Review: Forza Horizon 4

It arrived! “Forza Horizon 4” is the new game in the famous and acclaimed racing franchise for Xbox One and PC. In it, players leave for a fictional United Kingdom, where they participate in hundreds of races in the competition that names the title. But does the formula still work? Did Forza Horizon 4 do its homework and manage to exceed our expectations as a passionate gamer? Find out in my full review if the game is worth playing!

By the way, the gameForza Horizon 4” takes you into incredible competition in a region that is literally in love with mass speed. This time, the region is the UK, even if represented in a fictional way on a reduced map, it still manages to convey the feeling that we are disputing races on the most beautiful roads in the world. For long-time pilots like myself, the start of the game is pretty much the same as in previous versions.

The cool thing is that in the game you start as a total unknown in the midst of so many talents, and little by little you have to prove your potential, whether by winning tests, disputing challenges against other unusual machines that you will discover throughout your career, or even taking risks in radical maneuvers as a stuntman. Although well known, the proposal fits like a glove for the game. Several improvements over Forza Horizon 3 have been made, and in terms of graphics and gameplay, Horizon 4 never fails.

Furthermore, this time the great promise of Forza Horizon 4 it is precisely to present the four seasons of the year that we have in real life in a way never seen before in an arcade racing game. Each of them brings very different characteristics, both in the visual part and in their gameplay. With the races in full summer, my car behaved better on the track, with much more grip.

To give you an idea, during the winter season, the sensation is that of riding on top of a soapy bathtub. And the way in which this is inserted into the game does not take away the mixes arcade gameplay with simulation that he proposes all the time. For example, it is still possible to use your opponents as a wall, or crash without fear of damaging your car, while looking for a less daring layout to stay on track. It's a real adventure.

In practice, the racing system in Forza Horizon 4 remains identical as in other versions of the franchise horizon and also the Motorsport. You have to travel the roads to participate in tests such as races on predetermined circuits, races from one end to the other, and challenges against time. To navigate the huge map, there is the possibility of using the famous fast travels, which in turn needs to be purchased later.

In addition to the traditional festivals, they are located in houses, wherever you need it "purchase” the residence to have the marking point. In them you will also find some options like customization of your avatar. This in turn now brings elements inserted in Forza Motorsport 7, such as hats, boots, clothes and funny costumes. It is worth checking!

Even so, the biggest novelties launched are due to the inclusion of new races online. Among them, there is a test between teams of six runners each, where to win it is not enough to get ahead, but to gain more skill points, with risky maneuvers along the routes. Despite some lags along the way, I found it by far the most fun of all.

The system model forzathon is also present in the new game. For those who are not so familiar with this modality, it brings varied challenges with a certain period to complete. at least in Forza Motorsport 7, many of the rare customization items were earned by him. During my analysis, I can see that I really liked some specific changes in relation to the horizon 3, which had a wide range of changes.

Another aspect that I had mentioned in the 2016 review of Horizon 3, from the first horizon, the franchise force made sure to draw a line between the open world title and its traditional franchise: Motorsport. While the first bets on a more Arcadian and less committed to the realism (cliché, I know), the other focuses more and more on simulation, fighting games like Project Cars and Gran Turismo.

However, I can confirm with certainty that the new version of the Horizon franchise manages to establish a much more balanced gameplay in this chapter. Although the focus is still on the arcade, with cars colliding all the time without this influencing speed or durability, it is still not as artificial as its main competitors on the market today.

In "Forza Horizon 4“, the graphics are beautiful, deserving great praise in relation to the composition of the cars. Externally, every detail is present, even when new parts are duly added. And internally, the amount of detail in the interior view of the vehicles is impressive. From the simplicity of the most common models, to the extravagance of the most expensive ones, with personalized steering wheels and a panel covered with a layer of leather.

In addition, there are several lighting effects with a definitive example and they also put on a show of their own. It's details, but they make total difference indeed. A reflection of the sun hitting the glass, or the external elements of the scenery being reflected in the car are jaw-dropping. if the Microsoft Studios along with the Turn 10 Studios wanted a game to showcase the potential of its latest console, Forza Horizon 4 will be the best game in video game history to date (2018) in the arcade racing genre.

And you, what is your opinion about Forza Horizon 4?

Image: Xbox