Games
The Xbox rave racer shifts from the US to Europe but keeps it high octane
Forza Horizon 2 leads us into a fun hairpin
The scrappy, spunky younger sibling of Microsoft’s premier racer, Forza Horizon 2 continues the spin-off’s emphasis on ramshackle, rambunctious fun ahead of chin-stroking authenticity. While motor-obsessive developer Turn 10’s solo titles have been all about delivering the best track experience possible, 2012’s Horizon sidestep, with Playground Games riding shotgun, offered players the chance to drive a dream machine through a cornfield while listening to the Chemical Brothers.
Forza Horizon 2 moves the Xbox car action from the American Midwest to
FIFA 15 the sun-kissed road stretches of southern France and northern Italy. Players again take part in a variety of races ahead of a massive rave – the plausibly hippy-monikered Horizon Festival, with music curated by Rob da Bank – checking off a “Bucket List” of challenges across a full 24-hour day/night cycle with full, dynamic next-gen weather.
Particularly committed petrolheads can even join virtual car meets to compare vehicles, tune set ups and invest in hastily considered paint jobs. But then Playground’s playground is a fine looking place to play. From $80, forzamotorsport.net, Out October 2 on X1 and X360