FO RZA HORIZON 4

Andy: I can’t enjoy driving games that aren’t Forza anymore. The handling has a noteperfect balance of weight, power, and responsiveness, and in the Horizon series we get a satisfyingly streamlined take on that driving model. The UK is an inspired choice for a setting, particularly the winding mountain roads of the Scottish Highlands. Aside from everything else, it’s the feel of the driving that I love in Horizon 4, whether you’re carving up a dirt track or screaming along a stretch of motorway. Phil: ‘Racing’ may not be the most accurate award, but ‘Best Having a Fun Time in a Variety of Cars Game’ was too long of a title. Forza Horizon 4 is a great racing game—offering just enough realism to give its arcade handling a proper sense of heft and presence—but its real success is ensuring each of its many activities is reliably entertaining. Maybe that’s an off-road race against AI drivatars, or a cooperative Forzathon challenge to drive very fast down a specific road. Maybe it’s hunting down rare cars in abandoned barns, or smashing billboards for experience points. And maybe it’s skidding around a big field, building your skill chain to unlock perks for your car that let you earn even bigger, more ridiculous skill chains. That handling system is so expertly tuned that, whatever you decide to do, and whatever car you drive, you’re going to have a good time. Fraser: I haven’t driven since 2002, and generally think that cars kinda suck. With Forza Horizon 4, I get it now. I had a similar revelation with Burnout Paradise, but I drifted away and stopped caring again. Now I can’t get enough of cars. Dumb cars, mostly. I found a rubbish little thing that could barely hit 40, tuned it up, and now can’t drive it anywhere without doing donuts up and down the road or smashing into walls. It’s uncontrollable, and also my favorite car. And what a treat it is to careen through Edinburgh! I lived there for 11 years, and it’s eerie how good the digital facsimile looks. Phil: I do still think it’s ridiculous that you’re just handed a free house within the first hour of play. That is not how Britain works.