Forza Horizon 6 Hands-on Preview: Welcome to Japan
It is no secret that I love the Forza Horizon series. Less a racing game and more of a driving adventure, this franchise has had my undying love since the second entry. The latest version of the game is always installed on either my PC or Xbox, and it is the sort of title that I go back to again and again, that is, until the next version hits my system. Which is, well, about now. Forza Horizon 6 is coming in May, and it is set in Japan, a fact that will have more than a few driving fans even more excited for its release and thanks to Xbox Australia, I got to go hands-on with the early hours of the game and see just a little of what this edition has to offer.
Forza Horizon 6 kicks off, as all Horizon games do, with a fantastic, multi-car feature race that lets players dabble in a few different game modes as they make their way to the Horizon festival. I won’t say any more on this because this is always one of the best parts in getting a new Horizon game; suffice to say that this edition ticks all the boxes that fans expect. From here, I got to move into the game proper, create my Drivatar and put some pedal to the metal. This year, the first big difference is that players take charge of a rookie racer, unlike previous titles, where players stepped into the shoes of a previous Festival winner. This is a nice change and allows for a bit more of a natural progression up the ranks as the game progresses, at least that is the feeling I got.
My time with the game saw me take part in three qualifying events in an attempt to get into the festival proper. These were all classic events from previous games, like a cross-country rally and a tight street course, and they once again highlight just how well Playground has balanced the driving model between arcade and simulation. Taking the wheel was like putting on a comfy pair of shoes, and it wasn’t long before I was once again in the groove of the franchise’s excellent racing. Each of these events felt like a perfect starting point for their respective driving disciplines, giving a nice taste test to new players, as well as reminding returning drivers of what they were all about.
Sadly, those were the only three races my preview time allowed for, but as any returning players will know, the racing is only half the fun of the Horizon games. The other half is the exciting open world to explore. Japan has long been a requested location by fans, and it looks like the wait was worth it. My small slice of time saw me run through the streets of Tokyo, through the unique roads of the surrounding mountains and into forests, villages and farmlands that all feel like they have been taken straight from a tourism video. This map is really highlighting the unique beauty of Japan, and I have to say, exploring this further, through the different seasons, is one of the main reasons I am hyped about the upcoming release.
The stunning natural and man-made beauty of Japan has only been further highlighted by the gorgeous graphical flourishes that the game is offering. Free of needing to create a version of the game for the Xbox One and built on the newest version of Turn 10’s Forza engine, this is one good-looking game. I previewed it on my Xbox Series X, and I would say it looks as good as, if not better than, Forza Horizon 5 did at max settings on my gaming PC. I really can’t wait to see what this game looks like on a 5080 with all the bells and whistles turned on. I suspect it will become a graphics benchmark tool for many reviewers in the years to come.
All of that said, my time with Forza Horizon 6 didn’t show me any surprises. This is a game that is sticking to the well-worn formula of the previous titles and, early on at least, won’t lose fans by shaking things up too much. That could change later as the game progresses, and when the formula is as good as this one, it is hard to complain, but I worry that without some new additions or, at the very least, a bit of a mix-up, players could run into some franchise fatigue. Variety is the spice of life, after all.
But despite my concerns about an early lack of surprises, Forza Horizon 6 will undoubtedly be another great entry in a franchise that has held my attention for more hours than any other Xbox-owned IP. My time with the game only served to remind me that this is a franchise that all others in the genre are compared to and that no one else even comes close to what the game offers. Forza Horizon is in a class of its own, and the sixth entry of the series is looking to further solidify that position with a fantastic graphical update, a spectacular Japanese map, and all the pitch-perfect racing and exploration fans have come to expect.
Forza Horizon 6 is coming to PC, Xbox Series and PS5 on the 19th of May. Stay tuned for a full review on P2 as soon as we can.
