At PAX Prime 2013 in Seattle, I got the chance to get my hands on Forza Motorsports 5 for the Xbox One.
Of course being the first day of PAX Prime and having touched an Xbox One controller for the first time, let alone playing Forza 5, I was a tad nervous and giddy. I felt like I could have played better but that did not stop me from the enjoying the experience.
However first shall we dive into what is Forza Motorsport 5. We have fifty-five cars that have been confirmed so far along with thirty manufactures. Just like Forza 4, new cars will be available via downloadable content. Forza 5 will be a launch title for the Xbox One, releasing on November 22 from Turn 10 and Microsoft Studios.
The men of Top Gear return. In Forza 4 we were graced by the voice of Jeremy Clarkson. With Forza Motorsport 5, we’ll have all three members of the Top Gear team. Joining Clarkson will be Richard Hammond and James May. They’ll be your guide for each car in Forza 5, tearing it apart and giving you vital information for your races.
One of the biggest additions to Forza 5 is the drivatar. Thanks to the Xbox Cloud, information on your driving style will be uploaded and downloaded back into Forza 5 and will mold the way the AI drives your car and how your opponents react. This function will work best when you are connected online however you do not have to be online 24/7 to experience drivatar or Forza Motorsport 5.
Now to the video. The cars are beautiful. The tracks. The surroundings, Forza 5 screams it. It is easy to get distracted by the visuals while driving. I thought driving in Forza 4 felt real, Forza 5 steps it up. Even though I used a Xbox One controller, it felt like I had a steering wheel in my hand. The Xbox One controller itself is light and comfortable. It might feel a little too light when you want to rage quit and toss your controller to the ground.