Forza Horizon 4’s Graphics
- Thread starter nomad3422
- 79 comments
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I was thinking the same it still has the FM7/FH3 'Forza' game look to the graphics engine.
Although the textures in 4k are amazing and come out sharp in photos once tweaked compared to the Crew2,NFS etc they still haven't mastered that 'realistic' lighting look yet while driving around like GT Sport (Willow springs at dawn etc)and now Gravel which has amazing dawn and daytime lighting on the new Colorado Rivers DLC.
Although the textures in 4k are amazing and come out sharp in photos once tweaked compared to the Crew2,NFS etc they still haven't mastered that 'realistic' lighting look yet while driving around like GT Sport (Willow springs at dawn etc)and now Gravel which has amazing dawn and daytime lighting on the new Colorado Rivers DLC.
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- 3,117
- Lokeren
- breyzipp
- breyzipp
I have the impression the lighting/shading/reflection is similar (or slightly improved) to that of FH3, but that was already stellar. What seems to be increased more over FH3 is the foliage, small objects, vegetation and detail of all that. At the opening scene of the trailer you see some highly detailed flowers, I don’t think FH3 had that kind of detail.
- 1,937
- Sunderland
Some huge improvements to general lighting IMO. Forgive the compressed video screenshots, but here are a few highlights:
1. Dynamic headlight shadows (a first for Horizon)
2. Sun lens flare altered/reduced (FH3 had the huge lens flare with circular aberrations internally known as "DSLR_Dirty", this one appears to be "GoPro")
3. Vehicle light flares have a nice cinematic texture:
4. Reflection glow also has a nice little flare texture instead of just a blurry glow:
1. Dynamic headlight shadows (a first for Horizon)
2. Sun lens flare altered/reduced (FH3 had the huge lens flare with circular aberrations internally known as "DSLR_Dirty", this one appears to be "GoPro")
3. Vehicle light flares have a nice cinematic texture:
4. Reflection glow also has a nice little flare texture instead of just a blurry glow:
- 1,434
I'm wondering about that 60 fps option Xbox One X. I'm sure it must cut the graphics a bit for more frames. No miracles when there's no hardware.
- 1,281
- Belgium
Like the @TheAdmiester pointed out, with those improvements they took it to the next level.
FH3 was already the best looking racing game this gen(on pc). All they had to do was just improve the road relfections and add dynamic shadows to the headlights. Other than that it already looked amazing. The car model, shadows, draw distance, relfections, shaders, environment, crowd, water, texture, particles and lighting where top notch.
All gameplay
FH3 was already the best looking racing game this gen(on pc). All they had to do was just improve the road relfections and add dynamic shadows to the headlights. Other than that it already looked amazing. The car model, shadows, draw distance, relfections, shaders, environment, crowd, water, texture, particles and lighting where top notch.
All gameplay
- 443
- Hong Kong
Have you seen these 1080p screenshots?
- 14,423
- Los Angeles, CA
- Lma_robot
- lImaRobotl
As time goes on, optimization gets better. Graphics is the forefront of these games, I doubt they'd cut that down.
- 11,323
- Marin County
The game looks gorgeous.
However, there is still this nagging bit of realism missing compared to GT Sport. It might be simply the art direction, and it doesn't bother me very much. But there is something about the quality of light in GT Sport that blows my mind.
However, there is still this nagging bit of realism missing compared to GT Sport. It might be simply the art direction, and it doesn't bother me very much. But there is something about the quality of light in GT Sport that blows my mind.
MagpieRacer
Premium
- 16,548
- Wymondham, Norfolk
- MagpieRacer
I guess with Horizon being more action oriented it’s always going to have a slightly different tone to GT.
- 5,432
- Codemasters (EA)
- PJTierney
For an open-world racing game, 60fps presents a big challenge.
I suspect we’ll get a lower resolution on Xbox One X in order to hit that target, most likely 1080p but hopefully 1440p.
- 1,434
- 14,423
- Los Angeles, CA
- Lma_robot
- lImaRobotl
True, but you said graphics, not resolution.
- 882
- Switzerland/Italy
First comparison between H3 and H4
- 1,434
- 14,423
- Los Angeles, CA
- Lma_robot
- lImaRobotl
I would always consider resolution a separate option, to be honest. A tone down in resolution, is just that, a tone down in resolution in my opinion. Forza 7 on a 4k tv compared to a 1080p looked almost identical, it's things like HDR that would change the "graphics" in my opinion.
- 1,434
- 14,423
- Los Angeles, CA
- Lma_robot
- lImaRobotl
I believe 4k was introduced into FH3 some time ago, and it seems to run flawlessly, but that was not an "Xbox one X enhanced game" I don't think, so you might be correct in thinking that. I'm sure, just like FM7, there's going to be updated assets in the form of a large patch, and that may vary well be what could hold it back.
- 16,488
- Grea'er Laandan
- UKMikeyA
- UKMikeyA
I guess the problem for Playground is that while the second Horizon game debuted on a more powerful console than the first and the third game was able to take advantage of powerful PCs, the latest game has no new gaming hardware or display technology to be able to showcase.
I don't think they'd be able to squeeze a higher resolution than 1080p out of the X1X at 60fps.
I don't think they'd be able to squeeze a higher resolution than 1080p out of the X1X at 60fps.
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McLaren
Premium
- 44,467
- Texas
I think GT is going to remain king of that area for a long, long time. But, to be fair, they do seem to spend a lot of time perfecting that area as well. I think many devs are limited in terms of time/performance balance to achieve what PD has.
- 1,281
- Belgium
Yeah GTS lighting is amazing, but they had to make alot of sacrifices to reach that like in game car model, textures, texture filtering, shadows, draw distance, reflections, environment details and dynamic TOD and weather. Forza Horizon is open world with full dynamic TOD and weather. That makes it more incredible and mind blowing that they can pull this of. the reason i keep saying that FH is the best looking game is, every other game does 2 or 3 things really good will the other things are sub par or just bad. FH does "almost" everything good. Yes GTS has in most cases better lighting and Drivelcub the better weather, but when you compare the whole package. Forza does alot of things better then both games and isn't that far behind in the lighting and weather tech.
