Reviews on Forza Horizon 5

Playground Games surpasses itself once again with Forza Horizon 5, once again raising the bar for driving games

Many of you surely remember that commercial from a few years ago for BMW in which a hand swayed in the wind under the slogan: “Do you like to drive?” Perhaps the best analogy for the sensations one experiences when playing the new installment of the main saga of Playground games. Forza Horizon 5 These are new and current (or old, depending on how you look at it) consoles and PCs.

A title that comes with the intention of becoming the best driving game to date. As we are already used to this saga, we found a title designed for all audiences, because here we come to feast. Less experienced users will find a very pleasant front door to feel overwhelmed by their spectacular races thanks to its arcade driving system. Even if the most demanding players will also be able to satisfy their needs by personalizing their experience to simulation like that offered by the Forza Motorsport saga.

In Forza Horizon 5 there is room everybody, even for the simple fact of enjoying its landscapes. An open world adventure that this time takes us to Mexico to explore its diverse biomes of desert, jungle or countryside. Without neglecting its classic and spectacular racing events, whether on circuit or in its open world, against rivals of all kinds such as planes, motorcycles or trains, among others. Combine endless races, challenges or multiplayer events to play alone or with our friends.

Starting the engines

Our adventure in Forza Horizon 5 It starts with a fast and spectacular race in which we will drive different vehicles through various locations in Mexico. Descending from an active volcano, crossing its lush jungles, entering a sandstorm or driving at full speed in its colorful streets, a visual delight to surprise us from the first bars.

The Horizon Festival remains the common thread through special events that we will unlock as we win award points. An attribute that will increase as we complete the various tests that will populate the vast and varied map of Forza Horizon 5. We will be able to participate in outdoor races, on urban circuits, to mark the best times on a radar or fly as far as possible later to perform a spectacular prepared jump at strategic points on the map.

Each new area we explore will give us more types of events and events to participate in. While it’s true that winning will net us a good handful of reward points for leveling up faster, the important thing here is to participate. Simply completing races will allow us to progress smoothly through the main Forza Horizon 5 adventure. Taking it more seriously will be up to us.

We can choose between a good amount of difficulty levels to adjust the AI ​​of the rivals to our level. The Drivatares repopulate the roads and circuits of Forza Horizon 5, represented by the gamertag of our friends. When we win several races consecutively, the game will prompt us to increase the difficulty in order to also take an additional amount of credits, the game currency.

Pit stop

At our disposal we will have more than 420 vehicles on four wheels to drive on the roads of Mexico. If you have played the previous titles in the Forza series, you will receive a wide selection of rewards in the form of cars when you start the game. The main way to increase our collection is through the lucky wheels that we will get by riding each level or unlocking control of the car. Which are independently unlocked in each car by chaining skill points while driving. Although we can also buy them in the Car show in exchange for credits.

Engine specialists will also find plenty of customization options when it comes to tuning and tuning our cars. Allowing us to obtain additional power that improves the category in which we compete and, as usual in the saga, we can share our configurations and download those of other users. The same goes with the designs of our vehicles, thanks to a very active community, each vehicle has a large number of designs for all tastes created in its full editor.

Our avatar does not occupy a less important place in Forza Horizon 5. From the beginning of the adventure we will be able to create an avatar which adapts to our desires thanks to a much more inclusive editor improved than in previous deliveries. In turn, a whole arsenal of clothes, accessories and costumes will be at our disposal to go to the end, or not. We can change the look at any time among the different homes for sale in Mexico and they serve as a quick travel point.

Join the caravan

Thanks to Forza Horizon 5 trailers, we can share the road with our friends and enjoy events in co-op or in competition against the CPU or other players. We can also compete in the mode The eliminator, a kind of battle royale in which we have to be the last car standing as the map shrinks.

The mode Open the horizon It will allow us to compete by means of matchmaking against other players in races, drift tests and other mini-games. In the Horizon Stadium We can choose between different multiplayer games to capture the flag or the one that is infected. Random events Horizon Arcade They will take us in real time through different areas of the map to complete small challenges with other players. Due to a shortage of people doing this scan days before it was released, I was unable to play in busy races. Although all of my experiences have been satisfactory.

Enjoy the view

The visuals for Forza Horizon 5 also raised the bar yet again with unprecedented graphics and fluidity. The graphics mode It is a real beast visually, the quality of the textures, the drawing distance and the amount of particles on the screen are much higher than Performance mode. But of course, at the cost of sacrificing 30 frames per second for the necessary 60 fps that performance mode offers. An internal struggle that everyone must face.

As for the artistic conception, Mexico looks spectacular. The makeup of the huge Forza Horizon 5 map convincingly blends its 6 regions made up of different biomes. Thanks to photo mode we can get authentic postcards to remember thanks to its varied landscapes and the beauty of each moment of the day in its changing cycle. It is the most relaxing to get lost on its roads and end up discovering a Mayan pyramid through the jungle or spectacular views from the great volcano.

The design of the vehicles also meets the exacting standards of the series. Allowing us to observe in detail every square inch of the bodywork and interior of our cars. A combination that makes the game in motion at the limit of visual perfection in the driving genre.

Forza Horizon 5 overall takeaway

Forza Horizon 5 is hands down the best driving experience that I have played to date. A title designed so that everyone can be part of it and find the right level of involvement and results for everyone. Mexico will thrill us through its varied landscapes, exploring alone or participating in its hundreds of events and races. Lots of single player content and lots of cooperative and competitive options for your multiplayer.

At the visual level, we are also confronted with a graphic wonder, which dresses in the best possible way a Game user-friendly for the novice and malleable to the taste of the most demanding. A mandatory test for all Xbox Game Pass users, who will be able to take advantage of it from November 9. Playground has done it again.

This analysis was performed from an Xbox Series X.