Forza Horizon 2 Review

Forza Horizon 2
Developed By: Sumo Digital/Turn 10
Published By: Microsoft Studios
Date of Release: Sept. 30, 2014
Price $49.99

Close your eyes... Take a deep breath... Now picture yourself on the open road, the sensation of hurtling through time and space, the engine revving, the feel of the asphalt under your tires... that feeling of weightlessness you get as you soar along the highway... That is the feeling of freedom. The feeling of speed. Now open your eyes. Grip the controller. DRIVE! Welcome to Forza Horizon 2!
I've spent the last hour trying to find a way to put into words just how breathtaking it feels to drive in Forza Horizon 2, and I think the above pretty much accurately sums it up.



Before I tell you about what Forza Horizon 2 is, let's start with what it's not. Forza Horizon 2 is definitely NOT a hardcore racing simulator in terms of accurately representing and defining every single aspect of tuning and racing professionally. That's not to say it isn't an amazing simulation of actually driving, have no fears on that front. Rather it is a simulation of car culture unto itself, perhaps the most definitive simulation of racing culture seen yet. Forza Horizon 2 lets you live the dream of being a part of the greatest auto show on earth, and it gives you a front row seat.



Forza Horizon 2 lets you take part in the Horizon Auto Festival, and your options for doing so are almost limitless. Every class of car is well represented here, and you can tweak out their tuning, parts, paint jobs, and decals. The sky is the limit with customization. Once you have your sweet ride, you can hit the open road and enter the competitions you choose. And boy are you in for the dive of your life. Rather than populate the competitions and game world with AI drivers, Forza Horizon instead makes a "Drivatar" profile for you based on your driving style and skills, and unleashes it into the game world for everyone else to compete with. So the opponents you face will be friends and strangers from all over the world.



As if all that wasn't enough, Forza Horizon 2 has online competitions for you and your friends to race head to head in real-as well as the ability to just cast off and go on a free-roaming online road trip with your buddies. What could be better than that? The online play is smooth and lag-free, which makes the experience that much more satisfying. So get your road crew together and hit the road! Something I should also mention are the graphics. Forza horizon 2 has got to be the most realistic looking driving game I have ever played on any console, bar none. On top of that the sound effects are top notch, every car has its signature sound. The controls are tight as well, with amazing tactile feedback coming from the impulse triggers. You can literally feel the road as you go.

Bottom line: If you are in any way a fan of cars, whether it's a love of how they look, how they sound, or how they feel, Forza Horizon 2 is the game you've been waiting for!