Forza Horizon 5 is a racing video game set in an open world environment based in a fictional representation of Mexico. The game has the largest map in the entire Forza Horizon series, being 50% larger than its predeccesor, Forza Horizon 4 while also having the highest point in the Horizon series. The map was described by creative director Mike Brown as one of the most diverse Forza Horizon maps the team has built. The map contains an active caldera volcano, jungles and beaches, ancient Mayan temples, and towns and cities such as Guanajuato. Players can explore the open world freely, though they can also compete in multiplayer races and complete the campaign mode.
Both the cars featured in the game and the player character can be extensively customised. Players are able to create custom liveries and tunes for cars, and perform engine swaps, drivetrain swaps, or install body kits on certain vehicles. The game is the first in the franchise to support ray tracing on cars . What does feel different is the game's story campaign, which better weaves a throughline into the freeform driving gameplay.
Every time the player levels up, they'll unlock a new Horizon Story, which acts as a little story thread. The basic idea is that players control a superstar driver who comes to Mexico to help set up a sort of racing utopia. They start by establishing different outposts around the map, which bring different styles of racing to the world (off-roading, street racing, and more). The story beats that follow are short, sweet little missions that have the most fun with the driving formula.
Like with most AAA titles these days, Forza Horizon 5 will let players choose between a performance mode or graphics mode on the Xbox Series of consoles. For the Series X, both modes output in 4K with the graphics mode having a maximum frame rate of 30 while performance mode bumps this up to 60 with some adjustments to the graphics settings. On the Series S, the frame rates for the modes are identical to what's found on the Series X, but the resolution maxes out at 1080p. If you're playing on an Xbox One X, you'll be able to output in 4K but at a max of 30 fps. With exception to the original model Xbox, all consoles support HDR and raytracing is available in the ForzaVista mode when playing in graphics mode on a Series console. For the small sliver of campaign available to me, I got a look at some of the different races and events I'll be attempting to complete in the final game.
There is a nice mix of short, lapped races and long cross-country treks. The game is very welcoming of players of all skill levels as it lets me set the difficulty for any race I participate in. I also got a chance to experience two adventure missions that are more character-driven. In one, I help a photographer grab a bitchin' shot of my car in action during a sandstorm. While neither are all that interesting, they are decent showcases for the types of cars you'll be able to unlock in the game and just how varied and detailed this recreation of Mexico is. Another one of the new features of Forza Horizon 5 is EventLab.
This allows player to create their own tracks, game modes and custom cars. The events that are created by users will then show up on the world map for you to interact with and challenge. Forza Horizon 5 is a must buy game for racing fans and casual gamers alike. I don't know how, but Playground Games has made gains over Horizon 4 that I really didn't think would be possible. The visuals are stunning, the sound is amazing, the number of things to do is almost overwhelming and the gameplay feels refined, making it an amazing open world racing game experience.
The freedom to go pretty much anywhere in the Mexican will eat up a lot of time. Sure, there have been network issues, but these seem to be disappearing, allowing for an almost flawless experience. So, why are you still reading, go play this game on Game Pass, or flip a few extra dollars for the deluxe version and you get the VIP ranking, access to two expansions and a few extra cars that you might most likely enjoy. Of course, it would not be a Forza game if it were not for the cars, and Horizon 5 starts off with well over 500. Over the course of the next year or so, Playground games will also be adding more cars to the roster via car packs, gifts and random vehicle drops into the game.
I do have to note though with the number of cars comes a lot of those that we have seen before, but refreshingly, there are some new ones as well. As with all the previous Horizon titles, you can paint, apply decals and tune your car (engine, suspension, exhaust, tires, rims, etc.) to your hearts content. This is what makes a Forza game what it is, the ability to virtually tinker to make any car look and perform to your liking.
In terms each vehicles handling, I would have to say that they all feel more refined and even a bit more realistic than before. I may be crazy; however, a friend of mine who bought the deluxe edition of the game, allowing early access, also noticed a change in the handling of the cars, so at least I know that I am not totally nuts. Who knows, maybe there were tweaks to the game's physics model, but what ever I experienced, I did note it. One of the biggest online changes to Horizon 5 is the new Horizon Life mode.
Basically, this is where all the online activity of the game will be found. During my early time playing, and even after the game's launch, there were a lot of "disconnected from the network" errors popping up, and I found that I would consistently have to try to reconnect. Regardless, being able to populate the world that you are exploring is what Horizon Life is about. It also allows you to access Horizon Open, which is essentially the area for PvP races. 'Convoy' mode is back too, should you want to get a group of friends or strangers together.
It is a simple as driving up to them and once the 'invite' button comes up, press it to see if they want to join. And yes, you will find a huge open world in the new game, a sea of different modes, new technical features, many realistic recreated licensed cars, and much, much more. As you play the game, you'll earn experience points through skillful driving. Level up to unlock cars and outfits at home bases you acquire as you uncover the map.
In these first few hours, I tested cars like the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe, Ford Bronco, and Toyota GR Supra. The driving itself still sits at a nice sweet spot between mainline Forza's stodgy driving simulation and a more accessible, forgiving arcade racing game like Need for Speed—especially if you activate the assists. What's nice about Forza is that it really doesn't care if you fail. There's no consequence for coming in dead last during most races. Players still get necessary experience no matter what they do. The game just wants players to enjoy driving without pressure.
You can see that philosophy in action in the game's rewind function, which lets players turn back time at any point and reset their position with no consequence. Just try it again as many times as you need to so you can learn exactly how to solve the problem. It's a low-stakes approach that encourages players to perfect the nuances of driving at their own pace without the threat of punishment. As you advance through the single player mode, you can unlock expansions to the original Horizon Mexico site, and in an interesting move, you can choose how you want to expand the festival. You'll want to spend your upgrade tokens at Horizon Baja, while if you like road racing, Horizon Apex is the destination for you.
But you don't have to focus down on specifics and unlocking each sees multiple outposts bring with it a host of events; your world map will soon look like an Assassins Creed collectible guide. However, with a little light filtering, it's possible to concentrate on what you want to do, be that Showcase Events or just pootling around finding the bonus boards. Forza Horizon 5 is the highly anticipated follow-up to 2018's breakout hit open world driving game Forza Horizon 4, coming this November 9 to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One consoles, and PC on Windows 10 and Steam.
Lead breathtaking expeditions across the vibrant and ever-evolving open world landscapes of Mexico with limitless, fun driving action in hundreds of the world's greatest cars. Forza Horizon 5 seeks to differentiate itself from the competition by how it plans to evolve. This is due in part to Playground Games' commitment to the Festival Playlist, which will provide monthly updates with more content and new cars. Won 3 game of the year award which shows why it should have been nominated for the game of the year.
With 10 million players less than 10 days since launch, FH5 demonstrates how racing games are not a niche genre and should not be disregarded for being a contender for game of the year. The Forza Horizon series may have begun as a spin-off of Forza Motorsport, but the open-world racing game is now one of Microsoft's top franchises. This is Your Open World - Create your own expressions of fun with the powerful new EventLab gameplay toolset including custom races, challenges, stunts, and entirely new game modes.
Customize your cars in more ways than ever before with new options such as the ability open and close convertible tops, paint brake calipers, and more. Use the new Gift Drops feature to share your custom creations with the community. For example, driving a Toyota Supra is easier than a Ferrari Portofino. Usually when it comes to open-world racing games with countless vehicles, like Burnout Paradise Remastered or The Crew, they tend to feel quite similar if you've tried enough. While I've yet to collect many more cars, the hundred or so that are in my garage each have their own quirks.
Learning when to accelerate, when to brake, and what terrain each vehicle works best on is a worthy pursuit. As you use each vehicle more and more, you level it up and this accelerates the rate at which you earn XP from participating in various activities like drifting or races. Forza Horizon 5 features a number of robust multiplayer modes that are part of the base game.
Can Forza Horizon 5 Be Played On Xbox 360 You race against other players or participate in cooperative challenges. Once you get past how bloody gorgeous Forza Horizon 5 is, you sort of have to play the game. For those who have played past Forza Horizon games, this one should be familiar. You're let loose in an expansive open world filled with dozens of events, challenges, races, and more.
It's up to you to figure out where to go, what to do, and what to drive. Forza Horizon 5 feels great to play for those who enjoy that kind of freedom, and it's exactly why it isn't just another racing game. This consists of a series of mini-multiplayer games strewn across the map. One of these mini-multiplayer games is called "Piñata pop" where the Horizon Festival's cargo plane drops piñatas.
The goal is to pop as many piñatas as they can with the help of other players. It also introduces the "EventLab", a toolset in which players can create custom games, races, and more depending on their personal preference. According to Brown, it is an AI assistant that tracks the current statuses of players, helping them to link with other players online and play together. Forza Link can also link players' GPS systems if they accept the invitation from another player. Create your own expressions of fun with the powerful new EventLab gameplay toolset including custom races, challenges, stunts, and entirely new game modes. However, Forza Horizon 5 is on another level on Xbox Series X and it's one of the few games where I prefer the 30fps quality mode to its 60fps equivalent.
The increase in fidelity and the more graceful LOD transitions combined with the upgraded visuals elevate it significantly beyond performance mode. True, it's not 60fps but the motion blur is the best I've seen in bridging the gap. Of course, it is possible to play this game at full frame-rate with Series X's mixture of high, ultra and extreme settings - and that's where the PC version comes into play.
We'll be reporting back on our testing and experiences there soon. Although it might not boast the same complex mechanics and systems of a title likeForza,Blur'sarcade-style of gameplay was certainly a lot of fun to utilize behind the wheel. A career mode acts as a compelling campaign for those looking for one, but the online and co-op multiplayer through familiar cities caps off the experience nicely.
There's still room for the series to subvert expectations in future installments. For a second, I think it's going to toss me on a water vehicle in a head-to-head race against a Ferrari. Instead, it's a standard race where I can see some jet-skiers zipping around on the side of the road. It's still an exciting race, but one that makes me wonder what Forza Horizon would look like if it stretched out of its comfort zone more often. I've tried to put it out of my mind, but I can't help but think of Riders Republic. It's a racing game that almost shamelessly borrows Forza's formula, but finds several imaginative ways for players to explore its world.
Forza built a gold standard framework and now it wouldn't hurt for its creators to observe what others are doing base on it and take some inspiration along for its next ride. The FH5 online multiplayer is broadly similar to FH4's, with races and events both against and co-operatively with other players online. There's a couple of changes, such as the Forzathon Live event now becoming Horizon Arcade, and a new Horizon Tour feature that allows players to drive in convoy between race events.
Along with those visuals I speak highly about, the audio is just as good, making for a more immersive experience. As with past Horizon games, the music you can drive to, via the 6 available radio stations is back. The variety of tunes is large, even including classical music once again.
The in-game sound of the various cars and their engines are just amazing as how the cars look. Front engine, mid-engine and rear engine cars sound great, as their motors locale can be noted, especially if you are playing on a home theater system. The number of cylinders and how big the engine is also play into this formula.
The dashboard view makes the outside sounds somewhat muffled while the outside views provide the wind of a high speed car hitting over 200mph on a highway straightaway. The environments themselves have a level of detail that I didn't think would be in-game. From driving by and startling a flock of flamingos, the various waterfalls and running water, weather sound-effects, to the crowd cheering you on, it is glorious and adds to the realism. With just over 30 hours in Forza Horizon 5 at the time of writing, I still haven't even finished a third of what's available right now. It would probably take me at least 100 hours to 100% Forza Horizon 5 if I wanted to, and that's not even considering the replayability of everything in the game, especially the online portions.
This audio ray tracing approach transforms the Forza Horizon audio experience almost as much as FH5's revamped visuals do, once again making the game world feel much more alive and 'close'. Particularly during races, where the intensity and tension of the action is massively amplified by the way you can hear your rivals' cars coming at you from all sides. Create your own expressions of fun with the new EventLab gameplay toolset including custom races, challenges, stunts, and new game modes. Forza Horizon 5 begins with your car dropping out of a plane, and the Fast and Furious antics only ramp up from there. This year's Horizon festival takes place in Mexico, and right away the game smacks you in the face with a new attitude befitting the new setting.
I made everyone call me Big Boss, and it always felt appropriate. Forza Horizon 5's campaign consists of adventure missions and showcase events, which are races that task you with doing stuff that's a little wilder than simply driving a car real fast. How about a competition against a team of stunt performers wearing wingsuits? Can you take a picture from the inside of a Mad Max-style dust storm? In the past, I've been disappointed by how relatively tame Forza Horizon is compared to, say, Burnout Paradise, but these adventure missions inject some much-need adrenaline. There's no boost button, but it's thrilling to jump a cliff while blasting Spanish guitar riffs, classical music, or fresh remixes of fan-favorite contemporary songs from the in-game radio.
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