I would consider myself a heavy gamer. I’ve been fortunate enough to have grown up in the generation that saw gaming go from arcades to home gaming. This has also allowed me to be part of a specific video game franchise’s growth. I’ve been an avid follower and believer of the Forza series since the very beginning. The (now-defunct) Motorsports started it off, and it quickly spun off into the Horizon series, which has catapulted the franchise to new heights.
Having played all installments of the Horizon games, I have to say that it has evolved properly over the years, each new installment breaking new ground and expanding on the experience. When Horizon 6 was announced to take place in Japan, the collective gaming and petrolhead world went nuts, and why not? Japan is widely considered the “mecca” of automotive culture.
Eagerly anticipating the launch, I pre-downloaded the game for instant access once it went live. As I booted up the Xbox and the familiar Forza Horizon title screen came on, my excitement was off the charts. I began my journey, and here are my honest takes on what I think is a great game, but not as “epic” as people are saying it is.
Starting off with the good, Forza Horizon has always prided itself on the somewhat open world type of game that it is. Japan has been faithfully rendered to as much detail as possible by the Playground Games developers; you see interesting details like Shibuya Crossing, the perfectly coned and snow-capped summit of Mt. Fuji, and the complex and diverse mix of landscapes from rural rice paddies to the tight neon-lit streets of central Tokyo. In terms of putting together a true driving experience of Japan, the developers have done an amazing job. It is the prettiest and most diverse Horizon game there is in terms of landscapes and driving destinations.
I also particularly like that they made an emphasis on curating the right car list for Horizon 6. Most of the Japanese marquees have a mix of high-performance cars, along with interesting Kei cars, and some forms of public transportation. As an example, you can buy Toyota’s Crown taxi and the Hybrid London Cab version, despite not having any racing credentials. I swiftly bought them and spent hours driving around and taking photos, a great way to pay homage to Japan’s taxi heroes. The total list of cars available is currently numbered at around 600 plus, which includes treasure models you find in the different regions of the map, and the barn finds that you unlock after exploring enough of a region.
Coming back to the series is a proper progression system that was absent during the previous installment. To reach the end of the main story, one must win races of different types: Dirt Racing, Cross Country Off-Roading, and Road Racing. Accompany those with the side challenges of speed traps, speed zones, danger signs, and trailblazer, and you accumulate points that will unlock your access to the higher levels through wristbands. Each new level requires you to complete more of the aforementioned events and challenges, and in the end you get access to the exclusive Legends Island, which is on the bottom right of the map, and is closed off until you get the golden wristband.
Before I dive deep into the game experience, let me continue with the good news. Forza Motorsport and Horizon share the same name, but were always developed by two different companies. Motorsport was done by Turn 10 Studios, and Horizon was Playground Games’ project. The former tackled a more simulation and realistic approach to racing, and the latter, much like its company name, focused on arcade fun that was more approachable. Since Turn 10’s Motorsports project has been shut down (indefinitely) due to poor sales, they ended up joining the Horizon project, and for this latest game, it has become a welcome mix of realistic car handling dynamics, but still approachable and fun enough for non-seasoned players.
The last notable aspect of the Horizon 6 game is the addition of the Estates. Previously, you were allowed to buy a home, but now you can personalize the house you live in, particularly the garage. While the options are limited and the controls clunky, it does give you a sense of individuality; other players can come and visit your garage to gawk at your car collection and “hang out.” Hopefully, this gets expanded on with more customization options and access to fix up the main house apart from the garage.
Now onto the not-so-good news, as you play Horizon 6, you slowly realize that almost 90 percent of the experience is copy-pasted, the race layouts, the challenges, most of them resemble something already done before. Which to me is frustrating because between every Horizon game is at least 4 years, ample time to develop and change up the experience. Yes, I’m talking about this from the perspective of someone who’s played all games, but I’m sure even to the newcomers the game will feel extremely repetitive.
My main gripe with this game, and it almost ruins the experience for me entirely, is the computer AI behavior. We’re at a point in time where AI can deepfake the populous, yet Forza Horizon’s AI seems to be stuck in iteration number 1. They are clueless, to put it lightly, and drive downright idiotically to put it bluntly. The computer AI will 90% slam into you under breaking, crash you out for no reason, and have no sense of spatial awareness. This is also coupled with the fact that, for some reason, the difficulty is great even at the lower settings. I found myself struggling to keep up with the Average AI.
You can say maybe it’s down to my skill, and I am fully aware of that, so I popped back into my old Horizon 5 game, and my AI settings were at the second-highest, and it was still easier than the average one in Horizon 6. Mind you, there are 4 more tiers of difficulty greater than where my setting is now. Playground did say that they’re working on this, but I find it disappointing that they let the AI behavior be this way upon release. It’s a vital aspect of the game that they just let slide.
So, to really put it altogether, Forza Horizon 6 is pretty much an improved version of the 5th installment. Which was an improved upon product from the 4th installment… You get my point? However, I will say that, as a game to enjoy driving around in and just enjoying a wide breadth of car models from exotic to race cars to kei cars, Horizon 6 is unmatched.
The true achievement of the 6th game is that it enticed a whole new set of gamers and players, using the never-ending allure of Japan and its culture to get into it. Lastly, allow me to go off on a little tangent here, with fuel prices and traffic wreaking havoc on petrolhead lifestyles. Here is a place where all who love cars and driving can waste time and energy with a smile on their face and no dents on their wallets.
Words by Pablo Salapantan
they will just patch it maybe
ReplyDeleteThe AI is definitely the worst part of this game. The lack of in depth customization is also very disappointing, given the location/setting.
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