Forza Horizon 3 Review (Xbox One)

 

Pack your bags and make sure to include a lot of sunscreen because we are heading down under folks. Australia is the location for developer Playground's newest Forza title, and it’s the studio's best yet. Forza Horizon 3 is back, and it slowly rolls by its competition while taking off its sunglasses to say, “We both know I'm better than you.”

Whether blazing down a highway of Australia’s Pacific Coast, or taking on the natural elements of the Aussie Outback, FH3 puts you behind the wheel of some of the world’s most exotic and not so exotic vehicles, and every single one of them is a new adventure in waiting.

 

 

Gameplay

It is hard to describe FH3 as an arcade racer or racing simulation, because part of its charm is that it draws heavily from both genres and styles of racing. Real-world physics apply to the vehicle of your choice, but real-world rules and ramifications do not. If you are someone who adheres to the rules of the road in a high-performance vehicle, you can find some incredible AI racing and have an absolute blast with this title. If you would rather hop into an off-road buggy and explore the vast openness that Australia offers up, go for it. The level of authenticity and excitement applies to both styles so have no worries.

The handling of the vehicle is all dependent on what type of machine you select. I can absolutely feel the power and precision underneath the hood of a high-octane racing machine, which means you have to approach your driving style accordingly. On the flip side, I can hop into an off-road vehicle and abuse the terrain, and yet feel in much more control at times. The fact is that Forza Horizon isn’t a racing game, it isn’t an off-road game; it’s an open world adventure that hands you the keys.

What FH3 does so well here is the fact that it combines street racing, off-roading, story, and adventure, and it did so in a way without beating me over the head with its variety. Every part of this title is blended together perfectly, and it left me feeling like I was playing more of an action RPG-type of game, and less of a racing title. But don’t let that scare you away as there is plenty of racing to be had -- it wouldn’t be a Horizon game without it.

 

Story Mode

The story will feel familiar to those who played previous versions of Horizon. Once again you are a newcomer to the festival, and you are burdened with having to prove yourself to the locals, and the fans that have made the trek to view the awesome spectacle that is the Forza Horizon Festival. You will find yourself again trying to gain fans, help promote, open up new locales, and this time around, actually help with decisions like what the festival will actually include.

The amount of content that is included and created within FH3 is almost overwhelming at times, but the good news is you can do it all at your own pace. While the game does provide a path of advancement, it is anything but linear. This world is yours, and the game screams at you to take advantage of that freedom, and rewards you for doing so. In other words, FH3 is at its best when you treat it like an open-world game.

 

 

What is so remarkable about story mode in FH3 is that the story is one you actually create. You have the ability to challenge rivals, look for spectacular jumps, raid barns, create events at different locations, as well as a plethora of other options. But, as stated before, the story is what you hunt out because the game leaves it up to you.

Visuals

Forza Horizon 3 looks beautiful on Xbox One, but if you have access to the Xbox One S and an HDR capable 4K TV/monitor, then FH3 takes everything to a whole new level. The environments are dense and at times breathtaking. The attention to detail on vehicles and the landscape is equally impressive, and flying through a riverbed is nothing short of spectacularly beautiful and exciting. What Playground Games has created here is truly a spectacle to behold, and rarely has a game provided this type of immersive living and breathing world as a backdrop to one’s adventure.

 

 

Online

Forza Horizon 3 online will feel familiar to people who have played previous versions. It offers up multiple ways to enjoy the social aspect the game, whether it is a private session, online free roam or co-op campaign. All of these things are seamless once again and easy to arrange.

FH3 also offers up “Online Adventure.” This mode allows you to either find a created session, or create one of your own, that includes racing only, games only or collision-free racing only. Once again there is a Forza Hub that contains all the important information about you, your drivatar and friend’s accomplishments. While it may feel familiar, that doesn’t mean it’s lacking or poorly executed, because the options are robust and provides plenty of fun and longevity.

 

 

Final Thoughts

Forza Horizon 3 is good. Really good. The game provides an enormous amount of longevity due to its sheer size, massive mountain of content, lifelike environments, and this all makes it hard to put down the controller or wheel. FH3 doesn’t ask for conformity, in fact it pushes you to do the exact opposite and be who you are in a racing game. This game is about grabbing the wheel, looking out your windshield and telling the world “let’s do this.” This is the rare type of game that blurs the lines of sport and adventure, and it does so in amazing fashion.

Score: 9.0 (All-Time Classic)