So I recently just read a new article that just came out concerning the Horizon series. The author keeps returning to Horizon 1, as he doesn’t think Horizon 2 has the same magic and feel. And honestly, I completely agree. Here is a quote from the article, summing up how I feel:
"When I play Horizon 2, I feel like it’s keeping me at arm’s length. I feel like it doesn’t really want me to celebrate the joy of automobiles, like it doesn’t really want to put me in the Horizon festival. The first Horizon aspired to all of those things, but the sequel wants to be a game and nothing more than that…The festival nature of the game has been toned down—to begin a race, drive to a spot on the map. Nothing is there except a floating UI prompt that says to press a button to begin the race. No tents, no crowds, no signs of a festival, just a UI prompt. Complete a series of events, move on to the next series of events. There’s no tangible progress being made. You’re not climbing the ranks of popularity, and wristbands don’t seem to do anything. Rather than placing you in the festival, Horizon 2 takes a step backwards and acts like any other game with a progression system…It might have been okay if you were racing against people, but you’re not. You’re racing against drivatars… The whole thing generally ends up feeling hollow… Horizon 2 failed to establish a compelling world. "
However, I disagree with the authors part about the intro. I think the most powerful moment of the game was the intro and the first 10 minutes of you driving to the Festival - THAT threw you into the festival, THAT made you feel like you were a part of the game, and that was amazing. After that though- nothing. I didn’t feel anything, it felt generic and boring, unlike Horizon One, which kept me on my toes and wanting to be at the festival until the very end
What do you guys think about this. Aside from the many more features H2 has, at it’s roots, which one do you prefer?