The recent news about the demise of Forza Horizon 4 and its expansions, Fortune Island and LEGO Speed Champions, has saddened me more than I would have imagined had I seen it coming. Microsoft has clarified that the game and its servers will remain active for those who have it in their library. And it will no longer be available on Game Pass.
I can understand that the news does not affect the majority too much. It’s been six years since its release and Forza Horizon 5 is wonderful, but it still hurts to assume that future players won’t be able to enjoy this gem. And why would they do it? The answer is very simple: it is still crazy graphically and playable in 2024.
Enjoying once again in Forza Horizon 4: freedom and wild driving
There is nothing like Forza Horizon. Not all of Ubisoft’s efforts with The Crew Motorfest have managed to capture that special “I don’t know what” that makes the Playground Games franchise so sublime. I haven’t had time to Forza Horizon 5, but Forza Horizon 4 stole a few hours from me. It continues to do so today, although in a much smaller way.
While racing is the main course for many players in Forza Horizon, I have always belonged to that group of players who prefer to roam around the world without interruptions. There are many activities available to do both solo and community. Many of my best moments have been during Forzathon events.
My best moments in Forza Horizon 4 They have been taking photographs and playing expansion LEGO Speed Champions. The latter disappeared from stores as soon as Microsoft announced the withdrawal of the game from stores in December and is only available with the most expensive edition. I already told you that this made me very sad for the new players and that I would come back to remember the old days.
I’m back to LEGO Speed Champions, although this time with my current account. I’m missing a lot of things compared to my original account: progress, money, cars… I lost it for reasons beyond my control. Even so, I have a respectable collection and I have begun my adventure in the world of LEGO, so it has been a matter of entering and wandering freely without procedures or tutorials.
Before I head into the LEGO world, I take a spin around the original map to get used to driving and remember the controls. I choose my beloved HQ Monaro GTS 350 customized like the Ford Gran Torino from Starsky y Hutch. If you know who they are, you are a real gentleman/lady. I thought about taking my Nissan R34 Skyline, but it has become an unruly beast due to my lack of practice.
See the LEGO world of Forza Horizon 4 After years it is something wonderful. I don’t really feel like doing races or other activities that require leaving the world, so I opt for my favorite pastime: walking around the world as I please, without directions or requirements. Stroll for the luxury of strolling.
Forza Horizon 4, especially LEGO Speed Championshas always given me unique sensations. I think that in some way it invites you to be yourself and I have never hesitated to let myself go. It is very liberating because I can play without pretensions. I don’t want to pretend to be good and much less am I here to prove anything.
I’ve never minded crashing into a tree, taking a wrong turn, or not going as fast as other players. In fact, I prefer slower cars. I am unable to enjoy the landscape when I take my Aston Martin Vulcan on Forza Horizon 4. My choice of the HQ Monaro GTS 350 and minutes later of the LEGO Mini Cooper S Rally (gameplay above) is proof of this.
First I go through the central city to hear the sound of LEGO pieces hitting the car once again. It doesn’t take long for me to leave the city and head into the desert area. It’s a perfect area to choose an all-terrain vehicle and do incredible jumps over the dunes. The Mini Cooper S isn’t the one to go for, but it does the trick of flying with every jump.
My next stop is the oval circuit, an area I’ve always called Nascar, and I floor the accelerator. The Mini reaches 240 km/h before taking the curve without letting go of the accelerator. I’m tempted to keep going around in circles without stopping, but I take the first exit and enter a wooded area. Although green predominates, the LEGO trees introduce pink, yellow, blue and even purple tones. I also pass through meadows full of blue, white and red flowers.
The road takes me to the coast and in the distance I see one of the most iconic locations of the expansion: the pirate ships. I press the accelerator and take a jump, which catapults me directly to the beach. More than a dozen pirate ships are piled up on the sand. After a few laps of the map, I end up in the playground, which I have always called Skatepark, where you can do tricks with the cars. Many people use it for drifting.
Six years have passed since the release of Forza Horizon 4 and I still can’t play it without constantly smiling like a complete fool. More on the map of LEGO Speed Champions. I had forgotten how happy I am walking aimlessly and aimlessly, taking advantage of every jump and doing all the crazy things that come to mind. I have to repeat these small sessions more often. It’s a shame that all this is going to disappear from stores. Fortunately, Forza Horizon 5 It is a great release for all new players.
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