Review: Forza Horizon 2

Playground Games teamed up with Turn 10 and Microsoft to launch the long-awaited sequel to Forza Horizon: a very well-known series that offers players a completely different way to experience racing in an open world. Did the new Forza Horizon 2 meet all our expectations? Find out in my full review here on the blog!

First of all, it’s undeniable that Turn 10 had already done a fantastic job with the Forza Horizon series, which, despite starting on the previous generation of Xbox 360, ended up revealing all its great potential, both on the Xbox 360 and the new Xbox One.

The series itself has always aimed to distinguish itself by how it pushes the limits of competitions, as well as how players can customize various aspects and additional details of their vehicles in a fun and complex way.

Well, as soon as we first start Forza Horizon 2, we are taken to an introduction video with real footage, where from the start we realize that the game is set in a festive environment, that is, open, where everyone is having fun and driving fantastic machines.

Forza Horizon 2 takes place in the southern Europe region, and right after the introduction, we go on a small journey driving a Lamborghini Huracán, until we get to the first race, where everything starts to get even more fun.

Actually, this isn’t exactly a race, as we don’t have direct competitors, nor a specific time to reach the final destination. However, when we find ourselves behind the wheel of such a car, and see other cars circulating and passing us by, it’s hard not to floor the accelerator to the max.

That’s because leaving behind all those cars in front of us provides a fantastic championship-like experience. After reaching the final destination, we’ll see the Horizon explanations, and we can select from a few cars in the same series to participate in an official competition that varies according to the vehicle.

When it comes to gameplay and vehicle response, Forza Horizon 2 stands out again with everything that Forza fans are used to. The projection is so realistic that it’s necessary to calculate the right moment to brake, the right time to take your foot off the accelerator…

To provide the player with a unique and fun experience, the response of some vehicles is directly related to the machine we are driving (including customization). Classic cars from lower ranges handle much better on the road than more powerful cars like Lamborghinis.

One of the most important points, which greatly affects the way you play Forza Horizon 2, is what they call Drivatar. But what exactly is this feature? Well, basically, it makes the information from opposing cars (AI) based on the way real players play.

Instead of the AI-controlled vehicles having several predetermined routes and driving styles, the game analyzes the way our friends and players from all over the world play, transferring that playstyle to a Drivatar in our game.

An interesting aspect is that each car carries the names of other players on Xbox Live. The most amazing part is that we get reactions and driving moments that are much more human from other drivers.

These are true movements made by other players, allowing for much more random driving moments than those typically found in a classic AI. Above all, it conveys a broad sense of competitiveness and aggressiveness from the other drivers.

If you’re interested in knowing what types of vehicles you can buy, the game’s catalog offers over 200 vehicles initially, from multiple categories and classes. It’s certainly not a very impressive number, and the truth is that more cars are already planned through DLCs.

Speaking of vehicles, Forza Horizon 2 has plenty of customization options, both for the exterior and interior of the car. Forza Horizon 2 is truly fantastic for all die-hard car enthusiasts.

The number of customization options is also very impressive, allowing you to modify things like wheel alignment, angles, springs, aerodynamics, shocks, and in the garage, you can acquire a wide range of upgrades, such as valves, cylinder displacement, and much more.

When it comes to the visual details, Forza Horizon 2 is undoubtedly fantastic. The title runs in 1080p (Full HD) at 60 fps. Overall, the textures are of great quality, as are the designs of the buildings and other structures present in the Horizon 2 world.

Not everything is visually perfect, though, as we can see certain textures with less detail (or pixelated), especially in a specific camera mode. However, these are minor details compared to the overall beauty the game provides.

All the weather effects are very well structured and mixed with the day-night cycle and advanced light effects. These are some of the most spectacular visual details you can find in any game currently. The detail when rain falls on the car window, the shine of the asphalt after the water falls… all of this is represented impressively in Forza Horizon 2.

When it comes to the soundtrack, Forza Horizon 2 doesn’t disappoint. Forza Horizon 2 features a collection full of electronic music, and curiously, a classical music station where you can listen to works like those of Mozart.

In total, there are over 150 songs divided between the various available radio stations – yes, you can listen and switch radio stations while driving with a simple click on your Xbox 360 or Xbox One controller. Check out an official trailer below:

And you, what’s your opinion on Forza Horizon 2?