#forza4

As deadlines are approaching fast for all of our modules, I thought it would be nice to discuss a game that provides a little bit of head space. Don’t get me wrong, it still requires the player to focus, but all in all it’s a pretty chilled game that brings you into an escapist albeit familiar world.

Forza Horizon 4 is a typical simulation racing game developed by Playground Games. Unlike the Forza Motorsport series which has the setting of professional racing tracks, the Horizon series features the fictional Horizon Festival in which the player participates in races within an environmental setting of a condensed version of the UK. Most importantly, in my opinion, the game allows for open world exploring, which for me is how the game provides that escapism. Of course, different players will find different joys within the game, but that’s the point: the player can choose what they want to do. They can choose whether they want to build their reputation within the game through the festival races, complete side objectives, or mindlessly travel through a miniature version of Edinburgh.

Personally, the open world exploration is what relaxes me the most; and it’s solidified my desire to have open world exploration abilities in my own game concept I’m developing for the module. My game takes place in a real city or town during the late 1960s, so having an open world would be ideal. The player can explore a familiar world but simultaneously be taken back in time to experience how the city or town would have looked back then.

Thanks to Forza Horizon 4, I’ve been reminded of how nice a distraction simple exploration can be. Besides the main challenges and side objectives, I hope having the freedom to explore my game’s world would be enjoyable for the player. I’ll definitely have fun designing it.