As some of you may already know, the demo for Forza Horizon 2 on Xbox One was released today. And, I’ve spent about 2 hours playing it, and I’ve loved it all. So, here’s what I thought!
To begin, the game is absolutely gorgeous. The cars are incredibly detailed, and have the right amount of shine. The environment is stunning as well, from the roads to the fields you can drive through. And, possibly the most beautiful aspect of the game are the weather effects. The look of rain on the roads, windshield, and even as it pours down from the sky just help to immerse you in the world that is Forza Horizon 2.
The way Rumble Triggers are utilized are identical to Forza 5, so they are a very subtle but amazing addition. Even the limited area of the demo feels very big, especially since you can now drive in a wider variety of areas, from staying on the main highway roads, to driving through giant fields. The game really does feel open, even in this limited play space.
Sadly, you can only drive 4 cars in total. The first vehicle you drive is what takes you to the Horizon Festival, and also what you drive for the showcase event. After you first arrive at the festival, you are presented with three choices of cars. A large SUV, a hatchback, and a normal car. I do wish there was a larger selection to choose from, especially since Playground Games likes to boast all the cars in the game, but these vehicles are enough to have a taste of the game play.
Though it’s definitely nice of Microsoft to release a demo 2 weeks in advance of the games release, I feel this should have warranted a larger slice for us to enjoy. Even though there is a lot of world to explore, there are only 3 races and one bucket list challenge in total, which is not enough to keep me held over until Forza Horizon 2 releases on September 30th. But, being that Microsoft/Playground did not have to release a demo this much in advance at all, I can’t really complain too much.
The demo allows both solo and multiplayer sessions, and the ability to freely explore the allowed area. To switch from Solo play to a multiplayer free roam session is just as fast as boasted, and doesn’t disrupt gameplay. You simply pause the game, switch to the multiplayer option, wait for the game to find a match as you drive, and you will then be brought into a session with a minor loading sequence. But, you remain in the same spot you were in when in solo play, and it feels very fluid and easy.
The game itself feels to me like a mix of Need for Speed and Forza 5. Very similar to the first Forza Horizon, but with a slew of huge improvements. The biggest problem many will have with the demo is the fact that it is a whopping 10 GBs. If you are on the fence about the game, the demo will show you if it is for you or not.
But, what do you guys think? Have you played the Forza Horizon 2 demo yet? What do you think of it? If you haven’t played it, do you plan on downloading it? Leave your thoughts below. And remember, stay tned to Gamer Headlines for all of your Forza Horizon 2 and gaming news!
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