The Forza Horizon series blasts off in the twilight hours of the Xbox 360's life time, creating a trend of alternating Forza releases that loosely continues to this day.
Starting up Forza Horizon after playing dozens of hours of 4 and 5 on the Xbox One X and Series X consoles feels like stepping back into the past - the 30fps frame rate and clean 720p imagery make it feel very 2012. Controls are a little less responsive due to the lower frame rate, and everything from car movement and track design feels like it maximizes the hardware's capabilities. It's a little bit more Burnout Paradise in its open world design than later Xbox One era titles, but the restrictions help focus the experience. Its minimalism comes as a benefit, with Horizon being incredibly straightforward compared to its gargantuan successors. There's a lot to be said about good, clean racing on well designed tracks.
The structure also massively benefits from its milder ambitions - earning points by winning races in order to unlock new races just feels so much more grounded in this game than it does in later titles. You're allowed to set your own progression pace - later Forza Horizon titles flop new races onto you all the time after finishing current ones automatically, obscuring your sense of progress on the map. This game allows you to earn points and trigger the addition of new races at your leisure, which makes it feel all the more flexible in its relationship with you.
It's an incredible game to revisit or play for the first time at any time. Truly an exceptional work of craftsmanship.
Starting up Forza Horizon after playing dozens of hours of 4 and 5 on the Xbox One X and Series X consoles feels like stepping back into the past - the 30fps frame rate and clean 720p imagery make it feel very 2012. Controls are a little less responsive due to the lower frame rate, and everything from car movement and track design feels like it maximizes the hardware's capabilities. It's a little bit more Burnout Paradise in its open world design than later Xbox One era titles, but the restrictions help focus the experience. Its minimalism comes as a benefit, with Horizon being incredibly straightforward compared to its gargantuan successors. There's a lot to be said about good, clean racing on well designed tracks.
The structure also massively benefits from its milder ambitions - earning points by winning races in order to unlock new races just feels so much more grounded in this game than it does in later titles. You're allowed to set your own progression pace - later Forza Horizon titles flop new races onto you all the time after finishing current ones automatically, obscuring your sense of progress on the map. This game allows you to earn points and trigger the addition of new races at your leisure, which makes it feel all the more flexible in its relationship with you.
It's an incredible game to revisit or play for the first time at any time. Truly an exceptional work of craftsmanship.