There are four racing games competing for a top podium finish this Fall season, but two of them in particular want it more than anything in the world. Those two games are Forza Horizon 2 and Driveclub.
The Xbox One and PS4 are nearing their one year anniversary. Both want to win over customers with a must-have exclusive, and Forza Horizon 2 and Driveclub are looking to fill that role. So, which one walks home with the trophy?
Related: Driveclub Review
Before reading this piece, know that it’s based upon my opinion, and my opinion only. I can only provide my perspective on these two games, which may be valuable to you considering I’m a huge car enthusiast and racing fan. I’m currently level 135 in Forza Horizon 2, and level 29 in Driveclub. I’ve played both games extensively, and have been asked many times this week which game I prefer. I’ve decided to weigh in on how they compare in each category to better break it down.
Handling: That Driving Feel
Forza Horizon 2 feels great in the hands, which may come as no surprise given the series’ prestige. Its mechanics are a looser version of the Forza Motorsport games, still incorporating real-world characteristics into each vehicle, while making it easier to avoid complete loss of control when traction is lost. This makes it very welcoming for beginners, but you can disable assists to make it feel less rudimentary (you’ll be rewarded with a higher credit multiplier, too).
The biggest detail to note for Forza Horizon 2 is how leaving the pavement feels. In simulations like Forza Motorsport and Gran Turismo, driving off the tarmac results in a loss of equilibrium; your car becomes a wild stallion as you fight with the wheel to retain control. Forza Horizon 2 muffles the physics of this real-world inspired effect when off-roading so that players can hit the countryside without feeling like they’re skating on ice. Furthermore, cars are a joy to handle, and it doesn’t take a long time to feel comfortable playing the game whether you’re on the road or driving through the countryside.
Driveclub is a unique beast. Truthfully, it most reminds me of Ridge Racer where traction isn’t even a word in its vocabulary, and TCS is unnecessary. It’s very loose, and cars accelerate much faster than their real-world counterparts, quickly launching you into the triple digits.
In my 20 or so hours of playing the game, I never felt like I truly got a good feel for the handling model, especially drifting. Small movements produce wobble, and the peculiar mixture of real effects (i.e. suspension bounce when hitting ridges in the road) with arcade-inspired handling makes it a rough ride.
Frankly, Driveclub feels a bit awkward. The lack of tuning options just makes things worse.
Winner: Forza Horizon 2
Graphics: What the Eyes Can See
Both Forza Horizon 2 and Driveclub do their respective platforms justice. Forza Horizon 2 does a particularly great job at providing variety. A day/night cycle, rain, and varied regions of France and Italy make for great eye candy.
Driveclub focuses most of its attention on looking good, and that’s given it an edge here. There’s an incredible level of detail, from the flora and fauna that inhabit the game’s five destinations, to the remarkable dynamic shadows and lighting shown at night. Even its menus are good on the eyes.
Winner: Driveclub
Level Structure: In 100 Yards, Turn Left
Forza Horizon 2 and Driveclub are very different styles of racer. While Forza Horizon 2 builds its circuits and point-to-point events using a mix of waypoints and object-defined turns, 100% of Driveclub takes place on narrow roads and tracks.
The problem I have with Driveclub is that you are punished heavily for driving on the sides of the track, being slowed down and eventually being reset to the track. This makes the game world feels tight and claustrophobic well beyond anything that Gran Turismo or Forza Motorsport have ever employed. Forza Horizon 2 doesn’t suffer from this, allowing you to drive anywhere you want no matter what you’re doing.
Driveclub does have some great tracks, though, especially when you consider that they are 100% original.
Winner: Forza Horizon 2
Campaign: The Single-Player Adventure
Forza Horizon 2 and Driveclub both face problems with their campaign structure.
Forza Horizon 2 has a lot more freedom to choose what you want to do, but is unimaginative. You participate in four events per championship, and then go on a road trip to the next hub. This is rinsed and repeated throughout the journey. To make up for it, there is a ton of other content to enjoy, whether it be Bucket Lists, or Speed Traps.
Related: My Unforgettable Forza Horizon 2 Journey
Driveclub keeps things varied with a ton of different challenges. You’ll do drift challenges, participate in car-specific events, and earn stars from challenges in the process. However, it’s only about eight hours in length, which falls well short of the hundreds of events that Forza Horizon 2 has.
Winner: Tie
Music: Bumpin’ to Them Beats
Forza Horizon 2 has just under 150 tracks spread across seven radio stations. You can tune to whichever station you like, enjoying techno, pop, house, indie rock, drum and bass, and more depending on what you feel like at any given time.
In contrast, Driveclub has about 37 tracks. Most of these are drum and bass—a favorite of mine—, remixed by DJ Shadow and Noisia. It’s good, and I’ve incorporated a few of the tracks into my ‘commuting to college playlist’, but there’s no variety, and it’s sequential so you can only decide if music is enabled or disabled.
Winner: Forza Horizon 2
<< On the next page we declare a winner! >>
