Is Forza Horizon 5 Worth It If You Have Forza Horizon 4?
The short answer is: yes, absolutely, Forza Horizon 5 is worth the upgrade, even if you already own Forza Horizon 4. While it’s true that FH5 isn’t a revolutionary leap and maintains a core gameplay loop similar to its predecessor, it’s a significant step forward in almost every aspect. Calling it merely an incremental upgrade does it a disservice. Forza Horizon 5 offers a refined, expanded, and significantly enhanced experience that justifies the transition. From a significantly more detailed and varied open world to improved driving mechanics and a host of quality-of-life improvements, FH5 delivers an experience that is both familiar and exhilaratingly new. The question isn’t so much if it’s worth it, but rather why wouldn’t you upgrade?
Core Improvements in Forza Horizon 5
A Vast and Beautiful Open World
The biggest draw of Forza Horizon 5 is its setting: Mexico. Gone are the rainy streets and quaint countryside of Britain; in its place lies a stunning tapestry of diverse biomes. From lush jungles and arid deserts to bustling towns and towering volcanoes, the sheer variety of the landscape makes exploration endlessly rewarding. This isn’t just a change of scenery; the world is far more detailed, vibrant, and alive than in FH4. Even without racing or discovering barn finds, simply cruising through the environment is captivating. The improved graphics engine makes every detail pop, providing a true visual spectacle, especially on modern gaming hardware.
Refined Driving Mechanics
While the core driving feel of the Horizon series remains, FH5 boasts a noticeably improved driving model. Cars feel more grounded and responsive, especially on tarmac. They are easier to control and more intuitively handle varying road conditions, which gives a great sense of control. This refinement extends to advanced controller support, making playing with a driving wheel a more seamless and immersive experience. Whether you prefer to drift around corners, grip race on tight tracks, or tear down straightaways, the handling improvements in FH5 make every drive satisfying.
Quality of Life and Content Additions
Forza Horizon 5 addresses many of the minor gripes players had with FH4, adding a myriad of quality-of-life improvements. These might seem small individually but add up to an overall smoother and more enjoyable experience. In addition, the game boasts more customization options for cars and a more streamlined progression system. The Accolade system gives players meaningful goals to achieve and a clearer path for progress. While FH4 felt complete at launch, FH5 feels more robust and refined, thanks to these numerous additions.
Still Familiar, But Much More
The article extract hints that FH5 might not be as engaging as FH4. This is subjective, but it’s worth noting that initially, some players felt the vast open world of Mexico felt empty at times. However, as time has gone on and updates have been made, the map has become more filled with activities and things to discover. However, this isn’t an issue of lack of quality but rather the opposite: FH5 is simply more expansive. The core DNA is there: a fun, free-roaming racing experience that emphasizes player freedom. But that experience is now more polished, more visually impressive, and more engaging than ever before. If you enjoyed the core gameplay of FH4, you will undoubtedly love the enhanced version presented in FH5.
Addressing the “Emptiness” of the Map
The mentioned comment about the “emptiness” of the map is a common criticism. It’s true that early impressions may have been slightly influenced by the sheer scale of the new environment. However, over time, the game has been populated with more content, challenges, and things to do. The apparent “emptiness” is more of a perception caused by the sheer scale of the map. The beauty and diversity of the Mexican environment keep exploring exciting, even in between races and events.
Why Upgrade From FH4?
Ultimately, while it’s not a complete departure, Forza Horizon 5 offers a superior overall experience. It’s a case of taking what worked well in FH4 and improving upon it in almost every single area. If you are a fan of the Forza Horizon series, upgrading to FH5 is not a question of whether to get something new, but to experience the best the series has to offer.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Forza Horizon 5 truly just an incremental upgrade over FH4?
While it shares a similar core gameplay loop, Forza Horizon 5 is much more than just an incremental upgrade. It features a new and vastly improved open-world environment, a refined driving model, enhanced graphics, and numerous quality-of-life improvements. It’s an evolution of the franchise, rather than just an iteration.
2. Why is Forza Horizon 4 sometimes more expensive than 5?
This is due to regional pricing differences. The pricing of games varies across different regions for various reasons, and Forza Horizon 4 is sometimes more expensive than Forza Horizon 5 in certain locations. It’s not a reflection of the game’s quality, but rather a localized pricing strategy.
3. Is Forza Horizon 5 better than Forza Horizon 4?
Yes, definitively. Forza Horizon 5 is the superior game in almost every aspect, boasting a more refined driving experience, a larger and more diverse open world, and numerous quality-of-life improvements. It stands as the pinnacle of the Horizon series.
4. Is Forza Horizon 5 still fun?
Absolutely! Forza Horizon 5 provides an engaging and fun experience for both casual and hardcore racing fans. Its blend of open-world exploration, varied racing events, and the sheer joy of driving a massive range of vehicles make it endlessly fun.
5. Is the single-player experience in Forza Horizon 5 good?
While there have been some criticisms about the AI and tracks being less memorable than in past games, most agree the single-player experience is still very enjoyable. It is designed to be both fun and engaging, with many events and challenges to complete. The freedom of the open world means the player controls their progress.
6. What is the best car in Forza Horizon 5?
The “best” car depends on what you’re trying to accomplish. However, the Koenigsegg Jesko is often cited as one of the fastest overall cars, and a top contender for ultimate performance. Other strong contenders include the Mercedes-AMG One and the Radical RXC Turbo.
7. Is Forza Horizon 5 better than GTA 5?
They are very different games. Forza Horizon 5 is a pure racing game, focused on driving and exploration, while GTA 5 is an open-world action-adventure with a story-driven narrative. The graphics in FH5 are often cited as superior but it is not an apples-to-apples comparison, it depends on individual preferences.
8. What is the fastest car in Forza Horizon 5?
The 2020 Koenigsegg Jesko is generally considered the fastest car in Forza Horizon 5, often being top of the rankings when maximum speed is the target.
9. What’s the fastest accelerating car in Forza Horizon 5?
The Hot Wheels Bad to the Blade is renowned for its incredible acceleration in Forza Horizon 5.
10. Is Forza Horizon 4 still worth playing?
While it still has some fun to offer, Forza Horizon 4 is showing its age. It lacks the graphical improvements and quality-of-life updates found in FH5. The servers are also not as active as they once were. While some prefer FH4, most will find FH5 offers a superior experience.
11. What is the point of playing Forza Horizon 5?
The goal in Forza Horizon 5 is to expand the Horizon Festival across Mexico by progressing through Accolades, earning Skill Points, and gaining experience. It is about experiencing the thrill of driving in a beautiful open world, with the freedom to explore and race as you see fit.
12. What is the cheapest car in Forza Horizon 4?
Several cars in Forza Horizon 4 are available for around 20,000 CR, including the Nissan Silvia K’s, Volkswagen Beetle, and the Triumph Spitfire.
13. What is the smoothest car in Forza Horizon 4?
The Ferrari LaFerrari is often cited as one of the smoothest cars in Forza Horizon 4, but this is subjective. Many other supercars, like the Mosler MT900S, handle very well.
14. What is the most expensive car in Forza Horizon 5?
The Mercedes Benz 1955 300SLR is one of the most expensive cars available in Forza Horizon 5. The value does fluctuate though.
15. Do I need a top-end PC to play Forza Horizon 5?
No. Forza Horizon 5 is well-optimized, with adjustable graphics options allowing play on both high-end and mid-range PCs. The minimum and recommended specs are available, and it will scale according to your hardware.