

IDG / Hayden Dingmanįrom there, you’ll go through all four seasons again-this time slower. Turns out that’s actually the introduction to Forza Horizon 4 proper, so you’ll go through the same set of showcases. We got a taste of this at E3, with the game running quickly through a montage of autumn, winter, spring, and ending with a sprint to the Horizon Festival center in summer. For the first time, Horizon 4 introduces seasons to the festival. Or at least, that’s how it feels during the summertime. The cottages are slate-roofed this time instead of terracotta-tiled, but there’s a familiarity to the rolling hills and picturesque farmlands. But it’s not as immediately eye-catching as Horizon 3, and at the worst of times feels like little more than a retread of Horizon 2’s Italy and France. Forza Horizon 4 does a great job squishing together interesting elements, from the twisting streets of Edinburgh to ancient old-growth forests.

It’s not that the United Kingdom is ugly, especially not here. There were beaches, rainforests, cities, and of course the red dirt of the Outback, all spotted with iconic landmarks like the Twelve Apostles. So much of Forza Horizon is spent driving aimlessly around admiring environments, and Horizon 3’s Australia had natural beauty around every corner. I’ll admit, it feels a bit like a step down from Forza Horizon 3’s Australia.
