Forza Horizon 5: The "Open World" That’s Just a Beautiful Car Dealership.

[Terminator]

Honestly, if I wanted to drive around in circles and look at pretty landscapes, I’d just go on a road trip. The open world in Forza Horizon 5 feels like a giant, empty showroom with zero consequences. No real danger, no real challenge.
Sure, the graphics are amazing and the cars are beautiful, but after 50 hours, I’m just bored. Every race feels the same, every corner is a drift-fest, and the AI might as well be bots from a mobile game.
And let’s not forget the endless microtransactions. Why should I be forced to buy a DLC just to enjoy the full experience?
Where’s the challenge? Where’s the thrill? This game might look nice, but it’s the automotive equivalent of a theme park ride where you can’t even crash the car.
Anyone else feel like the game’s all show and no substance?

[the bat kite]

That would make a great review. In reviews people could agree with you and give you emoticon feedback, positive (and negative).

So every hour played cost you two dollars?..and you are quitting. It videogaming this is an all too common problem.

[Energyturtle85]

Close to 750 hours in the game, and I still play it everyday.

[:) m Ö r Ö n (:]

The cars feel different so it's good getting some flavor about rare cars from the game. This game is very much lower price than buying a real car. It is middle ground - something arcade and little feeling of simulation.

I don't like off-road - usually driving maximum speed among the traffic and avoiding the crashes as long as possible.

[- 28122028 -]

Originally posted by Terminator:

with zero consequences. No real danger, no real challenge.
Where’s the challenge? Where’s the thrill?

Try the real life, little boy.

[ph!l]

You went to Mexico for a Festival, the base of the game is exploring Mexico and learning some of the car culture.

It's like a sandbox game and they've layered diverse game modes on top of, to appeal to a wide audience. Eliminator, playground games, racing, rivals, drift, eventlabs, vinyls, tuning.

For me the games strengths are It's library of real cars (well in most part), structure of roads on the map for drifting, rallying, racing, etc and the physics engine. That's what's given me the hours of entertainment I have. Then I have friends with 3000 hours in the game and in most part only play eliminator.

If you can't find something that interests you, to keep you playing, maybe it just isn't the game for you. We're all entertained in different ways.

[Lord Of War]

Originally posted by Terminator:

No real danger, no real challenge. Where’s the thrill?

If you want danger, play Pacific Drive:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1458140/Pacific_Drive/
If you want a thrill, play Redout:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/517710/Redout_Enhanced_Edition/
IF you want a challenge, play Gas Guzzlers Extreme with Impossible bots, they will rip you a new one:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/243800/Gas_Guzzlers_Extreme/

Forza Horizon 5 is very casual and relaxing racing game. Pretty (difficulty) forgiving too.
A player can only entertain himself here as long as he is willing to do so. If you find yourself bored, which is completely natural, just play a different game.

[Lone Ego]

Originally posted by Energyturtle85:

Close to 750 hours in the game, and I still play it everyday.

Same.

[edelweissfr]

I don't get you about microtransactions: what are you talking about? Wanna play game? - Standard or Premium and you have all the experience. If about paid car packs - they don't give you any additional experience. 🤷

[:) m Ö r Ö n (:]

In fact it is easy to get bored for a game from start if driving behind car camera view all the time. I drive from cockpit view usually unless online events like The Eliminator and online races because on much better sight and avoiding ramming also from behind the car view.

[Reaper]

What endless microtransactions? Are we even looking at the same game? There's over 900 cars in this game and something like 800 of them are unlockable in game for no extra money. If you can't find a car you like and get a "full" experience with that many vehicles to choose from, then that's on you.

[docup87]

I can only share my experience as someone who has played all 5 games. For me, Horizon 5 is by far the most boring part of the series. Zero challenge, boring, dystopian wasteland map built around the Eleminator that nobody plays. A game created for an audience that has zero attention span anymore and constantly wants to be rewarded for every tiny bit of nonsense. In the past, it wasn't just about ticking off the same playlists every few weeks.

[Coy]

I have over 1000hrs and still love playing this game

[CH13F]

why you should buy dlc to enjoy "full" experience.

where you been last two decades i wonder?

[the bat kite]

Originally posted by docup87:

Zero challenge, boring, dystopian wasteland map built around the Eleminator that nobody plays. A game created for an audience that has zero attention span anymore and constantly wants to be rewarded for every tiny bit of nonsense. In the past, it wasn't just about ticking off the same playlists every few weeks.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥.

[PX0891]

Originally posted by ph!l:

You went to Mexico for a Festival, the base of the game is exploring Mexico and learning some of the car culture.

It's like a sandbox game and they've layered diverse game modes on top of, to appeal to a wide audience. Eliminator, playground games, racing, rivals, drift, eventlabs, vinyls, tuning.

For me the games strengths are It's library of real cars (well in most part), structure of roads on the map for drifting, rallying, racing, etc and the physics engine. That's what's given me the hours of entertainment I have. Then I have friends with 3000 hours in the game and in most part only play eliminator.

If you can't find something that interests you, to keep you playing, maybe it just isn't the game for you. We're all entertained in different ways.

What bothers me most, Is there's barely any car culture involved in FH5. Aside from the Nissan Tsuru, Vuhl 05, & the Volkswagen Beetle. (Vocho) I like a good variety of vehicles that are related to their respected car culture. But this is just pathetic.

Originally posted by Terminator:

Honestly, if I wanted to drive around in circles and look at pretty landscapes, I’d just go on a road trip. The open world in Forza Horizon 5 feels like a giant, empty showroom with zero consequences. No real danger, no real challenge.
Sure, the graphics are amazing and the cars are beautiful, but after 50 hours, I’m just bored. Every race feels the same, every corner is a drift-fest, and the AI might as well be bots from a mobile game.
And let’s not forget the endless microtransactions. Why should I be forced to buy a DLC just to enjoy the full experience?
Where’s the challenge? Where’s the thrill? This game might look nice, but it’s the automotive equivalent of a theme park ride where you can’t even crash the car.
Anyone else feel like the game’s all show and no substance?

I wish I could give you my points but I don't have enough. Anyway, I agree on all fronts with you. I totally miss games that feel complete & actually feel fun & rewarding to play. I go back to playing FH3 & FH4, I consider those the last good Forza Horizon titles. (Hate me for leaving FH1 & 2 out, I've never played them.)