Recent reviews by Genus

This game promised a lot, but in the end it disappointed in pretty much every way possible. The physics, which are one of the most important parts of a "racing" game feel very artificial. Drifting is neither arcadey nor realistic, it feels like you are controlling a shopping cart rather than a car. Grip racing, which this game also offers, is bad for the same reasons. Graphically there are older games that look better and the sound of the engines is subpar as well. Customization is one of the only features that is at least a notable mark, in a positive way. There are very few games that let you disassemble a car, build it back up and drive it. On that note, a game that does all of the above way better is BeamNG drive. They do not have licensed cars, but in every other aspect is miles ahead of Drift21. Also, the Devs abandoned the game way to early.

Obviously not, the perfect game does not exist.

We have grown familiar with the big AAA Releases that seem to promise everything we ever wanted and then under deliver or ship a game that is riddled with bugs. Forza Horizon 5 is close to fitting in with the rest of these games, what saves it is the solid foundation that playground games has build over the last couple of years and the reputation of the studio itself.

Forza Horizon 5 does not break any boundaries or revolutionizes the way you look at racing games. It does the same things the previous entries where known for (for better or for worse). The handling has improved while still having the simcade feeling most fans want from a Forza Horizon game, the car list is ever expanding and the graphics have been upgraded once more.

The big gripe I have with this game is that these improvements all feel expected, what came as a surprise where the bugs that plague the game since launch. Especially the multiplayer feels incomplete and buggy. Long loading times between races and random disconnects from the online features. Try completing a Forza Arcade Event... you can't, most of the time.

This might seem like I am not happy with the game. Then why do I recommend it?

Playground games has proven that, different to other AAA Developers, they care about their games. I am quite confident that all the gripes I have will be addressed and that the game will change over time like the previous entry.

For Fans of the Forza Horizon franchise it's a must buy, everyone else should wait for the first sale or the release of more content through the planned dlc.

When I first saw the game, it was nothing more than a softbody tech demo for the cry-engine, but
I was interested enough to buy the game once it was announced.
After all this time I never got tired of the game. This is thanks to the continuing development and striving mod community.

If you ever wondered what a small Italian two-seater with a 500+ hp american v8 would become after it met a wall at 120mph, wonder no more and try it out yourself.

Definitely a recommendation for all racing and sandbox enthusiasts.

Edit: After adding an additional 100+ hours, this still holds true. Both the developers and the community keep supporting the game and adding vehicles, maps and missions. The next big step for the game will be its "story" mode which is currently playable as a pre-release test.

I can't remember how I came across this game, but I am glad I did.

The Gameplay is straight forward, you spawn on a platform that is suspended in air and have to reach the finish line without falling off. The game also offers collectible trophies as an additional challenge.
You can choose if you want to play "easy" mode or "hard" mode, the latter requires you to collect all 3 trophies per level before continuing. The 60 individual levels provide a increasing difficulty level, the only aspect I didn't like about the choice of level design is the inversion of all levels starting from level 61. You are playing through the game again but with reversed levels.

But by far the biggest selling point of the game is the handling and suspension simulation. It's quite satisfying seeing the suspension flex and watching as the tires deform from climbing over rocks or other obstacles. If you like this sort of stuff buying this game should be a no brainer.

Disclaimer: If you buy this game to get the achievements, keep in mind that one is tied to playing the game for 100 hours. Idling in the menu does not work, you have to load into a level and keep the focus on the game window, otherwise it will pause and not count towards the completion!

The game, in it´s current state, is a pretty polished tech demo. You can get a feel for the controls and experience the satisfaction of landing your first couple of tricks. You can furthermore explore the thoughtfully designed map and discover spots you might want to try and skate. But that`s pretty much it. There are "missions" which you can complete but there are no rewards. This makes the game feel pretty empty and does not motivate to keep playing.

If you played this game on mobile before you are going to feel right at home. It's pretty much a straight port, including the in-game "mobile" microtransactions. It's quite fun if you want a game to run on your second monitor but I wouldn't recommend it if you want to really focus on playing. There is no micro-management since it is a typical mobile game. You can play for ~5 to ~15 minutes, send your vault dwellers out for exploration and then wait until your resources are generated again. All in all for a free game not bad but don't expect anything more then a mobile game.

Assetto Corsa is a great game if you are bored of the "brake to drift" mechanic in most modern racing games and need a challenge. This game offers some tracks and a few cars to keep you busy for some time. The dlc adds some good value too, if you buy them on sale, but the best thing about Assetto Corsa is the modding support. Mods range from simple interface tweaks and skins to accurate tracks and cars. Be warned though, a steering wheel with pedals is recommended and a h-shifter is a nice addition. I played the first ~60 hours with a xbox 360 controller and enjoyed the game a lot but the right gear makes this game much more fun and unlocks the full potential of the game.

This game can make you go from "i am just going to try once" to "the last 15 rounds were just for warmup", but in a positive way. Definetly recommend this game.

This game is something special, it's more than your typical game.
I really enjoyed the 2~3 hours of gameplay and i never felt like the game was "stretched" in any way.
It creates an atmosphere that is truly unique. The whole game feels natural and truly immersive.
I would definetly recommend this game to anyone who likes mystery and murder, while also enjoying amazing game design and storytelling.

Pros:
- great narrator
- nice story
- awesome soundtrack
- little challenges you can beat

Cons:
- some levels are challenging
- you can fall down from the platforms which is annoying

I would recommend the game to everyone who wants a challenge and doesn't mind to play some levels again and again to get all the points or to even beat it.