Features we need to see make a return in Forza Horizon 5

The Forza Horizon series has been loved ever since its first instalment back in 2012, it has become the go to game for most car enthusiasts, and for good reason too. Although the series is still taking the gaming industry by storm, it's worth mentioning a few features that were sadly removed throughout the franchise that I feel need to make a re-appearance, and what better time to talk about it than the month before E3!

We all know that Forza Horizon is the near perfect driving and racing experience, but that doesn't mean more can't be done. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love the amount of effort and love Playground Games and Turn10 put into the series, but they've had so many great concepts in the past that sadly didn't make it in newer games. Whether it be visuals, game features, events or anything else relating to the overall game, certain important aspects have been done away with in the newer games.

We've all heard the rumors about Horizon 5 in Mexico and a possible 2021 release date, so what do we want to see make a come-back from older entries of the game?

1. Road trips (Forza Horizon 2)

Remember the days back in 2014/2015 when Horizon wasn't just about hopping from race to race wherever the individual races were located on the map, the days when the whole roster of Horizon drivers took leisurely road trips across the map to different locations to take part in championships relating to a certain car class? Those were the best days, right? Well, sadly, that feature was done away with in newer games, now leaving the player to go to any unlocked event around the map where they felt suit and any car they wanted to race in, no specific car class and no fun group road trips. So, I believe Horizon 5 needs to bring back road trips and championship events based on the road trip destination. This means that Horizon isn't just an open world game with some races, but the open-world aspect of the game is made a part of the career.

Returning to the Horizon Festival to party after a road trip! (Horizon 2)

Returning to the Horizon Festival to party after a road trip! (Horizon 2)

2. Wrist Bands (Horizon 1/2)

Okay, picture this, it's 2012 and you've just made it to the Horizon Festival in Colorado in your VW Corrado VR6. You win a couple of races and you get called back to the Festival to collect your new wristband for leveling up, what a cool experience having to drive back to the Festival to collect these wristbands. It's such a small thing, but added to the experience that Horizon wasn't just about racing, it was a lifestyle.

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3. Preset Events/Championships (Horizon 1/2)

What do I mean by this? Well, back in the days of Forza Horizon 1, you had to make your way to event booths and stands around the map to start events. When you got to the event, you were provided with a ready made event and were told which cars were eligible, what class they had to be and even a kind of theme for the event (events which were sometimes sponsored by brands such as Adidas or Alpinestars, which is talked about later). This was the way the events worked in Horizon 1, however, in Horizon 2, you would be provided with a championship consisting of several events related to a certain given car class. Basically, I want the days back where we were given events to do as nowadays we just race whatever car we show up to the event in, and most of us most probably make use of the same car or a small subset of cars we like, therefore not forcing us to broaden our horizons (hehe) regarding which cars we would try out in the game. Oh, and an extra special mention goes out to the off-road events in Horizon 2, back then almost no matter what car or car class you had, even if it was a Lamborghini Huracan, you would be given off-road events to do in the championship, I loved that.

Chaos in Horizon 2 with a dirt race for a modern muscle car championship

Chaos in Horizon 2 with a dirt race for a modern muscle car championship

4. Bucket Lists (Horizon 2/3)

Bucket list events were a great way of showing off the variety of cars and map elements the Horizon games had to offer. Basically, there were a bunch of different cars scattered around the map, the player would have to drive up to them, hop in and then would be provided with a unique challenge such as getting to a location in time or jumping a car a certain distance. This was most certainly a fun way to experience different cars in Horizon. In Horizon 4 we were given businesses and story missions in place of bucket lists (as they essentially worked off of the same concept of mini challenges), don't get me wrong I enjoyed this new system, but I miss the vibe of finding an Arial Nomad chilling on the beach waiting to be ripped through a forest.

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5. Certain visual elements

We all know Forza is almost near unbeatable when it comes to visuals, the games are gorgeous! However, some elements have been removed / downgraded over the years which I will briefly mention below:

- Rain: Horizon 2 undoubtedly had the best rain effects and wet car visuals. The cars and roads stayed wet for a while after downpours and didn't just dry nearly instantly like in Horizon 4. On top of that, the roads used to become very wet and reflective, in both Horizon 2 and 3, which no longer happens.

- Car deformation: Before Horizon 3, cars used to get heavily deformed when collisions or crashes occurred. Bumpers would dent in, light covers would shatter sometimes bumpers would fly off. In Horizon 3 and 4, cars would get scratched and get small dents but nothing like before.

- Sunsets / sunrises: I remember how excited I used to get to see the sun rise / set in the Horizon world of Australia, it was beautiful, even more beautiful than what you get in Horizon 4. Playground Games recorded the real world Australian sky for Horizon 3 and it showed, it was incredible to look at!

As much as I'd like to see these elements return to Horizon, there's no disputing that Horizon 4 was most certainly the most visually appealing Horizon!

6. Sponsors (Horizon 1)

The 2012 Horizon Festival wasn't just about random races organised by the Festival alone, but they had the help of sponsors! Most events were organised by a certain brand in the game such as Meguiars or Adidas (and many more). On top of that, these brands would reward you for doing certain skills! It was super cool seeing all the brands scattered around the Festival as well as in the race events! It's something so small, but most certainly added to the overall vibe of the Horizon Festival!

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7. Offline Convoys (Horizon 3)

Annoying for some, fun for others, nonetheless a cool concept overall! In Horizon 3, if you blew your horn around other Drivatars, they would become apart of your convoy. The AI would then follow you around the map and spontaneous races within the convoy could happen at any moment. Another small feature, but it was fun cruising around the Festival with some AI cars!

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8. Street Racing (Horizon 1)

I know what you're thinking, "I'm pretty sure all of the Horizons so far have had street racing". Well yes, but no. You see, although the newer Horizons have had Street Racing events, they've somehow become apart of the Festival, which is technically a legal event in the game. In Horizon 1, Street Racing was done on the down-low, even the radio DJs used to say they don't condone street racing (but Scott Tyler always got excited talking about them nonetheless). You had to make your way to parking lots where an "underground" racing scene took place completely separate from the Festival, giving it that true illegal street racing feel!

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Special Mention: Horizon Hot Wheels (Horizon 3)

Ridiculous? Yes. Fun? Absolutely! Forza Horizon has always been the game to give us realistic handling, cars and physics all strapped into an open world game, I can't think of even 1 game that has attempted to do this, let alone do it better than Horizon. However, back in Horizon 3, Forza went all out to test their physics as well as to make something that has never been seen in a Horizon game before; a Hot Wheels expansion! Basically, Forza gave us an entire open-world map of Hot Wheels roads with loops, half-pipes, mechanical dinosaurs and pretty much everything Hot Wheels related! Somehow, Forza managed to keep their realistic-feeling handling and physics even on these giant orange roads! This was arguably the most fun expansion Forza, or any racing game for that matter, has ever done. It was out of the ordinary and criticized by some for being childish, but honestly, lighten up and enjoy what they'd created because no matter your age, Horizon Hot Wheels was extremely enjoyable!

These are some of the things I'd like to see added or improved upon in the next Horizon game. Yes, they're a bit nitpicky, but its hard to fault a near-perfect driving game! I didn't mention things I'd like to see make a return from Horizon 4 as we don't know yet if anything will be removed, but I'm really hoping to see seasons again! Keep doing what you're doing Playground Games! You guys are killing it!