Tis the season

Every year it seems people wonder how Playground Games will top their previous effort with the Horizon series. Forza Horizon 4 is yet another one of “those games” that meshes the beauty of Forza with the accessibility of an arcade racer. The landscapes are gorgeous and the racing is tight. Toss in a 60fps mode for X owners and this year’s game seems to check every box imaginable. Yes it is another tour de force in both graphics and gameplay, but has the series finally run its course as far as structure goes?

Forza Horizon 4’s world functions mostly the same as the previous games. I was still driving around the world picking up races to partake in, hitting billboards, and competing against large vehicles in showcase events. The scenery this time around focuses on the lush English countryside of Great Britain. There are plenty of landmarks, historical buildings, and even animals scurrying across the road. It is absolutely stunning visually. The game features 4K support on the X running at 30fps. Playground has also opted to include a 60fps mode at 1080p. While the visuals at 4K are stunning, I had to spend the majority of my time at 60fps because it just felt so good.

MSRP: $59.99 (Free w/ Game Pass)
Platforms: XB1 (reviewed), PC
Price I’d Pay: $59.99

The hook for this year’s game is seasons. The intro section took me through all four of them, and it really does change things up. Racing on areas previously inaccessible such as frozen lakes really makes it feel like a new world. Playground has accurately captured each season with painstaking detail. Even the clouds are modeled for each one. If nothing else, Forza Horizon 4 is a visual showcase for Xbox owners.

Another change to this year’s game is the progression system. Every car has its own skill tree with various perks that can be unlocked as they are leveled up. It sounds overwhelming for sure, but after a few hours in-game I was racking up skill points left and right. The perks are also nothing revolutionary or game-changing, just a nice way to give an extra boost to my favorite rides. Each event also has its own progression outside of the main system. Moving up these unlocks new races and events that can be undertaken. The list of bars that increase as I played is incredibly vast. The game feels like something the developers intended to be played for a very long time.

While the format remains mostly the same, the new tweaks really help set this entry apart. The showcase races feel more dynamic this time around. Of course that is helped by the themed Halo race. My favorite new even though is the top 10 racing games of all-time. This goes through the ages of video game titles such as Outrun and Project Gotham Racing. It is a neat nod to past driving games, and breaks up the monotony of yet another street or dirt race.

The seasons also play a big role after the intro. Forza Horizon 4 is a living game. Meaning once the honeymoon is over, players are thrust into an online instance that has a set number of other drivers, as well as a set season. Each week it changes, which means for a week everything is Winter themed. They did give the option to switch that up during specific races, but the exploration is always tied to whatever season the game is running.

Accessibility is a big part of the Horizon games. I could tweak difficulty of every little nuance. I was also able to tweak the way my car handles. Players can now purchase properties and even dress up their avatar. Car customization is also in full force. The liveries still exist and there are plenty of themed designs to choose from, standard and user created. Also killer nod to classic franchises, I see you Killer Instinct themed horn. The game is simply packed with things to see and do.

My biggest gripe is that the game just feels like it is running on its laurels at this point. The formula is great, but also tired. I prefer Horizon games to the standard numbered Forza games, but I was hoping for a bit more diversity in its structure. Also can we please fix the little things? Fast travel and getting in and out of cars remains a sore point. Just give me the option to switch cars in the menus. Don’t make me travel to a property or hub to change which car I am driving. I can suspend disbelief in a lot of areas, I don’t need realism for these.

Overall Forza Horizon 4 is the greatest game I feel just kind of meh about. I mean there is absolutely nothing wrong with so many aspects of this title. It is polished, fun, smooth, and gorgeous. I think I am just growing tired of its structure. Still it feels like this title may see more updates than any previous entry. It has dozens of hours of content already packed into it. It is visually stunning and a blast to play with friends. It is hard not to love what Horizon 4 does.

Review copy of game provided by publisher.