Unleash the advanced driving physics of Forza Motorsport 4 on a Test Drive Unlimited –style open-road environment, and you get Forza Horizon , a new spinoff from Microsoft's acclaimed racing series.

+ Enormous stable of responsive and tunable licensed cars; + Exceptional graphics with long draw distances

? Where are the real Colorado landmarks

By combining open-world thrills with simulation racing and letting you customize the experience to your liking, Forza Horizon 2 is an excellent entry in the series.

Southern Europe is gorgeous in game; Driving is constantly exciting; Experience is hugely customizable

Eventually runs out of new stuff; Story is ludicrous

I don't want to be Master Chief. I don't want to be Shepard, the Vault Dweller, or John Marston. Sure they're awesome and undeniably badass, but their existences are stressful, difficult and ultimately miserable.

A staggering amount of stuff to do; Multiplayer that features cat and mouse and infected modes; It looks gorgeous; sounds gorgeous and plays gorgeously

An inevitable dearth of content you'll have to buy later; Nighttime driving can be challenging at 200 mph; If you don't like Skrillex; you're sorta screwed

There's something oddly romantic about Forza Horizon. Gone are the real-life circuits of Motorsport, replaced by a gorgeous stretch of the American West. Sweeping praries and looming peaks set a grand stage, and a persistent sense of competition keeps the vast expanse from feeling lonely.

Sprawling open world is a blast to explore; Stunning vistas highlighted by a full day-night cycle; Flexible difficulty welcomes a wide range of drivers; Plenty to do outside organized events; Terrific competitive multiplayer

Awkward storytelling; Disappointing online free-roaming

Shaun McInnis put the pedal to the metal on this video review for Forza Horizon.

Sprawling open world is a blast to explore; Stunning vistas highlighted by a full day-night cycle; Flexible difficulty welcomes a wide range of drivers; Plenty to do outside organized events; Terrific competitive multiplayer

Awkward storytelling; Disappointing online free-roaming

While Forza Horizon can come across as demographic-mongering, interactive junk food, you'll find a deeply engaging racing experience below its overly gaudy candy-paint top coat. This new installment in the series truly shines when it lets you live out your childhood fantasies, driving that car from...

Forza hits the open road As the first open-world game in the Forza Motorsport franchise, Horizon is a rookie on the rise; The solo storyline sets you up as the new guy trying to make his name in the speed-celebrating, car-meets-concert Horizon festival.

PlayGround Games delivers a new spin on the Forza franchise with pleasing results. Our full review.

+ Slick presentation; + Controls are great; + Tons of events to complete; + Visuals are superb

Track variety; Microtransactions litter the world

Mature-Gaming reviews Forza Horizon and explores whether this open world experience stands up to the quality of its predecessors. The Forza Motorsport franchise has become synonymous with pure racing, taking Turn 10′s passion for cars and speed and providing, through its four, releases a package...

I've been trying to peg Forza Horizon since its announcement earlier this year, but Turn 10 and Playground Games never gave it to us straight. Is it more of a racing sim? Or a casual, arcade-style thing? Somewhere in-between?

There's a serious problem with the variety of racing games you can get on your console or PC, and few developers seem to want to do anything about it. Serious sims on PC are extremely meticulous in their physics and handling, but amateur modders are left to add unofficial versions of real cars...