During Christmas, I went and bought a used 360 plus FM2, FM3, FM4, and Horizon. I’m replaying all of them and having a blast! I’m also going after all of the achievements this time which is turning out to be pretty fun. I’m also constantly reminded of how great the whole franchise has been regarding graphics, physics and content. You can’t go wrong playing the entire franchise plus you get rewarded monthly for being a fan…how great is that? Although FM5 feels and looks better than the previous games, it’s not by much and that is not a nock on FM5, rather, it’s testament to quality of the previous older games.
I hope you decide to play them; you won’t be disappointed.
I’d argue that FM4 is a requirement at this point. I love FM5, don’t get me wrong, but you get more tracks and cars with FM4, and it’s great to have access to that stuff. Plus car clubs and all that other stuff. I know that stuff will come to FM5 eventually, or to FM6, and I’m not knocking FM5 at all. I just view FM4 + FM5 as the “fullest experience,” so to speak.
And as others have mentioned, if you get into silly challenges and open world driving, get Horizon. It’s a blast. To me it’s more fun than the proper FM games, but I play it for fun, and I play the proper FM games for a more serious/simmy racing experience.
I would recommend them all, but if you’re picking up FM2, be sure to hunt down the Platinum Hits version. It has all the DLC on-disc, and this is a huge plus, because the DLC has been removed from the Marketplace.
Similar deal for Forza 3–hunt down the Ultimate Collection, which has everything in one package, including some cars that only came in that particular version.
Forza 1 works on the 360, and is worth it just for Alpine Ring, Pacific Shipyards, Rid de Janeiro, and the original New York Circuit before it was chopped.
If you do decide to play the earlier games I hope you have a lot of time on your hands. Having read this though I might have to fire up the original xbox and have a go on the original forza. Blue mountain was my favorite track except when people would turn around at the end of the main straight and go back and hit the jump.