Horizon Chase 2
Review
Arcade racing at its finest
by William Thompson
reviewed on PC
Speed Demons Rejoice
Alright gearheads, buckle up! It is time to take a retro-styled white-knuckled spin through Horizon Chase 2. Like the original Horizon Chase Turbo – this sequel is a pixelated love letter to classic arcade racers such as Daytona USA. This is definitely not a racing simulator, but will have players slamming the pedal to the metal right from the outset.
Horizon Chase 2 throws physics out the window and will have players weaving through traffic, slingshotting around corners, and drifting like a pro – all while the world explodes in a vibrant blur of colour. It's pure, unadulterated arcade racing fun, and it's glorious. Races are short, but hectic as players dodge opposition racers and collect special blue coins whilst trying to keep on the track at top speed. The short races do have a ‘one more turn’ aspect to them, resulting in countless hours spent driving around the tracks.
Touring the World
The visuals in Horizon Chase 2 are a trip down memory lane with a modern twist. The tracks evoke a retro vibe with their low-poly aesthetics, but they're bursting with detail and life. Sunsets paint the sky in fiery hues, palm trees sway in the tropical breeze, and rain slicks the asphalt, making every race a visual treat with each of the locations having their own particular style. Players will hit the wide open roads of the USA, journey through the rainforests of Brazil, trek across the sandy terrain of Morocco, drive through the narrow cobbled alleyways of Italy, race amongst the temples in Thailand before competing in a fiery race through an active volcano in Japan. And if you’re good enough to complete all of them, there is a bonus location - I won't spoil it for readers though.
As players progress through the locations, the opposition racers become better, using nitro to their advantage where possible. Fortunately, players will also gain access to new vehicles as they complete. Each of the cars has a different feel, some have better handling, some have quicker acceleration, whilst others have a faster top speed. It can often depend on the track you’re racing on which car to select. Unlocking and upgrading each of the vehicles gives the game added replayability as you'll want to collect all the blue coins in each level as well as improving your times in the time trial events.
Content to Keep You Hooked
Horizon Chase 2 throws a whole garage full of content your way. The globe-spanning World Tour mode will likely be your starting point which you can do alone or with up to four players in split screen mode. Players can also race in Tournaments, which have players scoring points for each race depending on their final position in a race - score enough points across a series of races and you win the championship trophy. There are three difficulty levels for players to compete in. And if you’d like to compete with other racers online, there is the Playground where you can take on online competitors and compete in Challenges.
Horizon Chase 2 is not without its minor irks, though. The upgrade system feels a bit shallow, particularly if you're the type to head back into each race to collect all the blue coins along with the winner’s trophy. Once I hit a certain point, there were no further upgrades available and I felt as though I was just racing to complete my collection of trophies. The car customization options are a tad on the basic side too, and although you can customise the paint jobs and add your favourite set of wheels, these do nothing to the performance and are purely cosmetic.
A Must-Play for Arcade Racing Fans
Minor quibbles aside, Horizon Chase 2 is a fantastic arcade racer that delivers exactly what it promises: pure, unadulterated fun. If you're yearning for the days of Outrun or Daytona USA or simply want a fast-paced, pick-up-and-play racing experience, then Horizon Chase 2 is a must-have. With simple controls, the pumping mix of synthwave and electronic beats that play in the background, racing in a variety of locations, and the opportunity to play on the couch with four players locally, ensures that Horizon Chase 2 is a fun party racer for all ages. It might not be the deepest game on the block, but it's enough to keep you coming back for that next adrenaline rush.
As always, follow Hooked Gamers on Instagram for news updates, reviews, competitions and more.
7.9
fun score
Pros
Simple racing, bright visuals
Cons
Upgrades are basic
