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If someone had told me I’d be experiencing the gorgeously recreated beaches and jungles of México at high speed while showing off a Corvette with an Xbox decal on my PS5, I would’ve called those people crazy. Yet, here we are, and I couldn’t be happier. Even if Forza Horizon 5 has been out for a few years now, many racers are about to jump into this festival for the first time. And you know what? The wait was worth it. As someone who didn’t have the means to play Forza Horizon 5 at launch, I must say this is the ultimate sandbox racing game in recent years.
Welcome to the Horizon Festival
Assuming you don’t know much about Forza Horizon 5, this entry takes place in México. Or a fictional version of it, hosting the biggest Horizon Festival yet. You, as a player-created racer, arrive to seek the highest spot while driving as many cars as possible. To do so, you’ll have to race through many tracks differently. From off-road racing to drifting and even cross-country, the variety is wild. A plot is woven into these activities, but it’s not the most groundbreaking thing. It is the thing that drives the player (no pun intended) to explore the festival at their own pace.
Still, there’s a level of immersion there that I haven’t felt in racing games. Once you complete the terrific tutorial and get the hang of the smooth driving system, México is yours to explore. You get a few story missions or Horizon Adventures that progress the story, which you unlock by getting accolades. You get these accolades by participating in races, completing challenges, and doing other sub-stories around the map.
This was quite an interesting loop as I felt like a racer trying to reach the festival’s top. I usually did a few races, earned currency, and bought a few cars to tackle more challenging races. There was a point when I realized I could unlock a Vocho. It quickly became my life’s calling for a few hours. I realized I had to return to the story, but the game never punished me for going off the path. It is rare to see a racing game provide even more immersion than a few RPGs, and it was a welcome surprise.
Also, since many will be joining this almost four-year-old game, there won’t be a shortage of content. When I was free to drive anywhere on the map, I was overwhelmed about what to do. In a good way, though. Whether it was trying the jaw-dropping Hot Wheels mode, unlocking a vehicle behind accolades, or getting as many Spins as possible, I was surprised to see how many things Forza Horizon 5 had to offer. PS5 players jumping into this game will feel as if it were the ultimate edition, and with good reason.
A Gorgeous Racing Landscape
I always try to be as unbiased as possible, but I have to get something off my chest quickly: my love for the map. México is my home country, and while Forza Horizon 5 doesn’t exactly copy it, it does a lot of justice to it. While I was sold the moment I landed on La Gran Caldera, driving through the tight streets of Guanajuato made me feel right at home, albeit with fewer potholes.
Yet, the way Forza Horizon 5 uses these areas makes everything feel even better. One of my most memorable missions was drifting my Vocho through Guanajuato, which I’d never thought I’d do. Another one was when I unlocked the Goliath, a 14-minute race across the whole map that showcased its beauty and intricacies. Forza Horizon 5 is brimming with jaw-dropping moments that hit you faster than a sharp turn, and it was a joy to experience all of them after so many years of watching from afar.
However, the PS5 release doesn’t come with the old content that veteran racers are used to. Horizon Realms brings back 11 tracks to the game and one new one for players to tackle, race in, and unlock accolades and vehicles. Unfortunately, I wasn’t a big fan of them. They aren’t bad by any means, but they felt underwhelming compared to everything else. Veteran players might get hit with nostalgia once they race through them, but as a new player, I wasn’t that excited to try them more than once. Yet, new content is always great; the more things that arrive at this festival, the better.
Regarding performance, it was superb, and I only noticed a few draw distance issues in performance mode. I had a few instances of objects taking longer to render, mainly vegetation, but that was it. Performance mode hit 60 FPS perfectly while maintaining top-notch visuals, and the quality mode looked great. However, I preferred frames over graphics in my racing games, so I always stuck with performance.
The World’s Largest Garage
Racing games were always a side thing for me until Forza Horizon 5. Previously, I would only play a few races, challenge some friends, buy one or two cars, and call it a day. However, Forza Horizon 5 hooked me harder than I thought.
As I moved from one race to another, I realized this game was a genuine dopamine generator. You can obtain cars by doing almost anything. Whether doing some Spins, completing accolades or missions, or buying them, your garage gets larger by the minute. If you’re a car geek, this is a dream come true. Even someone like me, who isn’t knowledgeable about vehicles, found car collecting outstanding. I’m pretty sure there are almost 1,000 vehicles in the game, and yes, I’ll be that one cliché guy and say, “I gotta catch ’em all,” because doing it is so satisfying.
Furthermore, the customization is amazing. When I reviewed Forza Motorsport, I loved building my vehicle from the ground up. I even compared it to having a Pokémon and watching it evolve as you add new parts. Here, Forza Horizon 5 doesn’t go as deep, but I prefer it. Horizon has a more arcade and fast-paced feel that makes jumping in and out of it so easy for everyone. Yet, that doesn’t mean customization isn’t there. You can tune your vehicle with different parts that affect its handling, speed, and overall class.
Another key aspect is that every ride feels different. Handling vehicles here is extremely easy, but becoming a pro-racer requires a lot of practice. However, it is the most accessible racing game I’ve seen, not to mention the accessibility options. There are just so many that will let you help race in whichever way you prefer, and I always appreciate that.
Viva Horizon!
In the end, Forza Horizon 5 is the ultimate racing experience. Many of you already know this, but PS5 players will soon learn it. While we’ve had other racing games, nothing comes close to what Playground Games and Xbox Games Studios have done. Furthermore, this masterpiece has finally arrived on most platforms, which is excellent. Gone are the days of looking at exclusives from afar because Xbox has finally torn down that wall and welcomed many new racers.
While I wasn’t a fan of Horizon Realms, everything else was superb, and I’m eager for the full launch so I can properly join other racers in this ever-evolving world. Oddly enough, I only saw racing games as comfort food in the past—something I’d enjoy in small bites and return to finish one day. Now, Forza Horizon 5 is the one that has convinced me to become a full-fledged racer. Yes, I’m joining the track late, but I’ll do it with many others jumping into this colorful and grandiose racing experience.
Forza Horizon 5 (PS5 Review)
Forza Horizon 5 has finally landed on PS5 and it opens the roads for new players to experience this fantastic racing game. While it has a few visual hiccups, they are so minor and never distract players from the gorgeous and high-speed experience.
Pros
- Superb visuals
- The best sandbox racing game ever made
- A plethora of vehicles to obtain
Cons
- Horizon Realms wasn't as great as the other content
