Australian Review: Forza Horizon 2 – Shapeshifter
Graphics & Design
Forza Horzion 2 is grin-inducingly gorgeous. The entire game is stunning, from the cars to the scenery to the menus. Hooning along the beautifully-rendered Italian coastline at 250km an hour is an exhilarating experience, to say the least. It's (probably) not quite as good as the real thing, but Forza Horizon 2's level of polish and realism feels like it provides with at least a fraction of that experience from the comfort of your couch.
While the game never stops looking great, it looks amazing when weather effects come into play. The way rain-slicked streets reflect your headlights and spray as you take a corner begins to border on surreal. Sunsets are also spectacular. Forza Horizon 2 is a beautiful game.
What's more impressive is that the game's menus have all also received the same attention to detail. Everything is presented in a simple, clear and concise manner. Even the game's controller mapping is thoughtful; you press X to start a race rather than A, meaning it's almost impossible to enter an event you don't want to.
All it takes to go online in Forza Horizon 2 is the press of a menu button; waiting in lobbies is a thing of the past. Players have two choices of online mode, Online Roadtrip, which takes you through four different races, or Online Free Roam, where you're free to pick and choose individual events.
Small design decisions really showcase how much thought has gone into making Forza Horizon 2 a cohesive, polished experience.