We Got Our Hands on the ‘Forza Horizon 5’ for the PS5 and It’s a Total Joyride

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After spending numerous years gazing at the Horizon Festival from different consoles, we were thrilled to have the chance to play Forza Horizon 5 on the PlayStation 5. It definitely exceeded expectations and justified all the excitement around it.

Right from the get-go when we felt the controller vibrate in our hands, it became apparent that this game exemplifies all the skills the series has perfected throughout its history, skillfully tailored for a new influx of gamers eager to traverse a vast, sun-drenched landscape.

Initially, what strikes you is the grandeur and enchantment of Mexico, serving as the game’s awe-inspiring backdrop. The diverse landscapes we navigated through, totaling eleven biomes, ranged from thick jungles to arid desert sand dunes. These terrains responded dynamically to weather fluctuations and seasonal shifts, making for an unpredictable experience. At one moment, we glided through a tranquil hamlet, while the next instant found us charging through a fierce tropical storm, with debris flying past our car windows. It’s visually stunning, captivating, and I must admit, it’s easy to become engrossed in its world.

However, the map is merely the starting point. What left us astounded was the garage: housing over 700 cars, each offering intricate customization possibilities. We fine-tuned paint jobs, optimized engines, switched drivetrains – if you can imagine it, you might be able to construct it here. The excitement isn’t limited to hypercars (though they are awe-inspiring); we derived pleasure from modifying peculiar hatchbacks, vintage rally cars, and even zipping around in an Abarth. We even personalized a vehicle with our own “TopMob” license plate. With renowned brands like Alfa Romeo and Lancia rejoining the roster, there’s a distinct European flavor that adds a new dimension to this platform.

Apart from jumping right into the included expansions since the Premium Edition was launched, we’ve also taken a deep dive into the thrilling chaos that is Hot Wheels. It’s like massive toy tracks in mid-air, packed with loops and boosters that defy gravity. On the other hand, Rally Adventure offered a rough-and-tumble, realistic vibe with an entirely new off-road terrain and a career mode that’s surprisingly hard to resist. To top it off, Horizon Realms, the latest update, offers 12 dynamic worlds that give the game an endless array of ways to keep you engaged.

To put it simply, the PS5 edition is exceptionally optimized, offering two modes: Performance mode, providing seamless 60 frames per second, and Quality mode, delivering stunning 4K visuals with ray tracing at 30fps. Both modes looked fantastic, but the realistic feedback from the DualSense controller made the difference. You can literally feel the road’s texture—every tire slip, brake lock, and surface change is transmitted through the adaptive triggers and haptics. This transforms what could be just a polished racer into a sensory experience. Moreover, cross-play functionality allows us to join forces with a vibrant community of players from both Xbox and PC platforms immediately.

Horizon Arcade’s instant-play mini-games and the revival of Eliminator’s battle royale mode make multiplayer seamless in this game. We also experimented with EventLab, a feature that lets players design unique challenges and distribute them globally. Upon release on PS5, Horizon Realms grants access to 12 dynamic worlds that expand over time, ensuring endless entertainment from the outset.

In Forza Horizon 5, it’s not just the cars and tracks that leave an impression; what truly resonates is the game’s spirit of camaraderie. This game feels like a festivity of play, where you’re encouraged to explore new possibilities. Features like Forza Link, an AI-guided companion that helps connect you with other players, and the Accolades system, which consistently acknowledges your achievements, foster interaction and experimentation. It’s quite unusual to encounter a racing game where multiplayer feels this relaxed and inviting.

Following our initial play of Forza Horizon 5 on the PS5, we’ve become fully committed. It’s evident that Playground Games didn’t merely transfer Forza to the PS5; instead, they’ve brought it back in all its glory. Whether you’re interested in enjoying the scenery, fine-tuning your ideal vehicle, participating in high-speed competition, or designing something extraordinary from the ground up, there’s a place for everyone here.

If you’re looking to get into the action right away, order Forza Horizon 5 for the PS5 here.

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2025-04-25 01:26