Forza Horizon 5 Game Review – It’s Gorgeous Mexico

Recently, the next part of the racing simulator Forza Horizon 5 was released. There are not so many significant changes in the gameplay, but the game has changed graphically. The developers decided to change the place of action to Mexico. Immediately after the launch of the game, views of Mexico open in all its glory. Cars are also visible, but now the focus is not on them, they play a secondary role in the frame. The main attraction is the new, fully polished map.

The pre-release jokes that Forza Horizon 5 could count needles on cacti turned out to be true. You can see not only individual spines, but also layers of bark on trees growing in forests.

The entire game world in Forza Horizon 5 can be driven around in 15-20 minutes, depending on the vehicle used. The size of the world is quite modest when compared with another popular game in this genre – The Crew 2. Driving through the map of Mexico, you will see the desert, wide beaches, rugged hills around the volcano, dense jungles and swamps, idyllic farmlands, familiar coniferous forests and picturesque cities. Plus, you can literally go anywhere!

It’s a little disappointing that the cars haven’t undergone a graphical evolution. The view of the interior of the car (when playing from the first person) also leaves much to be desired. Dashboards look outdated, as if from the early 2000s.

One gets the impression that the developers deliberately did not begin to work out the interior of the cabin, because most players pay attention to the view from the outside. The characteristics of the car can be improved, but tuning is possible only within this series of cars. Giving free rein to fantasy and putting a Ferrari engine on a Mercedes will not work.

The available car park in the game is not so extensive compared to the fourth part of the series. Credits are spent on the purchase – the game currency, which is issued for participation and victory in races. If you want to add some exclusive “car” to your collection, for example, DeLorean from the movie “Back to the Future”, you will have to participate in temporary events and accumulate tokens.

The developers of Forza Horizon 5 have shifted their focus from completing story missions to exploring the open world. Typically, such tasks require the player to come to a specified place, take a picture of some monument, then gain experience and go to the next point. However, no new mechanics are used.

Similarly, the situation was with the purchase of houses in the fourth part. The player could buy a house, but there was little point in doing so.

Wherever you decide to go, there is always something for you to do. After familiarizing yourself with the game on the map, such a number of markers and marks open up that your eyes just run wide. Forza Horizon 5 generously endows the racer with experience and bonuses for any action.

Fans of road racing, gravel rallying, off-road driving, drifting and street racing will find a track for themselves. There are timer quests, online quests, quests that can only be completed in a group with friends, and even your own “royal battle”. There are also a number of scenario events during which we are accompanied by planes, helicopters, motorcycles or, for example, a huge, decorated platform!

As usual, Forza has it all and it all fits and works beautifully. You can instantly change cars, choose the right car for a particular event, and if something does not suit you, you can always create a car to your liking.