Review: 'Forza Horizon' packs plenty of horsepower

For several years, Forza Motorsport has delivered a buttoned-up approach to racing games: players compete in a variety of races, unlock dozens of sparkling cars and soak up gorgeous environments.

In the latest release Forza Horizon, developers at Turn 10 are loosening up a bit. The affection for four-wheeled powerhouses remains, but it's combined with a laid-back atmosphere and shift to open world street racing.

The Xbox 360 racing title is based in Colorado during the Horizon Festival. Players must speed up the ranks of the Festival's best drivers by competing in a series of racing challenges.

While Forza Motorsport focused on traditional racing inside textbook tracks, Horizon largely takes to the streets. Most races involve players zooming down Colorado highways, dirt roads and other terrains. Each finish nets players credits for vehicle upgrades and new cars, as well as points to unlock special wristbands to advance to the next class and find tougher events.

Overall, Horizon presents an atmosphere that's more relaxed compared to Motorsport. Tunes from the Horizon music festival blast inside cars as players speed down. Instead of worrying about driving that perfect line down the track, players concentrate on a Popularity rank earned by performing risky moves such as close passes with oncoming cars, sharp drifts and burnouts. Moving up the Popularity standings help unlock additional events and rewards.

Players are presented with a map and GPS to navigate the Festival. Along with standard events, there are intense street races with huge cash prizes, "barn finds" that hide special vehicles and speed traps to record your highest speed on a particular stretch of road. Horizon outposts are spread across the map for those willing to fast travel for a fee. A racing hub is where players will purchase or sell cars, upgrade and paint vehicles and snag wristbands.

There's also a strong multiplayer option, where players can join events based on their skill set, including Beginners, Veterans or even those seeking a more Social racing experience.

Although Forza Horizon represents a change in atmosphere, the game hasn't forgotten what made the series so successful. Cars are still incredibly thrilling to drive, from the basic Volkswagen coupe to the gorgeous Bugatti. Every car has its own unique properties, from weight to speed, so players feel every sharp turn and the rush of tearing through streets at 120+ miles per hour.

Developers have also maintained the franchise's incredible customization and accessibility options. The design editor, home to arguably the most creative user-generated artwork in video games, returns. It allows players to apply letters, decals and other objects to create customized paint jobs for their cars. The results are staggering, with intricate, bright designs players can purchase and sell.

By default, Forza Horizon feels like a much easier ride compared to earlier Motorsport games. Fortunately, there are several ways players can ramp up the difficulty to make races more challenging, such as turning off assists for steering. Changes don't go unnoticed, as players can earn extra credits by taking the tougher route.

The open world component works well but could use some fine-tuning. The trick to any open world game is in its ability to pull players off the main course. The 2008 hit Burnout Paradise is a prime example of this concept done right. There's so much to do, between races and challenges and elements as simple as spotting a massive ramp to conquer.

Horizon has hints of a robust open world, between speed traps, barn finds and simply speeding around to beef up popularity rankings. However, exploring loses its luster over time, leaving players to move down that checklist of events to reach the next set of races.

Horizon represents a subtle departure from the flagship Forza Motorsport franchise with its flexibility and emphasis on racing culture. However, developers' love for breathtaking rides is still evident with this game.

Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios

Developer: Turn 10 Studios

Platform(s): Xbox 360

Price: $59.99

Release Date: Oct. 16

Rating: T for Teen

Score: 3 stars (out of 4)