In SomosXbox we have been able to play the first minutes of Forza Horizon 5 on Xbox Series X so we can tell you what we think about this initial part of the game. Forza Horizon has always been a saga that has traditionally been widely accepted by fans and the press thanks to its technical display and addictive as well as fun gameplay. Will the tonic be maintained in this new installment? We tell you in our impressions of Forza Horizon 5.
The first thing we must tell you is that our visit to Mexico was shorter than we would have liked (a good sign of wanting more) since what We have been able to play corresponds to the opening scene of the game, as well as the first tests of the Horizon festival. Of course, we could travel the map at our whim and delight ourselves with the views that Mexico offers us in this new installment of the Forza Horizon saga.
As we already told you in the interview that we were able to carry out with its creative director, Forza Horizon 5 is a direct sequel to Forza Horizon 4, where our character gains the status of legend and becomes one of the outstanding figures of the new festival in Mexico. Our arrival shakes the festival and all the lights are on us, that is why our staging could not be more epic: from the sky and with one of the most cutting-edge cars of the moment: the Mercedes AMG Project One.
Unlike the previous installments, our character will speak and participate in the cinematic scenes where we will run into new characters and others that we already know and from what we have been able to verify in these first bars of the game, there will be a greater narrative component, something that we appreciate in experience.
Leaving this aspect aside, it’s time to talk about the playable experience. The sensations are the same as in Forza Horizon 4, where driving has that component of little challenge prioritizing fun, without reaching the level of demand of Forza Motorsport or other driving games that bet on a greater style of simulation. Still, the difficulty can be customized based on our experience, but the higher degree of arcade component will always remain there.
Even so, controls and gameplay compared to Forza Horizon 4 feel intact. At the end of the day, the gameplay has always been what has worked best in the saga, so if something works better not to touch it.
Regarding the variety of content in the game, what we have been able to play is a small portion, so we cannot judge in this regard. Although what we can tell you is that the different types of race events: on the track, through, on the ground and others are still present. Accompanying these tests we will have the always epic events of the festival, as well as stories related to different characters that can lead us to enter a sandstorm or take a truck to transport a car to repair.
Playground Games details how the seasons will work in Forza Horizon 5: more ambitious and will even change the map of the game
Graphically speaking, Forza Horizon 5 is a technical marvel that will set the bar to be surpassed by other console games. The level of detail of the world in Mexico and the cars that cross it makes us face the game that is best seen on consoles. In terms of technical details, Forza Horizon 5 has two game modes on Xbox Series X: one at 4k and 30fps and the other at 4k and 60fps but with adjustments to the graphic details to prioritize performance. The same happens with Xbox Series S, but substituting the resolution to 1080p.
If we want to enjoy raytracing, we will have to go through Forzavista mode, since it is in the only section in which this technology is applied to provide more detail to cars up close. During the gameplay itself, it is not that this technology is entirely necessary, since the improvements in global lighting and the use of a very good SSR for reflections in puddles and reflective surfaces works very well.
The level of detail and the number of biomes in Mexico present us with a map that feels real, with incredible landscapes that are even more spectacular when crossing them at 300 kilometers per hour. Weather events, such as sandstorms, will make it harder for us to see where we are driving, although they will have no impact on the handling of the car.
As for the sound, we cannot tell you much about the selection of songs, but we can the sound section looks like never before with the roar of the engines and the sounds of the different biomes of Mexico.
Forza Horizon 5 Impressions – A Demonstration of the Spectacular Power of Xbox Series X
Forza Horizon 5 pint of luxury And after spending several minutes at the controls of the game, I can only wait with enthusiasm for the moment when I can lay the glove on the final version. Playable we find the formula that we already know from the Playground Games saga, waiting to test the novelties in the creation of circuits.
As for the sensation of living a “story”, what we can tell you after these first few minutes is that they are succeeding, with a much more narrative experience than in Forza Horizon 4. And finally, technically, we confirm that we are facing one of the first great wonders of Xbox Series X.
Now we just have to wait to test the final version, where we can tell you much more about the global experience, the different game modes, as well as the online component. Until then, it will be time to warm up engines.