Out of all the E3 traditions, Microsoft might be the most consistent with Forza. Each year they drag their digital (or real) cars on stage and brag about their new flagship (or flagcar, technically) racing series. Given how Forza Motorsport 7 was behind the wheel in 2017, this year’s even number means its Forza Horizon‘s time to shine, which, in this case, is quite literal. During my hands-on demo with Forza Horizon 4 at E3 2018, the changes were subtle but supplemented the solid core driving experience the series is known for.
But first of all, for the few people worrying about those core driving mechanics, don’t. Vehicles still handle just as fluidly as you remember and have all the customization options for those wanting a more hardcore simulation experience. Horizon, as fans might know, is a little more arcadey than its Motorsport counterpart and that still holds true in this fourth entry. Even with most of the assists turned off, I was able to slide around a little more than I could in Forza Motorsport 7 where, in comparison, drifting over a ladybug in the road could shoot you into orbit.
Forza Horizon 4 Preview: ‘Tis the Seasons
Sliding around in Horizon isn’t always as damning but the weather systems make it more of a possibility. The aforementioned seasons change the climate and, in turn, alter how vehicles behave on the track. Fall, winter, summer, spring all have different challenges. Spring rains could bring a bit more slippery mud and have higher rivers while the dryness of summer can expose riverbeds and open up new areas. The seasons change every week but stay the same for everyone around the globe. For example, we could both be playing our different games but we will both be experiencing the summer together.
There are even more variations within the weekly cycles and changing weather, as Turn 10 Studio’s Art Director Terrance Newell explained to me. Winter storms can vary between light and heavy blizzards while summers can yield those rare rainstorms in between typical, dry heat waves. Winters can even freeze over lakes, showing a new part of the world that was previously inaccessible. You see that island? You can now drive to it and reveal new events thanks to the giant lake of ice courtesy of Old Man Winter. These weather patterns alter how vehicles handle, which is similar to the dynamic weather systems in Forza Motorsport 7,
Forza Horizon 4 Preview: A Slight Chance of Rain/Snow/Ice
But this is a bigger, more expanded version of that system that I got to experience in the short vertical slice I played during E3 2018. Rather than the smaller puddles that would collect in Forza Motorsport 7, the weather systems in Forza Horizon 4 are much more dramatic. The demo moved between the seasons and showed the same track through different conditions. As I finished a race in winter, the game switched to spring and the camera panned out, revealing that I had been driving on a lake only accessible during that colder time.
I splashed through giant puddles during the spring, slowing me down, and I slid across similarly sized ice patches on the same course as that water turned to ice. Water, in its different forms and sizes, changed how I approached turns and got to the finish line. It may seem like a slight nuance for only the biggest gearheads, and in some respects it is, but it has rippling effects on the fundamentals that affect everyone. Seasons give each part of the world a few different variations and will change your game regardless of how much you listen to Car Talk.
While my demo didn’t extend much past the single, elongated track, Microsoft talked a bit about some of the game’s new features. Players will now be able to create custom routes throughout the open world, which is now shared and populated with real people. Horizon Stories is also a new campaign that goes beyond the races and shows a snapshot of your driver’s life outside of the Horizon festival. Your customizable avatar can take up jobs from driving for an automotive magazine show to becoming a stunt driver.
Forza Horizon 4 is full of small improvements that add to the sturdy foundation developer Playground Games had built upon over the past few years. The seasons, shared open world, and new Horizon Stories mode all serve to augment the driving that serves as the bedrock for the franchise. And if fatigue doesn’t set in, this entry could be the recently purchased studio’s best work to date if the rotating climate works from the demo works as well for the final game’s October 2nd launch date on PC and Xbox One.
