Last summer we were treated to the fun first expansion for Forza Horizon 5, Hot Wheels. Now the next expansion has arrived, offering something completely different that hasn’t been explored much in the series so far: Rally. Of course, what we can see in this title is a version of Forza Horizons own sport and not a rally as such. Motorsport fans will probably notice it immediately, given the many technical issues that show this is not true rallying. Still, the game should be judged for what it is, not what some people want it to be.
This time we can enjoy a map called Sierra Nueva that is diverse enough to keep you interested. It includes areas of the world that we didn’t get to see in the original game, such as a quarry. If you don’t like that, you can drive down winding mountain roads, canyons or open fields, as well as dirt roads that perfectly fit the expansion’s aesthetic. The road network is worth driving yourself to and from the races rather than using the fast travel option.
It all starts with a new festival, Badlands. These festivals (or outposts) are a jumping off point for different types of races for those of you who haven’t played the original title. Badlands naturally focuses on rally adventures. The introduction allows you to drive there through rows of caravans and along the cliffs to try out the new mechanics. Upon arrival, you can choose from three different teams, each offering a different type of race. We have the Horizon Raptors focused on Dirt Rally (has nothing to do with Dirt Rally games saga), the Apex Predators specialized in Road Rally mainly taking place on asphalt and finally the Grit Reapers, who like to drive at night (preferably in bad weather). Choosing a team doesn’t affect the gaming experience much, but it’s a way of trying out a career of sorts. The others will be unlocked shortly after.
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There are around 25 events to experience, plus various speed cameras, drift and drop zones, and you can race in two different ways. The first is the classic in Forza Horizon: all cars go in one race at the same time. The second is new and more like a real rally and consists of running in the shortest possible time while trying to beat other drivers’ times. It also includes split time markers at regular intervals so you can see how far ahead or behind you are. I liked this type of race better, but if you prefer to compete against multiple opponents at the same time, this is an option. This type of racing, complemented by classic map reading for corners, jumps and other maneuvers, makes it look like a real rally. Most notably, your instructor doesn’t sit in the car with you, but flies over you in a helicopter. It’s very funny when chickens walk down the road and a driver’s warning appears saying “Chickens!” Those little details are what I appreciate the most. “Sharp left turn, slight right turn, then chickens.” Fantastic.
What would a new expansion be without some extra rally cars? There are ten new cars in total and I personally think it’s a small number. One of them is the classic 2001 Ford Focus RS, driven by Colin McRae and co-driver Nicky Grist. I would have liked them to add more rally cars, classic or not, as many of them are other types of vehicles (like buggies) but in a rally version. What matters is whether these cars (and the others) are fun to drive on the new map. The answer is that it’s a very enjoyable arcade experience and you can drive the car you want, although the game recommends some specific ones for each race. If you want to drive a 2015 Volvo V60 Polestar on the dirt roads of Mexico, you can. So, as usual in Forza Horizon, choose your favorite car and use it for all races, or switch from time to time. For me it was more fun driving real rally cars like the Ford Focus I mentioned earlier.
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Forza Horizon 5: Rally Adventure offers an arcade-style rallying experience that is sure to keep you hooked. It has a very diverse new map where you can drive around in classic rally cars and with co-drivers in helicopters, and there is a wide range of rally types (from gravel to tarmac). It retains Forza Horizon’s very fun racing style, but this time in its dustier version.
