The first of the Next-Gen racers has arrived, and at about 120mph this game is a sight to be seen. As Forza 5 is Microsoft’s flagship racer and an Xbox One launch title, I couldn’t resist. I’m not much of a racer fan (unless you count F-Zero GX and the Mach 5) but I was hoping to truly see something astounding, something that could perhaps sell me on the Xbox One.
So what place does this racer come in? Is it a major selling point for the Xbox One and this next generation of gaming?
Gameplay
I certainly hope everyone has at least played a racing game. Sadly, I’ve been surprised far too often so here’s a brief breakdown of game-play. You pick a car, start a race, and try to be the first one to cross the finish line, in defiance of obstacles (or other drivers, gasp!) on the track. Some easier game-play modes are present to bring in inexperienced or casual players, but in general Forza 5 screams hardcore racer. First one to cross the finish line (like most racers) wins.
So what stood out about Forza 5 from other racing titles?
It all revolves around the Xbox One controllers. This may seem strange, but there’s an extra rumble pack specifically designed for the triggers, allowing them to provide additional unique feedback based on in-game events. Now I’m not the best when it comes to hyper-realistic driving games. Like most people I take the turns a little too tight and end up in the grass or worse. Thanks to the XBox One controller, though, you can feel the difference between different road textures through the trigger rumble – almost like driving a real car!
This may sound a little odd at first, but dang, you’ve got to try it. When I started to get a little to close to the dirt or grass, the trigger-rumbling felt a little looser then it did on the asphalt. Which in turn helped me course correct before I crashed!
Graphics
If you are looking for a solid demo of Next-Gen graphics, this certainly should be on your list. In the version I played they showed you an extensive look inside the car you were driving. The only word I think that can describe the graphics: “Dang!”
This game does not disappoint. It looks extremely good during a race, everything fast-paced with an extremely beautiful natural look. I think a great testament to this game is that I willingly drove in cockpit mode after fiddling with the camera a lot to figure out my most comfortable position. I wanted to be fully immersed and that seemed like the easiest way. While coming around one of the turns, I plunged into really bright sunlight – and instinctively reached for my sunglasses as if I was really driving.
That’s how realistic the graphics are.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qf5R9l7z3tA&feature=share&list=PLJNWytfdD-RXLICekNXU1rBbJpfVBEav4[/youtube]
Sound
While I could certainly hear all the sound from the title, it wasn’t nearly as impressive as the graphics. That’s not to say the game’s sound is bad, it’s just it was something I’ve already experienced with other titles. The music and SFX are solid, but it just felt like a normal racer title to me. Nonetheless, the crunches and crashes really gave you that extra feel of realism.
Overall
If you are looking for a solid demo for Next-Gen and you like racers then Forza 5 is certainly your title. While I think I would play it more for the scenic qualities I can’t deny actually racing well was kinda fun for once.
It’s certainly a title you need to play, if only to see the genius behind the new triggers on the Xbox One controller.