digitec plays "Forza Horizon 4": Sunday driver and crash pilot go full throttle
25.9.2018
Translation: machine translated
Changing seasons, bombastic graphics and a huge playing field that you can plough through with hundreds of different cars. "Forza Horizon 4" has a hell of a lot to offer. We get behind the wheel and give the competition a run for their money.
"Horizon" is the arcade version of the "Forza" series. While "Motorsport" focuses on realism, "Horizon" focusses on spectacle and fun. Every element in the fourth instalment is designed to give you a good time - and it works brilliantly.
A feast for the eyes and ears
Racing games are known for their stylish graphics. "Forza Horizon 4" is no exception. The series has always been one of the Xbox's flagship games - and since the last instalment, PC gamers have also been able to drool. If you select graphics instead of performance in the Xbox options, you forgo 60 fps, but the game shines in all its 4K beauty. You can also have both on the PC if your box has enough power. When the controls are all turned up, Forza Horizon 4 really packs a punch. Even after several hours, I can't get enough of it. The different weather effects, day and night changes and the four seasons are particularly impressive. Whether it's snow, rain or blowing leaves: "Forza Horizon 4" is firing on all cylinders.
It's also nice to see how the vehicles get dirty over time. If you - like me - mostly drive cross-country, then the car cries out for a car wash. The damage model has also been spiced up. Although there is no total damage this time either, even if you crash into a wall at full speed, the bodywork is visibly dented and scratched. After a crash, the windscreen wiper also dangles helplessly in front of you.
But it's not just your eyes that are spoilt. The more than 450 vehicles provide an impressive soundscape. There are also various radio stations from classical to electro, offering a surprisingly good selection of music. When you thunder down the track at 300 km/h to Mozart or go on a bumper-to-bumper hunt to The Sugarhill Gang, you'll simply be in a good mood.
It never gets boring
The basic framework of "Forza Horizon 4" is once again the Horizon Festival. An epic car race that this time spans the UK and is as bonkers as ever. A bunch of super cool dudes and dudettes talk your ears off non-stop about why you should do this and that. Even the character you can choose is about as emotionally charged as a Mii. At least you can choose your own outfit. I punished my flannel with a magic hat, a shiny silver waistcoat and a pink miniskirt.
What makes "Forza Horizon 4" the best is the variety. Developer Playground Games has done everything it can to put as few obstacles in your way as possible. The huge map is gradually covered with more and more races, which you can tackle in any order you like. There are numerous disciplines and the best thing is - you can drive almost every race with any vehicle. You also have the option of customising the race yourself. Do you prefer to drive a rally track with a lorry? No problem. Want to race a hill climb with a beach buggy? Feel free. "Forza Horizon 4" gives you the opportunity to set the rules yourself.
In addition to the various racing modes, there are also special events where you can race against a hoverboat or perform stunts for a film director. The barns with hidden vehicles can also be found again.
You earn points for everything you do. This unlocks new races and vehicles (there are over 450). Here, too, Playground Games shows that they know what the players want. Every drift, every hair-raising overtaking manoeuvre, every jump and every mown-over garden fence earns you points and causes the multiplier to skyrocket. I practically never used the fast travel option because it's much more fun to race across fields at a monkey's pace and ram as much stuff as possible in the process. Medium trees and crash barriers are no match for your bumper, only the thick trees and houses stop your combos abruptly.
The racing stable
The greatest variation is useless if the vehicles drive like toy cars. Although "Horizon" is aimed at an arcade-loving audience, this does not mean that no sensitivity is required when driving. Even on the medium difficulty level, you won't get far with the lead-foot principle. But the game is very forgiving. If you like it more difficult, you can switch off the numerous driving aids in the options. This makes "Forza Horizon 4" much more simulation-based. The different vehicles feel very different and you immediately notice when you switch from an Audi R8 to a BMW 3 Series.
You can upgrade and tune the vehicles as usual - either automatically or manually. It is not enough to simply fit the most expensive part. More horsepower often means more weight, which in turn affects speed.
A nice thing here is that all playing styles are taken into account. Like me, you can ram opponents off the track like a kamikaze and use the rewind function in an emergency if you approach a bend too quickly. Or you can drive in a sporty manner and forgo the rescue function and be rewarded with additional points.
Simply casual
Somehow the "Forza" games have never been on my radar and yet I always play them with great enthusiasm. The "Horizon" series is more to my taste. "Forza Horizon 4 takes practically no time to get used to, starts off spectacularly and then hardly drops off. The countless vehicles, the sensational graphics and the extremely varied racing modes are a lot of fun. And the fact that the game gives me so much freedom is incredibly refreshing. However, there aren't many new features compared to the last instalment. If you skipped "Forza Horizon 3" and the Australian setting appeals to you, then you can get practically the same game for considerably less money. If you need some fresh racing fodder or are looking for a slightly more stylish game in terms of graphics, you can go for it. It's best to watch our Let's Play to see for yourself.
Philipp Rüegg
Senior Editor
Philipp.Rueegg@digitecgalaxus.chBeing the game and gadget geek that I am, working at digitec and Galaxus makes me feel like a kid in a candy shop – but it does take its toll on my wallet. I enjoy tinkering with my PC in Tim Taylor fashion and talking about games on my podcast http://www.onemorelevel.ch. To satisfy my need for speed, I get on my full suspension mountain bike and set out to find some nice trails. My thirst for culture is quenched by deep conversations over a couple of cold ones at the mostly frustrating games of FC Winterthur.
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