Quite successful!

So I write not often reviews, but for this game, I would like once add my two cents. Much as the background story, has already been explained, so I will refer here only on my personal experiences and try me kurzzufassen halfway)

--Grafik--
So the graphical presentation heard in the area of ​​race simulations, with the best that has ever been coaxed my Xbox! A characteristic festival grounds, which can also be seen from a greater distance and then draws attention to itself through flash laser / spotlight. A beautiful "Colorado", which varied and especially seamlessly between forest / desert / meadow environments change, peppered by small villages, towns, etc. This fits. Contrary to read review definitely not too colorful, as measured by the desired goal, which followed the game. Rather refreshingly colorful and not too bright / overweight, as I know it from eg NFSU games.
In addition, a day / night cycle, which takes place in relatively pleasant intervals. This can also be quite impressive, especially the sun was well staged when changing the times of the day in my opinion. A little more colorful (purple dusk an example) it could still be, but that would be bleating at a high level!
The vehicles are modeled hammermäßig !! Not that that would be in other titles of the genre do not like, but I ("advanced" as gamers age) am always fascinated by the Detailfreudigkeit. These beautiful reflection and color effects, just beautiful!
Have in the meantime also again Forza 3 alluded that somehow just looks only drab, dull and boring by comparison. Here I found the front Forza Horizon actually quite handsome;)

--Sound--
At this point I would first like to highlight the successful soundtrack. This pleases me almost continuously, all three stations have diversified and adapted to the theme music. The rock station includes me partly to hard rock, but you can not please everyone so. Perhaps the "Bass Arena" transmitter might eventually be fatal that the fad Dubstep is still used quite frequently. But whatever. Mir gefällts, and in 5 years then there's still other games with other music =)
At this point I would like to mention that makes the soundtrack also great in the car. And in my iTunes. And on my iPod! 67 tracks you though eventually all familiar, but are pretty much always audible.

Phonetically: Here you'll find me a "good". Beautiful and in my opinion, accurate 5.1 sound, which should really appeal to the masses. The cars all sound a little different, and the differences here are primarily between the individual vehicle types. I find, however, the soundtrack could be a little more powerful. Probably intention so that not too much distraction from the gameplay. But as a player who sometimes runs in GTA Vice City only through the area to listen only to the music, I have perhaps other requirements.
This is true but not for the rest of the sound image. Fairly balanced, in the right places a little punchier. Just right to keep the players happy!

--Fahrphysik--
Now I have read here already often that there is no sub Schid between RWD, FWD and 4WD. That you can with impunity boards across meadows. Everything was too arcade-heavy. All cheese! The physics is of course a lot more relaxed than it is for example in Forza 3. But is the best intentions not to the extent as specified here sometimes. Some are true Heckantriebler eg lethal injection. Since the rear takes an example to the counterparty and overhauled the driver only too happy if you should take time to quickly a curve yet. Front-wheel drive vehicles are as generally friendly, but not too well represented, so I can not really say much about this. Wheel drive vehicles boast significantly better traction and it shows huge! As king of this discipline is here once the '83 Audi Quattro called, with which you should get pretty much every bend;)
A bit of a shame, but sometimes quite useful is the fact that vehicle damage have no effect on the driving physics! It makes sense because Forza Horizon certainly should not be a pure race simulation, but sometimes fun. On another reason I come to speak further below.
What has also been mentioned, but I certainly can not understand is the effect of the subsoil. How often I catch myself thinking, "Man, thou shalt not go but through the mud!" Larded trips to the, often with grass and / or earth side of the track to be punished with short andauerndem reduction in traction! And it shows the latest in the next corner. What I find sometimes a little odd is the fact of changing surfaces within a race. As one chooses for a "street racing" a matching Lamborghini and then have to have a third of the way to deal with unpaved ground! Ouch! I find a little inappropriate and clearly a criticism! But you have to live with it just somehow ...

--DLCs--
Yes, the love DLCs. I think that's one of the themes (apart from online forced some games in the PC area), the currently splits the player base. Me personally annoy the constant hints in the game à la: "Hey, buy but the rally DLC", "buy magste not prefer vouchers which you take away all free switching fun?" and "Go buy the great treasure maps that rob you of any of discovery and adventure!". The fact that cars, which are re-purchaseable ONLY via DLC, appear already in the car purchase menu, I find a little in common. To create so sometimes lacking affordable alternatives, so you then but considering so a DLC ...
Is a general trend of manufacturers to subsequently offer extended game content, which I think is also quite okay. Games are getting more expensive in production, the money must somehow come in again. It's all planned in the production, which is why "Season Pass" possible and unlock (/ - purchase) face features in the otherwise very simply held ended main menu already occur (see Horizon Rally).
Those who enjoy playing, the things to buy, the rest comes without well clear! I stand against the whole neutral and have resorted to other games already to DLCs. Whether I will do that in Forza Horizon, I do not know.

--Spielspaß And Fazit--
In a word: "Yeah!"
Playing makes a lot of humor, which is no less due to the good atmosphere! What this mood is a little clouded, that there is no qualifying rounds for the race. It always starts the last one in the field! For this reason, I am quite grateful for the fact that damage to the vehicle do not affect the physics. Otherwise it would have on higher difficulty levels no chance to land within the usually much too short race with "clean" driving on the front ranks.
One more word on the subject of race length: I miss "long" race. The most last only about 3 minutes, which is likely to come of the motivation curve benefited, but I find rather unfortunate. I had only one race, which took about 7 or 8 minutes, but has been a most exceptional event!
What me a bit is negative regurgitates that there is no split-screen races, but multiplayer racing is only possible via the Internet! Say: If I want to play with a friend in common with me, I have to rely too Forza 3 or others. Since this is sooo not often the case, that is for me personally still bearable.
But I would say that these are all small things that spoil the whole fun little.

All in all, Forza Horizon an entertaining, loud, colorful racing "simulation," which attempts to master the balancing act between Forza 3/4 and NFS. An attempt was made to merge the best of both worlds and is in my opinion quite well. Here and there, certainly a few negative points, in contrast, but also many positive characteristics that certainly outweigh. From me, there's as a strong buy recommendation!

A quick pros and cons:

Pro:
- Polyphonic Sound
- Super Soundtrack
- Very pretty graphics
- Varied races
- Fair and detailed Evaluation of difficulty

Contraindications:
- Annoying DLC ​​Offers
- No qualifying rounds
- Short Race
- No local multiplayer

Neutral:
- Tuning is not too relevant / is done automatically