We tested ‘Forza Horizon 5’ Before its launch: the most beautiful postcard that Mexico has in the history of video games

‘Forza Horizon 5’ was Microsoft’s big surprise at its E3 2021 conference, bringing the Horizon Festival to Mexico, promising the largest territory in franchise history. A month after its release we already had the opportunity to play a previous version of the title and yes, it is worth getting excited about.

‘Forza Horizon 5’ nothing is saved and from the beginning we will have the opportunity to briefly drive through the different biomes of the title, from the jungle to the city, noticing important differences in handling and available vehicles. We must understand the rules of the game from the beginning.

The structure of the title will remain the same, we will have the possibility to freely explore the entire setting or decide to meet the different objectives, most of which will focus on being the fastest in a race.

But let's go to one of the most anticipated points, the portrait of Guanajuato

Visit Mexico

When we arrived in Guanajuato, the first thing we found was a brown “vocho” with the “Taxi” sign, the terrain is paved and we noticed the change in driving, although it is a little light. When we enter the city we will have a wide road, but the further we go, the streets become smaller and the houses more crowded.

The references to Mexico are spectacular, the different colors of all the houses, all the poles responsible for the city's wiring. The different signs, respecting even the smallest detail.

It is a reality that driving is complicated in the city, since the streets are so tight we have no margin for error since we crash into a house or building. It's an amazing job by the studio.

Beyond the houses, we can see businesses such as shops, pharmacies, canteens, hotels, flavored water stalls. 'Forza Horizon 5' has Mexico tattooed. One of the big surprises was learning about the tunnels in the city, which are a great alternative to move faster.

Guanajuato is one of the great protagonists of the game. It will be inevitable to stop on each street and activate the photo mode to have unforgettable postcards of the game.

A festival that promises

The interesting thing about the PlayGround Games games is the creativity so that the tests feel different, like driving against a plane that suddenly releases a couple of motorcyclists who use alternative routes or simply enter the bottom of the sandstorm to take a memorable photograph.

Being an open world title, it is promised that each adventure will be totally different, with the choice that we will have of the races, the customization with the experience points that we are acquiring and most importantly, the variety of cars that we can find. It is a title that works well casually, as well as for those who want to invest many hours.

The creation of our main character is maintained, with the possibility of adding prosthetics in arms or legs and even the option to select how he is identified. In the end 'Forza Horizon 5' wants to be a party, where we are all invited.

The handling is spectacular, feeling even in the vibration how we change territory, it's fantastic. As in all the titles in the series, it will be easy to handle, but difficult to master.

Visually it is impressive, we were able to test the performance and quality mode, both in 4K resolution, the only difference is that one went to 60 frames and the other to 30. In titles of this type, the recommendation is to opt for performance to have a sensation of spectacular speed.

The audio works well, we can distinguish the sounds of the cars very well, while the effects that we have in the festival area are spectacular, it is inevitable that you do not feel like part of the party.

‘Forza Horizon 5’ will arrive on November 9 on Xbox One, Xbox Series X | S, PC and Xbox Cloud Gaming Beta, remembering that it will be available from day one to all Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members.

A game that we should all try, 'Forza Horizon 5' paints to be one of the best experiences of the year and of the new generation.