Forza Horizon 6 - Before You Buy

This episode of Before You Buy features Forza Horizon 6, the latest open-world racing game from Playground Games. It continues the series' signature blend of realistic and arcade racing elements, this time set in Japan. The reviewer found this installment to be particularly engaging, with the new setting of Japan being a standout feature that significantly enhances the experience. Forza Horizon 6 introduces a more paced progression system compared to its predecessor. The return of the wristband system guides players through tiers of races, leading to more exciting Horizon Festival events and unlocking new challenges and car types. While more directed, the game still offers flexibility and avoids the overly slow start of older racing titles. Players earn currency quickly to acquire new cars, and the overall progression feels well-paced, with constant suggestions for the next activity, dynamic community events, and collectible challenges like smashing billboards. Player customization for the driving experience remains a core strength. The game offers extensive accessibility options for newcomers, allowing them to receive assistance with steering, braking, and drafting. Conversely, experienced players can disable these aids for a more hardcore simulation feel. The reviewer appreciates the depth of these options, personally opting for a mix of assists. In-game activities like drifting and narrowly avoiding traffic award XP, which contributes to player and car leveling. Each car features a skill tree where skill points can be spent, primarily offering XP bonuses for different driving techniques. The game’s variety is a key appeal, encompassing off-road, street, and cross-country races, along with weather-dependent events. The Japan setting amplifies this variety, offering diverse race environments from tight Tokyo streets and iconic intersections to Mount Fuji backdrops and opportunities to drive Japanese Kei trucks and engage in drifting on mountain roads. The reviewer notes that while the city feels massive, it can sometimes feel a bit sparse with traffic and life, a common issue in open-world racers. The scripted Horizon races are highlighted as a major draw, featuring insane scenarios like racing through docks with moving containers or against giant mechas. The map design itself is praised as a “fun zone,” with well-designed roads, curves, shortcuts, and hidden paths that encourage exploration. The day-night cycle and seasons add further engagement. The driving feel is described as improved, with better steering, weight, and controller feedback, making even mundane roads more enjoyable. Road discovery is tracked, encouraging players to explore and experience every path. Additional features include a robust photo mode, a drone mode for free exploration, barn finds for classic cars, and the ability to purchase random cars found on the street. The game continues its tradition of optional dialogue and voiceovers for barn finds and story elements, though the reviewer finds the character models, cutscenes, and voice acting to be stiff and unappealing. Music selection includes both English and Japanese tracks, though the radio DJs are noted for talking excessively. Multiplayer experiences were limited due to the pre-launch status, but car meets, where players can gather, show off cars, and rev engines, are a appreciated feature. Community customization options are present, with car liveries returning and a new emphasis on property customization. Players can purchase land and build elaborate homesteads, including tracks, trails, and various structures. While the tools are comprehensive, the reviewer found limited incentive for single-player engagement, and the controller interface for building can be finicky. The customizable garages offer a more focused personalization experience. The game boasts a vast car selection, covering various styles and eras, with a particular focus on Japanese vehicles. Visually, the game is technically impressive, with solid performance, detailed graphics, excellent lighting, and impressive draw distances on PC. Console performance is also reported to be good. Despite minor gripes with presentation and some creative tools, the reviewer strongly recommends Forza Horizon 6, particularly for fans of the series, citing the exceptional map design and overall driving experience as its strongest assets.