Turn 10’s mastery of the platform yields impressive results, inspiring optimism for future titles. However, a perfect score is not guaranteed, as Forza Motorsport 6 exhibits some inconsistency in its level of detail. Tracks such as Prague are visually stunning, boasting advanced textures, sunlight effects, and impressive water rendering. Conversely, some of the classic racing circuits appear comparatively simplistic, with rudimentary design elements. The crowds in the stands resemble the sparsely detailed arenas of titles from 15 years ago. To be clear, Forza Motorsport 6 is not visually unattractive. However, the degree of detail and ambition varies noticeably between tracks.
The F1 cars are insanely fun to drive in Forza Motorsport 6.
Forza Motorsport 6 has adopted Horizon 2‘s engaging Showcase events, which offer occasional opportunities to participate in spectacular scenarios, such as an Indy race featuring a high-performance F1 car. These events add a welcome element of surprise and levity to the game’s otherwise linear structure, which consists of a set number of races in each category before progressing to the next. Cars can be won via prize spins each time the player levels up, as in previous installments, but they cannot be used freely. This is disappointing, as players may win valuable vehicles worth 1 million CR but be unable to utilize them until later in the game. The online component offers greater freedom of choice and features a refined ranking system that matches players with similarly skilled opponents, creating a streamlined and enjoyable online experience. Players can also compete for the fastest times, accumulate points, and receive weekly updates on their performance relative to the competition.
Forza Motorsport 6 executes most aspects effectively, and ultimately, the appeal comes down to personal preference. Players seeking uncompromising realism and challenge might find titles such as Project CARS or iRacing more suitable. Those who prefer intense arcade-style racing should consider sticking with Burnout and its derivatives. Forza Motorsport 6 occupies a middle ground – in many respects – and remains faithful to its predecessors. It performs well across the board, but lacks a singular standout feature, with the exception of its smooth and technically polished multiplayer mode. Therefore, existing Forza Motorsport fans will likely be very satisfied with this installment, which stands as the most impressive and well-crafted to date (competing closely with Forza Motorsport 4). At our editorial office, however, we find ourselves missing the freedom and driving pleasure of Forza Horizon 2. Many of us secretly look forward to continuing our automotive fantasies in the next Horizon title. Until then, Forza Motorsport 6 will provide ample entertainment.
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