Although I've enjoyed a handful of racing games I'm usually quite picky about which ones I play. Horizon Chase is a throwback to classic arcade-style racers. The colorful art work and the fast-paced gameplay remind me a lot of games like Outrun. Tight controls means that anyone can play but also gives veterans of the genre a chance to test their limits. A wonderful soundtrack of exciting tunes will enhance the racing experience and fuel your desire for speed. Horizon Chase may look like something that came out of an arcade but the sheer amount of content is surprising even for a console game.
In Horizon's career mode you'll compete in races in over ten different locations with each location offerings 8-9 races across four different sites or cities. Each race is on a new track and you never feel like you've done the same track twice. Of course you are incentivezed to go back and replay races to get a better medal or beat the ghost times your friends set. By getting all golds in each location you'll earn a new car. You'll also have the chance to play an upgrade race at each location after making a set amount of progress in career mode. After finishing in the top 3 at these upgrade races you can select one of three upgrades. No need to overthink you're selection; By the end of career mode you'll have collected them all.
If you've conquered career mode there is still plenty more to do. Tournaments score you based on finishing position across four different races. They are separated into three difficulties tiers with the more challenging tiers featuring the most tournaments. You also have endurance mode which has you complete in several races in a row. Also, there is more to career mode then just getting gold medals. To 100% career you'll need to not only win every race but do so while collecting all the coins scattered about on each track.
Horizon Chase is not only fun to play but it also looks and sounds great too. The vibrant colors of the cars and tracks really set the this world apart. The connections to actual locations may be quite loosely based in reality but it is fun to see iconic imagery from these well known vistas. As fast as the races get it is still quite easy to keep track of whats going on. The upbeat soundtrack has multiple layers of catchy tunes to build up and support the excitement of the races themselves. There is a decent variety of tracks and despite the hearing them many times they are still enjoyable.
I knew as soon as I got hands-on this was going to be an enjoyable experience yet the breath of content has captured my attention longer then I would have imagined. The career mode itself was a long journey in of itself; first by completing every race, then getting all golds, and finally getting golds with all the coins. There are so many cars to choose from it is just a matter of time til you find a handful that you feel really comfortable driving. I only played a little multiplayer but any game that lets you play the career co-op is a big plus for me. If you're burnt out on sim racers or if you simply prefer the arcade experience there is definitely a lot to love with Horizon Chase Turbo.