Forza Horizon 2 Presents Fast & Furious
Overview -
'Forza Horizon 2 Presents Fast & Furious' is a fantastic marketing idea, which has been released in time to complement and raise awareness of the new 'Fast & Furious' movie, 'Fast 7. '
Available for both the Xbox One and Xbox 360, this standalone release mixes 'Forza Horizon 2's gameplay engine and mechanics with elements from the film series it promotes. Also, while it's currently free to download and helps support Ludacris' LudaCares Foundation, it won't be free for long. After April 10th, the game will become a paid product, with a $9.99 USD price tag.
Video Review
Running on an established engine has its pros, and 'Forza Horizon 2 Presents Fast & Furious' certainly takes advantage of them. Then again, it's not like much was done to change the look or feel of the game from what it was like when it was merely called Forza Horizon 2. The only things that were added were the films' ever-important garage, as well as a bit of branding. So, you're pretty much getting the exact same visual experience as you did before, which definitely isn't a bad thing.
Presented in full 1080p, and touting jaw-dropping models, environments and effects, this freebie is a fantastic-looking extension of the best-looking racing game out there. Its dynamic rain, realistic damage modeling and impressive dirt-spray effects make for a very realistic and thoroughly engaging experience.
Audio Review
Although he's best known for being a rapper, Ludacris isn't a stranger to voiceovers or acting in general. His experience shows, too, as he's able to provide solid narration that fits the theme of 'Forza Horizon 2 Presents Fast & Furious' to a T. He's casual, but encouraging, and also energetic at times, which all works well.
Complementing Luda's voice work is a brand new radio station that plays music you'd expect to hear in a 'Fast & Furious' movie. It's upbeat, varies in genre and acts as a fitting soundtrack for high-intensity racing like this.
Final Thoughts
'Forza Horizon 2 Presents Fast & Furious' may not be as robust and content-filled as the game it borrows from and expands upon, but it's one hell of a package at no cost whatsoever. Even when it hits $9.99, it'll still be well-worth picking up, because it's just that good of a game.