Rally Adventure Is Fun, but Isn't What Horizon Needed Most | Forza Horizon 5 Expansion 2 Review 

I think if DLC maps connected to the base maps, it would make people want to play them more. Speaking for myself, I launched the Hot Wheels map twice and forgot about it completely.

I like rally, and I'm probably going to play this, but it feels weird considering that the main map isn't bad for rallying. If anything, more tarmac may be what the base map needed

Burnout paradise big surf island DLC connected to the main map and is still one of the coolest map DLC in any racing game. Forza really needs to catch up in some key areas that other games got right ages ago.

I personally love how much smaller and tight these roads are. So much more realistic and fun to drive for me as a slow car C-A class enthusiast

I think Raycevick's racing games video put it pretty well. Overall modern racing games have been suffering of putting their resources and priorities in the wrong places. Like its still fun but we could have it so much better...

Agreed that the DLC should connect. Also the travelling between main map and DLC makes me not go there often. I expected some better rally cars, like you said, perhaps some Lancias :(

I was so devastated to hear the bad part, but the driving review saved it for me. Forza needs a serious revamp if we even get a horizon 6 ever.

To me, one of the best parts of the DLC is the fact that the race doesn't immediately start. It doesn't instantly go "GO". The marshall actually does a countdown, from 3 to "go". This is already much better than the current Horizon event start. This way, you actually get some time to prepare. You can actually rev the engine to warm up.

its missing the danger of driving fast knowing one wrong move would end the race

What's notable with the map in this expansion is how much more natural it feels in comparison to the base map. Where the base map feels like they drew up the roads first and just added the environment around them, this feels like the opposite, where they created a natural landscape and then added in the roads where they would logically be placed in real life. This not only leads to the tarmac roads being more undulating and bumpy, like how I imagine roads in Mexico being, but the gravel and offroad sections feel more raw and unforgiving. I really hope this teases a shift in how PG designs maps, because this is how you make them more memorable.

This expansion really recalls Colorado 2012 in my opinion. I’m especially reminded of the Mustang v. Mustang and Raise the Rüf showcases. I still return to Blizzard Mountain when I can because Horizon has yet to offer another full-time winter experience like that. But yeah, the expansions always feel remote. Worked better for Australia than the other regions.

the launch control gotta be the coolest feature I've seen in a while. Yea you could put the car into reverse and hit the gas and back into 1st gear but I like this

Great video. I also agree that the DLC maps SHOULD connect to the main map in some way. And it can be done without any loadingscreens.

I really like the rally race format, with split times. It's pretty intense driving without knowing where opponents are, and forces you to drive well since you can't just ram/block the AI. I'd like to see this format in future games, and honestly I even think it could make for some fun online races (maybe with everyone ghosted to make it more exciting though). The roads on the map are so so so incredibly fun, really really hoping to see many more roads like this in the main map of the next game. At the end of the day, I think what everyone is forgetting is that Horizon 5 was handicapped from the start due to the last gen console compatibility. My One X struggles to run the weekly event labs, let alone this DLC.It's unrealistic to expect something groundbreaking and revolutionary from this game, though I'd definitely like to see most of what you mentioned in Forza Horizon 6 when that comes out and frankly will be disappointed if it's just more of the same

I like trucks, but I like proper rally cars more if we're talking about a videogame. I like how Rally cars usually have small engines (6cylinders or less) and trucks completely negate that being either electric (which I dislike since no shifting, even thought I normally play on auto, I want the choice, since playing manual is fun) or having huge V8s or V10s.

I've said it before, but the whole game would be a lot cooler if the off road meta wasn't so dumb. I'm just not down for my well thought out dream builds getting smoked by a toy car, and my group B monsters getting smoked by a 1970s lemans car with truck tires.

My only few complaints with the antilag update is that some cars just have waaay too much popping. And maybe the sound could be a little more "violent"? If that's the right word lol. Real life anti lag sounds nearly like gunfire.. The antilag in forza just sounds... Off. Im sure it's hard to replicate and they really did a good job with it. If I could make any suggestions it would be to: 1. Have a slider kinda like NFS with "raw/subtle" backfire. 2. Be able to pick and choose which blow off valve noise you'd like for the turbo. It's a small and nitpicky thing.. But for example both Supras share the same race turbo BOV (and pretty much engine sound too) and it is God awful lol. It's the reason I haven't put antilag on my supra because I go with the sport turbo or whatever. Simply because the ridiculous flutter on race turbo is annoying. And it'll go off even if you shift into reverse or another gear. Just those 2 changes would make me completely satisfied with the update, except for the fact I would've rather had like a city map or something. But I'm happy with what we got. I'm still having fun seeing which cars sound and drive the best with antilag and launch control. I'm glad they added the features so they're there. They can always improve on it in the future if needed.

I like how you turned off your mini map for that authentic rally feel and to make use of the pace notes

For me the most "funny" thing about this expansion is that you can do a rally course with non rally cars. Even Rally open (online) is just like a normal race. Maybe i am missing something but it would be cool to have Rally centered online racing like doing splits and compete with others on timing.

I want the ability to set transmission on a per car basis. Can we also please separate RWD and AWD from drift adventure or split leaderboards. Course vote would be nice. Reverse courses would be nice. I do 100000000% agree it would be nice if the new areas were connected having to map hop on every login is frustrating since I mostly just do online drift adventure.

rally could have been a chance to finally get away from mile wide roads. That would have been the ONE defining feature seeing as it obviously wasn't the rally cars themselves. At this point all I can hope for is more competition from other games

The devs are so out of touch when it comes to communicating with the players. They know what the community wants (or at least I assume they do), and yet they do the exact opposite.

I really like it! It is totally different from the stale roads on the basemap. The roads here feels like the roads here in Norway, and it also took me back to arcade,racers in the late 90s. The small jumps, tight corners and elevation, it was like Porsche unleashed, Moto racer and Colin McRae rally. And everything faster than S1 is tricky as hell 😍

I wont lie, I am happy with it. I mainly like to roam around with my main focus being drifting and rally 'Stages' so I think this DLC is pretty perfect for me.

The paved roads seem perfect for drifters with how it bends and changes height

I was a bit worried going into this expansion, but I've largely been enjoying it. I think the rally experience is pretty weak in the base game, but I've been really impressed with the routes I've driven in this expansion thus far. I, too, wish the expansion map was accessible by driving from somewhere on the base map, and I'm hopeful that's something Playground Games can manage once support for native Xbox One releases ends for the series.

I whole heartedly agree about them combining the maps to the base game world. Ive been saying this for years and when I heard this was in mexico and not apart of it. Now seeing how small it is is honestly pretty garbage that it's not apart of the regular map. L there Same with the cars I don't use buggy's, I'd rather make my regular vehicles in to off-roaders. I do use trucks but more regular road vehicles would have been better. This was a prime chance to get the TRX, Raptor R, Rivians, SRT Wrangler, new Ranger Raptor, Bronco Raptor (i want a 4dr bronco). Plenty cool offroaders they could have mixed with rally cars for this list. Missed opportunity again The tire size change is great but it's limited and not all suvs and trucks got the same options. Some only got one slightly bigger options that are barely noticeable. This is also why ALL vehicles need the track width upgrades because having the tires constantly tucked super far under the vehicles, especially on lifted trucks/suvs with big tires, makes it look dumb. TRACK WIDTH FOR ALL CARS.

It's TOTALLY what we needed!!!!! 😉

it would be so great if the hotwheels map was literally above the main map and there was a windy mountain pass connecting sierra nueva to the north of it

I'm a big fan of rallying so even though the DLC has some low points, it seems like the high points in driving experience are going to be worth it for me. Just in it for good fun.

They really missed the opportunity to introduce rally cars more people would have cared about like the GR cars or N cars as a base platform that could be modified into a rally spec car. I think you are definitely not alone when saying trucks and buggies are not your favourite cars to drive in horizon

Nice, well worded review. Downloading the expansion now and watching other's reviews too and feel yours seems to be the most accurate and honest. Looking forward to the new content once it downloads. Thanks for your time and video!

I'm a drifter and although the expansion is aimed towards rallying, I see the map being made for drifting, it's full of great twisty asphalt roads with some of them being kinda like mountain roads with pretty dangerous drop-offs and the roads are not too flat either

One thing I want to praise is that we finally have some competition in the game the characters have taken a big step toward being interesting in this expansion. The friendly banter is something I've been missing for a long time in Horizon.

As I just moved to Forza due to getting a PC about a year ago, I was so hyped for the DLC's, and even though I wasnt super excited about the Hotwheels DLC I was hyped for it due to never playing the old one on the previous game. However I feel like Ive been let down from both DLC's due to map size and the same feeling you mentioned about not returning after completing the DLC. Heck I STILL havent completed the Hotwheels DLC, I just got tired or spawning there and switched my spawn halfway through and completely stopped playing it.

The only thing about connecting the DLC to the base game map would be that I feel like they couldn't thematically make it any different from the base map without it feeling disconnected anyway. Not that I'm saying having a similar yet also disconnected map was a good idea either...

I think Rally Adventure was a home run. Such a different gameplay experience, making every drive and race exciting. Feels different from Mexico but still part of the series. They nailed it here.

Good review. Also the Jimco Fastball truck is my fav. :3

The DLC was laughably short. I managed to 100% it in 10 hours.

My biggest complain is lack of actual rally cars. Where are all of the Lancias - Stratos, 037, Fulvia, Delta Integrale and S4? Where are other notably cars like Peugot 206 WRC, Citroen Xsara WRC, Abarth 500? They really could work harder on getting license from Stellantis. Or get plenty of other important rally cars. Instead, we are getting dozen of boring truck and buggies, which almost nobody likes to drive.

I'd just like to point out the online limitations with the DLC map being connected to the base map. With open lobbies, it'd be tricky to limit players who don't have the DLC from entering that area. This must be a dominant reason for the separation.

Brilliant review! Thanks!

This is a very valuable review video. I like how you start off with the critiques. In my mind, I'm always hoping that the devs see these videos and you do a good job of summarizing how we as a community feel toward these updates. I do like the road layouts as well but like you said it'd be nice if it were more unique environments. Thank you for making these reviews!

I think some of the trophy trucks are sick and the focus is too, but I do think it’s criminal that they didn’t add a wrc sti or evo

Great video as always 👍

I love the rally adventure physics, feel like they gave it a good hard needed refresh.

14:53 Let's press F in the memory of chicken.

Rally adventure: Gives you 4x4 trucks and buggies that are not rally related, and IMO this should have been $10. Though I fully agree that the extra maps should be added onto the main maps. The different maps end up splitting the players between maps and makes for less full lobbies. Wich being payed dlc is always going to do that but if it was pay to add on then you could do runs and custom rounts between sections. Imagine running a goliath type race between Base mexico, into rally adventure and ending in some crazy hotwheels runs. it would help balance out some of the racing too as having to run between tight technical tracks, highspeed supercar sections and also having to deal with some of the crazy stunts from hotwheels.

I really wish this was a "mud runners" style DLC, the regular map is already great for rally racing, and honestly the DLC didnt really feel any different than the regular games rally. But, if they did a map with new mud physics, where you can get struck, did huge ruts, amd even have rock climbing i would love it. Horizon has tons of truck's, buggys, and off road vehicles, but no events or terrain to actually use them. Imagine mud racing, or rock climbing courses, you could have mud hole challenges were only the best offroad builds could get through. It would add another style of gameplay that Forza has yet to do. They are already adding new tire profiles, suspension setups, and differentials, would differentiate offroad parts from rally parts even more. You could have and extreme offroad Goliath where you uave to navigate trails, rocks, water crossings, and mud, would be even better if wenches were added and you could pull other players out. It would break up the monotony of straight up racing.

Honestly, I see myself playing on the rally map quite a bit. the main map is 80% powerbuild focused, where this map is really technical and like you said, benefits lower class cars and more handling/balanced build focused. In a way, this *is* what FH5 needed, but not with the theme, but the roads and races alone. The PI system is busted and unbalanced as heck but this map is the ultimate equalizer. I think that alone is what made this map so enjoyable and refreshing.

Super excited to play the rally adventure expansion

Some of the really tight roads within the expansion are amazing for drift cars, it was honestly probably a better update for drifters than it was for offroad or rally enthusiasts

great review! hopefully in the next horizon game we will finally get connected maps between dlcs and the main map 🤞

Great video bro thanks

I totally agree with the maps being connected especially with them being so similar in looks, I mean il let pg off with the hotwheels maps as it's literally in the air. A cool way the could have done it imo is by having us drive through a tunnel and as we blast out the other side where seamlesly driving into the rally map. An added bonus is the epitaph radio station tuning into our cars radio as we do.

I always felt a cityscape is what we really need. The expansive open road is nice and all, but I want something memorable...

This is the best review Hoki-Hoshi. Your professionalism, thorough breakdown, and coverage of all new features is unmatched. Absolutely fantastic man.

I can definitely say that this dlc has taught me more about throttle control than any other experience ever has, and I'm over 40, so I've played a LOT of racing games.

i liked the lightning for its idgaf approach to being sent through terrain, and a couple of the new offroad trucks sound godly. other than that i used my own cars to complete the map. i do not see myself really ever using the new buggys unless theres some meta tune for them in the future. even then i dont play the game enough to really bother anyways.

I agree with basically everything you have said here, although from my relatively minimal playthrough of the DLC, I have really enjoyed it a lot, which was surprising as I was very skeptical going in. First of all, I fully agree about the map extension thing. I literally only go to the Hot Wheels park to get my weekly super wheelspin, and then immediately go back to the base map once I have that done. Quite frankly, I barely even enjoyed the map when I was playing through it. In terms of play time, I have not played that much so far, but I do remember the hot wheels feeling far too short to be enjoyable, so we will see how this one goes. I am not exactly a rally fan, and I wasn't really excited for more of the base game's map style in the DLC, but after driving around the map, and playing a few of the races, I was pleasantly surprised. I think the Grit Reapers section, with minimap and drive line turned off, using the new rally race type on unbeatable difficulty has been the most enjoyable racing experience I have had with horizon in a while. I feel that doing each race once with the rally cards and then again with the traditional racing style will extend the playability of the DLC, we will see when I get to that stage. I love the canyon carving section of the map, and the whole place is just gorgeous (albeit a few of the buildings I did recognise from the base map, but I can forgive that). Like you said, the roads are far more complex to navigate, which I have been enjoying so much. In terms of the cars, I am also more of a sports car fan, so I don't particularly care for the buggies and trucks they have added. One of my favourite cars maybe of all time is the Marc Philip Gemballa Marsien (yes yes its a porsche with a body kit whatever) and I was hoping we would get some more rally-ified sports cars, I guess like the 911 GT3 FE, but the lack of that was a bit disappointing. The F150 lightning is unbearably boring to drive, and I am not saying that because I am an electric hater, one of my favourite cars in the game is the Rimac concept 2 and it is nice to see we are getting the Nevera, although I was under the impression they are the same car so I am curious to see what the differences will be. Overall, I went in thinking this would be a complete utter flop and so far it definitely hasn't been. We will see how I feel once I finish it, but so far, the DLC definitely hasn't been bad, and this coming alongside one of the best playlist updates we have gotten in months (maybe ever for FH5), I have fallen back in love with the game.

I love the roads and the rally stages.

I did almost all of the Rivals races in the CountrymanALL4 in B class. And Meridian was amazing, I was in awe at that one. Could've used more rally hatchbacks and sedans for sure. Would've loved Lancia and Alfa Romeo for this DLC.

i think that the rally dlc sort of completes the spectrum of road types in the game, i mainly drive on asphalt, but i saw the hotwheels dlc as being the supercar, long straightaway, high speed dlc, and the rally dlc being the low power, tight corner, technical driving dlc

I just want a cross country mountain trail that you HAVE TO to strategically maneuver. Rocks and mud and stuff like that

All we need was snow there. Feels the same as the base map

wouldn't doubt that the map is just cut content that they just threw a story onto and called it a day

I didnt play it yet. But i have a big problem with Expensions in Horizon since FH2. I dont finish them because for my casual Play-Sessions i always land in the Normal-Game Cycle. And its sad. i loved FH3-Hotwheels but i did around 4 hours in it. Now in FH5 i sink in some more hours but in the end, i tune and design cars and test them in PVP. And now without competitive-PVP iam getting fatigue even faster. :( i hope i have some time to test the update. but in the end i wish competitive comes back with a big PI-Update...

You can turn off racing line just for the rally events? That's so cool!

i always wanted a drift & drag map add on. add wheelie bars, bigger engine swaps and around all that there will be a big drift course.

Having the large, brightly colored plumes of smoke seems to make the rally callouts completely pointless. Just aim towards the smoke for the most part.

A Phonk radio station and more Street/ Road Racing Tours. Absolutely love driving from race to race with a load of talented Randos 🤣

Totally agree with the cars added, I've also felt the lack of true rally CARS. And considering the good technical new roads, it would be fun with more classic rally racers of the 70s (eg. Alfa Romeo Alfetta GT Gr. 4, Alpine Renault A310 V6, Ferrari 308 GTb Gr. 4, Lancia Stratos, Peugeot 504 Coupe, Simca 1000 Rallye, Skoda 180 RS, Triumph TR7 V8)

I really like the idea of a rally expantion, but having only a single new classic rally car and not a single of Sebastien Loeb the GOAT of the discipline is a real let down

this review just nailed exactly what i thought. i just wish there was either more or they just did a nfs style city.

The entire biome of this map feels more like I’m adventuring in a desert around the southwestern region of the United States.

Literally a large majority of Forza players want to drive fast in a straight line, or slide corners. A Mix of the 2 is optimal for Professional Drivers as well.

Is that a body kit on the Audi Quattro or just a spoiler? I know there’s supposed to be new rally parts for cars with this update but I can’t find any of them when I go to upgrade my cars

Is there any snow? Maybe in seasons?

The best i think we can describe the dlc is “More….of the same”

I am trying really hard to reserve judgement until I’ve played it but it just seems lazy to me, they basically just cut, copy, pasted the map together out of the base game. Also, they call it rally, and we get only 1 rally car. It should have been something that added to the game rather than just the same old same old.

When I started my sim wheel journey I was strictly interested in JDM and drifting. But over time, after playing Dirt Rally 2 and discovering that most of the driving technique I was learning for street drifting came mostly from Rally, I began focusing on rally cars in FH5, mostly driving the dirt roads. I'm pretty stoked on the expansion, especially considering the LEGO scare we all endured. Lol😮

as a road car person would you recommend it, i love low cars and race built cars. do you think it would appeal to someone like me who would rather travel by road

A lot of my friends and people I know play horizon, and every time I ask them what they think of the new DLC they all say "eh, looks okay" Most people seem to be most excited about the anti lag more than any part of this expansion, and that's kind of sad if you think about it. I think the problem is playground games does whatever they think is cool or shows off technical aspects of the game while neglecting what the majority of the player base actually WANTS. And it feels like its been this way for a decade. I think the majority of people want a big city to progress your way through an underground racing scene or something. Or some kind of drift career where you start form grass roots and work your way up to a pro. More features like anti lag and 2 step, better customization like placing decals on windows and changing tire profiles for ALL vehicles (and updating the god awful forza aero)

I think that it being the best roads and most fun driving in any recent game makes it worthwhile

I agree with you 100%. I beat this in one day. I enjoyed it a lot, but I feel like in 2 weeks is going to be old

The offroad BAJA focused vehicle additions in this update really confused me. I figured it was because there was going to be heavy focus on BAJA type driving. long technical offroad endurance. Which, theres literally none of. You COULD use the Baja vehicles to do the rally/race events, Their not completely ill suited, But it is a very bizarre focus for something that is explicitly meant for another class of car. You would think of this being the return of Lancia and Alfa. And maybe that was their original plan, but still couldnt make it work with stelantas. So they settled for this. But its still very odd to fill your explicit Rally expansion with BAJA vehicles. As if an Indy car expansion were to be filled with Nascar and stock car rosters.

"It feels like a different spinoff game" Thats because functionally, physically, it is. I have my Rally adventure DLC on a different drive letter than my base game. Entirely different install folder. Remember the FatF DLC for Horizon 2? That was basically just like all the other DLC, except it had its own boot file and main menu.

Expanding the map and adding the experience is exactly what FH5 needs. Now we are playing three different games not connecting to other players expanding the community.

I think what this expansion needs is the ability to shoot that helicopter down. It is a hazard. It blocks visibility with the dust it kicks up, and sometimes blinds you with that searchlight.

I really feel like we need to be able to tune the launch control rpm. Different cars and tunes have different needs for a good launch.

I very rarely use trucks or buggies, but in Sierra, they feel so much more rewarding to use

Totally agree that DLC maps expanding the base map would be a much better experience. Especially DLCs like Rally where the landscape could seamlessly fit into the map already. As for dealing with segmenting the playerbase between owners of the DLC and not, I don't see why they can't just give everyone the map. Lock the cars, races, events and rewards behind the purchase of the DLC, but include the map into an update to keep everyone in the same lobbies. Of course, it could potentially limit the types of DLC we get in the future, but I think it's a worthwhile tradeoff. It's not impossible to adapt DLC like Hot Wheels into the existing environment via an expanded map, it would just take more effort. With how the games seem to push for more online interaction, I think something like expanding the map via DLC would be in their best interest. They'd have to put in more work and more value into the actual price of the dlc, but if they did it'd lead to a much more exciting and healthier game

PI rating between around 650 and 750 are my favourites to play on this map. I just got a wheel and I am really enjoying it driving like you said, in first person, and radio off and focussing purely on the different surfaces in front of you. I agree to what you say about the campaign itself. I liked that they showed three aspects of rallying in the three different teams. and I liked the character interactions between Ale, Alex and Rame. But I hoped for a little more of a WRC9 style campaign. and this was over very quickly. I did only went on to the next tier when I had the current tier 100% done. but nonetheless the campaign was over very quickly. Also, I am sad the pace notes don't really give you enough information about speed, length and quickness of the corners and the entire stage actually.

lol..I knew you would like meridian. I did it four times today so far. Going to take it slow though..and easy. Enjoy it a bit.

the tarmac rally is fun, I didn't care about the hotwheels map at all because it was boring to drive. I spent most of my time on FH4 on Fortune island for the same reason. I'm glad I finally have somewhere else to drive other than the Volcano. And unlike Fortune Island, all of the roads are fun, rather than just the Needle climb/downhill.

mines just downloading so excited

Quick question; Have the physics of the base game been messed with? I came back for the free bonus stuff from the expansion, and my cars feel weird. I'm not the best tuner in the slightest, but I've followed your guide and made some very comfortable for me tunes, and now those same cars just don't feel right. Maybe I'm just a little rusty? Idk.

My favorite part about the new expansions is how it gives me drift zones to do again. I'm still annoyed that they messed up the drift zones on the main map. I loved trying to beat my personal best scores in drift zones in FH4. That and ranked drift adventure were my favorite things to do in FH4.

A thing I don't like about FH5, is that you could have the most gracious landing, yet it will still feel like you fell from 200 meters up in the air

i didnt even notice the adition of epitath because i dont use music