Forza Horizon

Most importantly, it manages to simultaneously feel like a Forza game while also letting in more of what makes racing games fun for all players, rather than staying strictly focused on those of us who want strict simulations of varying realism.

For all the accessibility issues the original game had, Forza Horizon truly does offer something for everyone, down to the individual race options before each competition.

Entertaining, fulfilling and never frustrating, Forza Horizon manages to mix the series' well known realism with the light-hearted enjoyment only a free-roaming racer can deliver, becoming probably the best game in the genre so far.

Horizon is possibly one of the best open world racers available.

If you've loved the Forza series before, you'll enjoy this, and if you thought it was a bit too stuffy but wanted to get into it, this is the perfect starting point for you. There's a ton of content here, and thanks to its lack of an online pass, it actually makes for a great rental as well.

Forza Horizon trades the serious character of the Motorsports series for a game that is literally a party. Thanks to the great festival music the atmosphere is better than ever, while still keeping the Forza gameplay intact. Embrace the many different terrains, secrets and a breathtaking world.

A thrilling, colorful racer that pushes the 360 to its absolute limits [Christmas 2012, p.75]

Forza Horizon in many aspects orients itself towards the predecessor. But the open world and the festival the game revolves around is incredibly entertaining. Brilliant graphics and the sound of roaring engines round out a great racing game.

Forza Horizon manages to feel like something completely different, while retaining enough of Forza's core identity to make it fit really well into this established franchise. I'd highly suggest checking it out whether you're a Forza fan or just a racing fan in general; I doubt you'll be disappointed.

But getting behind the wheel of one of the most realistic driving engines and booting around, challenging racers, and having all kinds of fun adds value to all cars – not just the ones that are ridiculously fast and expensive. I've played the game at numerous difficulty settings both with 360 controller and MS Force Feedback Racing Wheel, and have come away impressed.

Forza Horizon is not simply a great racing game; it’s a great game in general. From the handling to the visuals and sound, from the tweaking to the reward system, Horizon has everything it needs to be an enjoyable time. It may lack the challenge and depth that fans of the core Forza series know and love but if you’ve admired the Forza Motorsport games from a distance (like me) then do yourself a favor and play this amazing game.

Like a real party Forza Horizon can entertain you for hours. The game offers variation in both the singleplayer and multiplayer modes and looks fantastic. The soundtrack just completes it. Despite a few flaws the franchise took a turn that proves to be good for newcomers, but also great for the fanbase. You can't miss out on this party.

Horizon sacrifices purity for spectacle, trades tuning depth for racing equality and shifts to an open road setting where once were trackside barriers and preset circuits, though none of this detracts from the glorious driving mechanics that Playground Games has superbly re-created under the watchful eye of Turn 10.

It would be a mistake to treat Horizon as just a spin-off of Forza because it's an excellent game with its own personality and great ideas.

Forza Horizon pulls off a splendid mix of arcade racing and simulator and impresses both visually and in driving mechanics. The presentation and attitude could be better and the game really flaunts it's coming DLC packs.

Forza Horizon is a game changer. A racing game that can be loved by both passionate drivers and lazy arcade gamers. One of this generation's masterpieces.

Forza Horizon isn't exactly ground breaking, games like Test Drive Unlimited and Burnout Paradise have already tried the open world experience. However Forza Horizon does it better than both and offers up an amazing experience that doesn't stop giving from start to finish, it is simply glorious.

With Forza Horizon, Turn 10 was able to truly innovate and create a game that is on a higher level than any other proposal.

The only thing I regret is that Forza Horizon is only available on X360, a platform that doesn't have a decent steering wheel. Still if I had to choose three games to take with me to desert island, two of them would be Forzas – the latest Motorstorm and the new boundless Horizon. [12/2012, p.64]

Forza Horizon is made of pure, unadulterated open world racing fun, and I can't take off points for that.

Forza Horizon does a splendid job of bridging together arcade-style and simulation racing into a package that feels like the best of both worlds.

Dare I say it, Forza Horizon is arguably the most attractive and all-encompassing racer of the generation.

Forza Horizon is a great spin-off for the series, great variety and gameplay, gorgeous landscapes, massive soundtrack and nice free-roaming structure. It's hard not to fall in love with. Those who love racing games can't go wrong with Playground Games effort.

The last time I had this much fun with a similar racing set-up, I was playing Project Gotham Racing 2. Fans of the genre should definitely keep an eye on whatever Playground Games decides to invest their considerable talents in next.

At the end of the day Forza Horizon is the racing game I have been wanting for quite some time and Playground Games should be commended. With a good mix of simulation and accessibility, new open road exploration, the freedom to get away from closed tracks, and some great visuals and sound, I found I could not stop playing and neither will you.

A great game, full of details that make it shine every time we play. Forza Horizon needs many hours to make the most of it, but just a few minutes to start enjoying it. It also proves that an open-world title could be as deep, profound and interesting as any other game.

Horizon represents a successful attempt to morph the notorious racing game into a street racer that could define a new future for the Forza Motorsport franchise.

A breath of fresh air for the series and one that should appeal to fans old and new, Forza Horizon may have toned down on the realism but the open world environment and host of quirky ideas more than make up for any discrepancies. This is a racing game that has plenty under the hood, and leaves you wanting one more shot at racing glory.

Taking a new turn, the new Forza game delivers an immense world to explore packed with superb graphics and an incredible sense of freedom. It's not a "Forza Motorsport" game per se, but it's a great game in any respect.

Not only is Forza Horizon a worthy addition to the series, but one of the most comprehensive racing experiences this generation.

While Forza Horizon does have room to grow, it's fantastic for anyone who wants to take to the open road with more authentic driving and car customization.

Forza Horizon was definitely a great surprise. Not only does it carry the Forza name, it carries the quality, just in a different form.

I find it easy to ignore Forza Horizon's traditional multiplayer when the single-player is so captivating and enriching.

Horizon may not be the natural successor to Forza 4, but it manages to steer the franchise in a fresh and entertaining new direction. Serious Xbox racers need a lot of room to properly stretch the legs of their Ferrari F-40s and Audi R8s, and Forza Horizon delivers that room - and those wonderfully responsive cars - in spades.

I'm the type of guy who actually goes for Sunday drives. Weird, I know, but it's true. As such, Forza Horizon felt like it was developed just for me. It may not be the perfect title for the F1 fans looking for a classic racing simulator, but for anyone who has ever turned their head as a Lamborghini whips past them on the interstate; this game needs to be played.

As a street-legal version of a purebred racer, Horizon is something that anybody with an interest in cars can pick up quickly and play for ages. And if you don't like cars already, well, it might just persuade you.

If you're only going to buy one racing game this year, make sure it's Forza Horizon. This game is pure brilliance.

If you love Forza 4, this is the perfect companion. If you love cars, this is essential. The school of thought may be that it's hard to push racing games this late in a generation, but Playground Games hasn't just moved the needle here. It's buried it.

Forza Horizon is built on the best parts of the Motorsport games but delivers a strikingly different experience to them, and in many ways a better one. It has its own personality. It exchanges infinite laps and bottomless grind for an actual structure and a sense of adventure, while mastering its roads requires less practiced skill than it does courage and intuition.

There's nothing really like Forza Horizon out there right now, as the wide-open world to explore and solid handling of the Forza franchise come together beautifully. Yes, Playground and Turn 10 had to compromise on what feels like a rather hefty list of features and selling points in order to make Horizon a reality on Xbox 360, but the relatively few new things this game includes add up to a massive impact on how it's played and enjoyed.

Playground Games took a humungous, beautiful world, packed it full of entertaining challenges and events, added in tons of personality and style, and built it all around the proven Forza tech, giving racing game fans an exceptional automotive experience that they didn't even know they wanted. For as much as I love Forza Motorsport, it's going to be hard to go back after this.

While it doesn't exactly innovate, there's nothing that could really keep me from recommending this game.

Forza: Horizon turns away from the down-in-the-weeds realism of previous versions to provide a more approachable ride. It's chock full of things to do and races to run, but even just driving through the spectacular countryside provides hours of enjoyment. While it's not strong in innovation in the genre, it does a respectable job of maintaining the status quo.

If you love cars, fasten your seat belt and start your engines. One of the biggest racing games in recent years.

Forza Horizon is a great spin-off that delivers pure arcade racing fun in an amazing open world environment – but purists beware: this is not your kind of Forza anymore.

It is tremendous fun to cruise through a breathtaking virtual Colorado, explore and listen to the fantastic soundtrack. On top of that the brilliant driving physics show that the Forza-DNA is still intact and working. But AI problems, a missing split-screen and the reduction to a maximum of eight players online eventually show that there is still room for improvement.

If you love Forza and love exploring, there really isn't any reason why you shouldn't pick up Forza Horizon.

DLC nagging aside, Forza Horizon is a solid arcade racer, if not the hardcore open world sim some were hoping for. There are plenty of challenging and enjoyable game hours here to be had, not just across the single-player mode, but in terms of leaderboard chasing and online racing, so long as the lobbies remain populated. It is great fun exploring what Colorado has to offer and a worthy driving game to sport the Forza name.

Forza Horizon is a game that really needs to be judged on its own merits, and not compared strictly to its predecessors, as they're related largely in name only. If you can put aside your preconceptions, then Forza Horizon is a very tidy package indeed.

It has a few quirks that come with the franchise's first attempt at an open-world game, but at its heart, it's still a solid Forza title. I can see Horizon being the start of a continuing bold new direction for the franchise, and with a bit more polish, I can even see it becoming the Forza standard. If you're a Forza fan, this is definitely worth checking out.

A great arcade racing game, with a lot of content and nice visuals.

Forza Horizon is a complete driving experience. Its great music, its magnificent scenery, freedom and the Horizon Festival is the perfect place to drive around for days and days.

Forza Horizon is a well-crafted game that offers a fun racing experience that accommodates different approaches. It's not a complete experience, but it's a take on the Forza franchise that does the series proud.

Horizon's occasional missteps may clash with the machinelike precision of the Motorsport games that preceded it, but its ambition and untethered road map more than make up for those faults. This is a game that understands the thrill of the open road, and in delivering that thrill it's an unqualified success.

Forza Horizon is a good first effort at an open world racer for the series, but it's not quite top-tier in the category yet. A decent story would be a good place to start.

While Forza Horizon can feel like demographic-mongering, interactive junk food, you'll find a deeply engaging racing experience below its overly gaudy candy-paint top coat. The game truly shines when it lets you live out your childhood fantasies, driving that car from the poster on your bedroom wall down a meandering motorway toward the sunset-soaked … well, horizon.

Forza Horizon tries to appeal to younger generations, fortunately that does not spoil it. Not bad, but previous Forzas are better. [Nov 2012]

Valiant and almost flawless effort to bring more arcade elements into the serious Forza games offers more than any other competition. [Dec 2012]

It is no secret that I loved Forza 4, I gave it perfect score and still play it regularly so what does a Forza fan think of Horizon? Forza Horizon looks gorgeous, feels great and really is a fun game to play. It is easily one of the better arcade racing games on the market, but I lost interest very quickly. There is no way that I will be playing Forza Horizon in 12 months, I will be lucky to be still playing it in 12 days! That is not to say that you should not try it for yourself, just do not expect it to hold your interest for months to come.

Most gamers should find many solid hours of entertainment in this title, and most racing game fans will probably wish they could live in it.

A different, but superb Forza title nonetheless. The game does not harm the series name; on the contrary, it expands on stiff racing circuits with a dense public traffic panorama. Even though it has its flaws and the game shows compromises in it, as their first attempt Playground Games own this specific sub-genre. However, no daydreaming to you Playground Games, you need to drive away from your competition, especially from your Turn 10 fellows.

Expressing its love for beautiful cars and intuitive driving controls, Forza Horizon offers a new arcade and fun dimension that could not be found in the Forza Motosport series. Playground Games manages to create a pleasant road trip where competition can easily replace our need to travel. With hundreds of cars to unlock, Forza Horizon proposes a well-balanced gameplay, despite some problems regarding the A.I. and the multiplayer modes.

This is a thrilling, charismatic, feel-good racer. They are the definitions that matter.

It's a refreshing take on the racing genre that successfully straddles the line between serious car porn simulation and arcade-like bang 'em up games (including its voracious hunger for your "quarters").

With this shift to an open world style, and storyline-driven progression, Forza has drifted into an area that the franchise probably requires, but isn't expertly realized.

Forza Horizon impresses, and not just with the high quality of almost all its facets or the sheer amount of content in the package. Where it really wins us over is in the pure driving bliss that too few racing games remember to include these days.

Previous Forza entries showed glimmers of personality, hinting at a broader approach to accessibility, but were too shy and reserved to truly let loose. Horizon boldly goes there. It's a magpie game, assembled from pieces of other series, but it delivers a driving game precision engineered to offer all levels of player the best possible experience.

It will be interesting to see how Forza Horizon fares against Need for Speed: Most Wanted, Criterion's new open world racer that is out next month. But in the absence of that review, it is clear that Playground Games has seriously raised the bar in all areas for the non-linear racing genre with Forza Horizon, and others will now have to play catchup.

Had enough of the limitations of circuits? Looking for a fun party with lots of speed, hefty competition and loud thumping music? Enough reasons to delve into Forza Horizon. It's not the 'next best thing' regarding free roaming racing games, but it is a good step in a new direction for the franchise.

The game's most compelling aspect is its almost RPG-like popularity engine, which encourages you to see every slight kink in the road as a means to show off. If driving like a hooligan without having to face any consequences – in cars you'll never be able to afford – sounds appealing, then you'll love Forza Horizon. Whether by accident or design, Microsoft has hit upon a format that gives its flagship driving franchise the credibility it previously lacked.

Forza Horizon does more for the Forza franchise than it does for the open-world racing genre. It shows off the freer side of the series with high-production visuals and music, though it sometimes tries too hard to be cool and could have included a stronger range of content and weather effects. Still, as a casual departure, Forza Horizon deftly navigates the world between technical and casual racing, and is worth well more than the usual test drive.

When it comes down to it, some automotive enthusiasts just want to jump into the car of their dreams and go for a long drive through the country, and Forza Horizon delivers that simple pleasure on a silver platter. The fact that a solid racing game is included doesn't hurt either.

Probably the closest you'll ever get to another Project Gotham Racing, with a fantastic-looking open world filled with top class racing opportunities.

A great departure from the core Forza Motorsport titles. If you're blindly walking into the game without knowing that it's less sim-driven and far more of a fun arcade racer with many of Forza's trademark trappings--rewinds, color-coded tracking, and customization--you're likely in for a rude awakening. It's got its bumpy patches, but if you're interested in playing a long, deep, and rewarding racer, Forza Horizon is a game worth putting in the mileage on.

In its attempt to make the Forza brand more accessible, Horizon has delivered a ride that is fun for brief spurts yet doesn't reward mastery of the vehicles within. [Dec 2012]

Get beyond the cynical positioning of Forza Horizon and you'll find a racer that is, ironically, as efficient and refined as it's older, more mature, siblings. Whether it can build a community as effectively as the Motorsport games is unlikely, but Horizon, for all its familiarity and reluctance to experiment, is still a fine addition to the Xbox 360's roster.

Forza Horizon is a fresh branch on the Forza tree. It is truly a pleasure to drive the beautiful cars pedal to the metal through the magnificent scenery, but Forza Horizon feels a little bit inconsistent at times.

With Forza Horizon, Microsoft Games succeeds in blending the Forza spirit with open-world gameplay. It's an all-new atmosphere for racers to discover, with miles and miles of roads to race on with a true driving experience and sensations. But this new open-world philosophy could have been better exploited with more variety and fun, especially in multiplayer ; as is, it feels a little incomplete.

I'm disappointed with the new Forza, but not because it's a poor game or one that doesn't meet my expectations. It's a really good game, but there's no big ambition. You play it and you put it away. The first admiration fades away quickly and later on it is evident, that the developers lacked ideas for filling an open world with content. It looks as if the new Forza is a framework that will be filled by the means of DLC. How else can you think about it, when all the game's secrets can be revealed by using real money? It can be done using the game's virtual currency as well, but it will take more time. Playground's new game is a technological gem and nothing more.

Thanks to a sloppy handling model, it lacks the precision required of its predecessor, so sim racers will probably struggle with the controls. Meanwhile arcade racers will struggle with more advanced driving techniques such as counter steering and throttle feathering. If you can get your mind into the right headspace for the game, approaching it as an arcade game with complex controls, there's definitely fun to be had here. It's just not up there with the likes of games dedicated to arcade or sim, but not both, such as Hot Pursuit or Forza 4.

In Forza Horizon, racing is rubbing, wrecking, banging, and rewinding. Without a meaningful economy, there's no incentive to drive anything other than completely wrecklessly. The driving physics concur. This is one of those games that has no solution to the problem of videogames teaching kids that the best way to keep inside a turn is to bounce off the side of another car. Bounce off other cars, rear end the guy in front of you to slow down, and cut across corners with impunity.