Forza Horizon 3 was revealed during Microsoft’s E3 press conference, and had a playable demo available on the show floor. After giving it a spin, Forza Horizon 3 seems like it will fit right in line as the next Horizon installment.
The demo featured four races seamlessly combined into one experience. Initially, I was offered the choice between a few cars, including the Lamborghini displayed at the E3 press conference and on the show floor. This first race felt like a time trial, because there were many different racers on the course with me at the same time.
After reaching a certain point in the race, an off-road vehicle popped up and became the car I now controlled. The second race was a points scoring competition down a forested hill. There were plenty of jumps along the way, and the foliage looked beautiful as I raced past it.
This race ended once I made it down to the beach. The third race was another time trial. This time, speed was the key, with the wide beach providing a good racetrack substitute. The key for this race was to manage time spent driving in the surf, as the water would slow down your car if you drove through it.
The final race was incredibly exciting, and seen in the Forza Horizon 3 trailer. This race set you in an off-road car against one of the characters of Horizon 3 in a Jeep. The catch here is that your opponent’s Jeep spends 95 percent of the race suspended from a helicopter racing alongside you. This race was the highlight, featuring big jumps and a cool set piece moment where the two cars come close to smashing into each other in midair.
My biggest complaint with Forza Horizon 3’s demo is how scripted it felt. The last race, while cool, seemed as if I was always going to win at the last moment, which took some of the drama out of the finish. Of course, this is the demo and a more scripted experience should be expected. I’m sure the final game will not feel like this at all.
There is also a Chvrches song on the soundtrack, and I’m a sucker for Chvrches.
While my demo was short and sweet, I definitely want to spend more time racing across Forza Horizon 3’s Australia. The lush jungles look primed to wildly drive through, and the beaches ready to be torn up with supercars. Fans of Forza won’t have to wait too long either, as Forza Horizon 3 launches for Xbox One and Windows 10 on Sept. 27.
So what do you think? Are you excited to try out the next version of Forza Horizon? Do you prefer the Horizon series or the main Forza series? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
