With Forza Horizon 4 reviews rolling out, I’ve spent quite a few hours with the latest game in the series. Being Australian, Forza Horizon 3 holds a special place in my heart, especially because Playground Games so effortlessly nailed the look and feel of Australia.
Even though the geography was, frankly, all over the shop, it was still exciting to see places you recognised in a major AAA game. Whether I was doing mainies at Surfer’s, bush bashing or taking a leisurely drive down the Great Ocean Road, I can honestly say that driving in Horizon 3’s Australia was a delight.
Now, that’s not to say that it’s not a delight to drive around Horizon 4’s UK. It definitely is. But, since it’s not my home country certain features didn’t hit me like they had in Horizon 3.
The Phone Box
It’s not overstating it to say that when Horizon 3 came out, many gamers in Australia lost their minds because of the inclusion of the Telstra Payphones in the game. It was a small, but significant inclusion that really made Aussie gamers feel at home.
Having spent very little time in the UK, I honestly have no idea what their Payphones look like, but I did expect to see those big, classic red ones. The ones I found, well, they just don’t have that same nostalgic value. Not for an Aussie anyway.
Pretty underwhelming hey?
Here’s the Forza Horizon 3 one again to refresh your memory.
Now I’m not saying that Forza Horizon 3 is better because it had better Payphones, but… well yes I am saying that. Long live the Aussie Payphones in all their orange and blue glory!
Forza Horizon 4 will launch for Xbox One and PC on October 2, 2018.
