Forza Horizon

[Guinnes1981]

Surprised there isn't a thread for this (or if there is - i blame major sleep deprivation)!

Have to be honest, wasn't expecting much - open world racers just don't seem to float my boat, but after playing the demo it's now up there in my 'to buy' list. Racing seems responsive, fast and fun, and the 'Top Gear' style events look like they add a dash of variety. Also looked bloody lovely!

Seemed to have a bit more of a personality to it than the other Forza titles, after reading a few reviews it seems the whole 'Horizon' festival styling thing isn't to everyone's taste, but it doesn't seem as crass as some other games.

[mfnick]

I've got it pre-ordered.
I agree, open world racing games usually suck sweaty balls. But im a racing game/Forza whore so im still getting it. The handling model is really fun too from the demo & it looks like they actually close the roads off while in races so its more like proper courses meaning it shouldnt have the navigational issues of other open world games. The racing line directing you to way points you set on the map works really well too, meaning I never once had to double check the map to make sure i was heading the correct way. Huzzah! Seeing the dials in the car light up when turning dark looked cool as feck too.

I have a couple of issues with it though. The presentation is fucking awful. Imagine Dirt 2 but possibly even worse. Its so brash & in your face. I hate it. I really, really hate it. The announcers, DJ's & Tutorial bitch are really irritating too. The fast travel system sounds shit too. Why you cant just fast travel to events just boggles my mind! Why not just allow that option!? Fucking stupid.

Still, looking forward to it. If anyone fancies any races on it (or even Forza 4 for that matter) just give me a shout.

[maf-me-quick]

I'm really surprised at this to be honest. When I saw that it wasn't made by Turn10 and then seeing the E3 demo's I thought it was going to be really bad. The cars looked as if they handled like bricks and, as above, open world racers. Frowned upon.

But then Giantbomb and Eurogamer gave it top marks so they're must be something to it. Might check it out if I can afford it in a couple months.

[Noozles]

Pretty much ignored this until yesterday...

Played the demo and it has become a must buy for me....

[mfnick]

Mines been posted

[Noozles]

Got this yesterday (good old shopto)

Really enjoying it... Drip fed for the first few hours but its really opening up now... A lot to be said for just driving around fairly aimlessly...

[maf-me-quick]

Started playing this tonight. This is awesome. Like, traumatically awesome. I don't know what that means, it doesn't matter, the awesomeness is traumatic.

I really loved Forza 3. My hours clocked must of been 80 hours +, but this game? This is a Forza game for me. A bit of a shame some of the features are so online dependent, but not only does it look great and play great, which would of been enough for me, it actually has some personality which I find the more simulation racing games lack. Digging the soundtrack, too. Did I mention it looks stunning? It looks stunning. It's stunning to look at. Traumatically so.

[maf-me-quick]

Oh my god. Oh my god! Forza! This is easily one of my top 3 gaming experiences...all year? Can I still get away with that? Y'know what I mean. 2012 games. Anyway, let me get back to orgasming over Forza. Oh my god! Forza!

It's just...Argh! There are constantly meters filling and stats to track and signs to wreck through and and roads to find and events unlocking and it's so colourful and bright and sounds fantastic - cars and music - and the cars just feel so good. I've got a Jag XKR-S and it's only A class but it feels heavy, but flies around corners and the weight feels like it's pulling you with it. God dammit. Just the feel of the cars is so much better than any other Forza game I've played. I mean it's actually pretty similar, but I dunno, different somehow. The constant feedback from everything is just so great. And it's not just because the game keeps giving you stuff, that's part of it for sure, but just, man. Everything feels and looks amazing.

My pleasure centres are losing their shit.

[Blakey]

Got this for Christmas, still haven't got round to playing it though.

I want to complete FC3 and Sleeping Dogs before I get started on this...which'll probably be mid-February at the rate I'm going!

[maf-me-quick]

Forza Horizon is better than those two games in my opinion.

[Blakey]

Forza Horizon is better than those two games in my opinion.

A ringing endorsement indeed!

Long had a love-hate relationship with racing games, loved and played PGR1/2/3, Forza 1/Forza 2/Forza 3 but recently I just get tremendously bored with them, I got bored with GT5, NFS:Hot Pursuit and Blur within 30 minutes of playing, got bored within an hour of Forza 4 too.

Think the only racing games I've put any hours into in the last couple of years is Sonic All Stars Racing Transformed I played on the Wii U last year and DiRT 3 in 2011 which is one of my favourite racing games of all time.

Therefore I'm reluctant to take the plunge on any others, I purposefully didn't pick up NFS:MW as this would fall into the '30 minutes and then can't be arsed' category most probably, but I thought I MAY get on with Forza Horizon as it's meant to be a bit similar in style to the sublime DiRT 3 (Minus the rally cars) I heard...

[Guinnes1981]

I plugged a few hours into this at the weekend and echo pretty much everything Maf said. Most fun i've had with a racing game since Burnout 3. It's just fun, it dumps you into a gorgeous open map with some great cars, and let's you hammer the around big open curves at a blisteringly fast pace. I love the auto-tune option as well, seeing as i know sweet FA about the inner workings of a car.

[maf-me-quick]

I've now driven every road, found 90 of a 100 billboards and am 140-something favourite and have just spent a good 30 minutes taking pictures of a replay from when I raced a helicopter in a Corvette. Wish I could upload them, they look awesome!

Still only on the green wristband. Actually going to crack on with the races now and buy me a Ferrari or something. Banked 500,000cr, haven't even done anything yet!

[maf-me-quick]

Found my first thing I don't like about this game: Point races. God damn. I hate any event in any video game where it asks you to earn a certain amount of points in a set time. Especially in racing games where they don't let you crash or take away your points when you crash. My whole play style is built upon crashing in to stuff!

Although earlier I did bank 29,000 points in one go. Wasn't in said event, unfortunately enough, but it was still mental!

[Guinnes1981]

This is now my favourite racing game. Ever. There's sooooo much to do, and thats when i can tear myself around just driving around aimlessly. The handling's a joy. I now have an Ruf RGT8 and it's the first time i think i've become emotionally attached to a car in a video game. I love it, and begrudge any opponent that puts a scratch on it.

I keep stopping to admire scenery and show it to my wife. Virtual Colorado is fantastic to hammer about in.