The test
In the game of exclusives intended to attract a maximum of players in their respective folds, Sony and Microsoft are constantly pulling the plug. With the approach of the end of the year holidays, the American publisher cuts down the Forza Horizon 5 card and undoubtedly scores points. This fifth episode naturally follows in the footsteps of its predecessor, but does almost everything better. More beautiful, richer, bigger, more accessible, sharper, more provided, sunnier, more varied and deliciously Mexican, this is an opus that should not disappoint absolutely anyone!
Our most loyal readers may remember that the choice of the UK as the playground in Forza Horizon 4 disappointed us somewhat three years ago. But this time the sun is back, as the Horizon festival sets its rims in Mexico. And this is undoubtedly one of the greatest assets of the game, which takes advantage of this environment to offer us landscapes that are larger than ever. The horizon lines stretch as far as the eye can see, carried by a map much larger than that of the previous episode, since we go from 71 km² to 107 km². Both varied and coherent, this quality open world offers us different “biomes” which naturally intertwine with each other. Still active volcano, lush jungles, green hills, fine sandy beaches, arid deserts, pampas populated with cacti and Mayan pyramids form a majestic backdrop and offer us all kinds of trails.
BEAUTIFUL LIKE A TRUCK
Everything is supported by a graphics engine that achieves real feats, since it offers us both splendid effects and great fluidity, including on mid-range PCs and Xboxes. The most powerful machines are entitled to a little Ray-Tracing (only in Forza Vista mode) and, above all, to the sacrosanct combo 4K + 60fps. When you think of everything on the screen and the speed at which the sets scroll, there’s really something to be impressed with. The climatic effects are also part of the game, the dynamic weather not hesitating to plunge us into a thunderstorm or to make us cross sandstorms. The operation of the seasons is still less marked than in the previous episode, since there is obviously no question of throwing snow on a Mexican beach. The changes are therefore more subtle, with some mountain sides covered with white powder in winter, while some rivers widen in summer. Another small downside, even more anecdotal however: the default filters of the photo mode are not really successful.
When you think of everything on the screen and the speed at which the sets scroll, there is really something to be impressed with. The climatic effects are also part of the game, the dynamic weather does not hesitate to plunge us into a thunderstorm or to make us cross sandstorms.
The overall scenery is set, and beautifully what is more, but the qualities of the game are not only aesthetic. The adventure mode alone deserves multiple praise, so damn good it is. Dynamic and smart, the introductory sequence gives us a good overview. She starts by dropping us (literally, thanks to a cargo plane) over a volcano, before meeting up with a sandstorm, taking us through the jungle, and finally getting behind the wheel of a sandstorm. ‘a racing car racing on the asphalt. This foretaste of the scripted missions to come is followed by the character creation phase, which could be traced back to many role-playing games. Inclusive to the tips of your metallic nails, the customization tool not only allows you to choose between different genres, pronouns, faces, hairstyles and skin colors, but also to apply prostheses of the legs or arms to our avatar.
FORZA ADVENTURA
Best of all, the game automatically knows how to call us, thanks to our Microsoft account info. Hearing a character spontaneously pronounce our first name is always impressive! But the best is yet to come, since the game continues on a crazy mission, in which you have to race with bikers equipped with wingsuits disembarking from a cargo plane. And the soundtrack even has the elegance of throwing Foo Fighters into our ears as a punctuation! Highlights like this one, you will have the opportunity to experience others, like this descent of the volcano in buggy, which ends in an improvised race following a majestic jump that makes us land in a circuit already occupied by competitors launched at full speed. Add to that many mini-quests to be carried out behind the wheel of such or such vehicle, and you obtain a scenario and “RPG” aspect more present and more effective than ever. The success is also such that the game could even appeal to a public usually indifferent to racing games.
BOTH SHARP AND ACCESSIBLE
Of course, motorsport enthusiasts remain a priority. They also have something to feast on, and they are rather fond of arcade or simulation. Forza Horizon 5 indeed succeeds in the feat of having it both ways without ever falling into the trap of the “ass between two chairs”. Not only do the default settings and the general philosophy find a very good compromise between the two worlds, but there are plenty of options available to possibly tip the scales a little more to one side or the other. In addition to the options for braking, traction control, stability control or even tire damage and wear in general settings, hackers can also finely adjust the specific settings of each car (tire pressure, gear ratios). speed, wheel alignment and suspension parameters, brakes, lift and differential…). Conversely, novices will be able to activate a maximum of piloting aids, progress as well, then deactivate them one by one in order to obtain bonus rewards. Let’s not forget to mention the rewind function, extremely practical to go back a few seconds and hundreds of meters in order to cancel a collision or an untoward exit from the road. Level “quality of life” as the Anglo-Saxon developers say, it arises there! Truly ecumenical, the game does not hesitate to reward all types of players. Thus, prowess points are awarded both to the speed enthusiast who achieves a point and to the daredevil who multiplies the drifts and collisions with the scenery. The same goes for the exploration enthusiast who discovers new roads or the hothead who multiplies the brushing in the opposite direction on the highway. And all these beautiful people are equally rewarded when it comes time to draw lots punctuating the passage from one level of experience to another.
EVENTS AND CARS BY HUNDREDS
Further proof that there is really something for everyone in this Forza Horizon 5, the game modes and types of events can be counted by dozens. Places to photograph, signs to destroy, abandoned cars to find, road, dirt, street or cross-country races, stunts, sprints, speed zones, jump records, championship arenas, drifts, gymkhana, baja, missions exploration, challenge cards created by other players … the possibilities are endless. And you can add to this inventory all the multi modes, whether they are classic races or more original variants (capture of the flag, infected mode, destruction of piñatas in coop, and many more). Note in passing that it is extremely easy to switch from solo to multi, the two components being intimately mixed and sometimes difficult to discern. For example during certain solo races, the game does not hesitate to name the competing vehicles with credible nicknames, or even to borrow those of our friends. And a simple loading screen is enough to join or leave a “convoy”, name given to the groups of players created on the go. We still encountered some bugs and connection issues during our multiplayer games, but given that the latter took place before the game’s official release, there is still hope for redemption. To see if having populated servers solves or worsens the problem …
The bloated aspect of the game also concerns the number of accessible vehicles. But don’t count on us to list them for you, because there are over five hundred! Suffice to say that you will inevitably find the shoe to your feet, even if it is on the floor. The game collects cars, of course, but also the good points since one can without any hesitation credit the excellence of the soundtrack. As far as the voices are concerned, we are entitled to a full French version, which rings true and manages to adopt a “young and dynamic” tone without falling too much into caricature. As for the music, again everyone should find something for them. While driving, it is possible to choose between five very varied radio stations: Pulse (pop music), XS (alternative rock), Radio Eterna (classical music), Hospital Radio (Drum & Bass), Bass Arena (EDM) and Block Party (Hip Hop). Once again, the list would be too long to detail since it exceeds one hundred pieces. Just know that Beastie Boys, Berlioz, Chopin, Dua Lipa, Foo Fighters, Gorillaz, Lil Nas X, Run-DMC, Tchaikovsky and The Killers are part of the lot. Eclecticism, when you hold us …
