Defining Moments - Forza Horizon 2’s opening sequence.

Have you ever found yourself tearing up for no obvious reason, especially whilst playing a game? Well, I was in that situation from the moment I started watching the opening sequence to what I believe to be the best racing game of our generation. Maddy has already explained just why Playground Game’s sequel on the Xbox One is so great in his 9/10 review - possibly the first genuine must-have exclusive released for Microsoft’s latest console. But for me, what sums up the spirit of Forza Horison 2 the most, what sucked me in and kept me hooked to the pleasures of bombing around southern Europe and the joy of the open road, is the fantastic opening sequence.

From the very first shot of Forza Horizon 2, I was hooked. A deep beating drum begins to ring in your ears and the softly-spoken female voice tells you to “Open your eyes,” as a ground shot of a rural road fades in and out. The mesmerising beat keeps your eyes fixed to the screen as shot after shot of cars, girls and festivals fade in and out. And then… “On the count of 10, you will be in Horizon”.

You’re then transported into a trance-like state as the narrator begins to count up from 1, each number bearing its own theme and description as you’re gradually educated in every spiritual and physical aspect of driving a car. Every shot and sentence carries its own meaning but reinforces one pure, clear thought: Forza Horizon 2 is all about two things: the cars, and the sheer love of the driving experience.

“I say to you… 10″ - The countdown finishes, and and the screen cuts to black. Strings in the background begin playing, a voice fades in along with a swooping camera pan of what can only be the gorgeous blue ocean of the Mediterranean sea. The camera slowly pans upwards to reveal your much-awaited arrival in the South of France with the glaring sun and the boat that you are about to disembark.

After a couple more screen fades, you’re cheek-to-bumper with some of the best cars Playground’s game has to offer. We see a Nissan GT-R, Lamborghini Huracán, McLaren P1, Pagani Zonda, Ferrari LaFerrari and so much more, all in wonderful 1080p, the camera following every curve, every ridge, obsessing over the smallest details and revering every last machine in a way that almost feels like voyeurism.

The narrator, Ben, then teases you in. “It’s not a race to get there,” he says, “but you wouldn’t want to be last to get there, would you?”

As the cars round the first corner, the Lamborghini Huracán drifts in a cloud of dust along the cobbled street. “This is gonna be the summer of our lives,” Ben says.

Then there it is: the euphoric state that I’ve been longing for in a game for so very long. The camera swoops in and I take control of the legendary Lamborghini, its lion-like growl of an engine accompanying me on my scenic route along a cliffside.

I can almost feel the wind rushing past as I accelerate up the hill and into the first of many tunnels in Horizon 2 where the echoing of your engine yet again is like melted chocolate for the ears.

The occasional burst of flames coming from your four exhaust pipes entices you to go even faster and drive even better to make the most out of your opening car. They couldn’t have picked a better car to open Horizon 2 with to show you the full potential of the game’s mechanics, not to mention its graphics.

The simple UI is there to help you. I was given an overview of the map screen, an objective resides in the top left of the screen, my speedometer sat at the bottom right, and there’s a simple explanation of the controls. But to be honest, I paid absolutely no attention to any of it. I was hooked from the moment the music started playing, and I was now reaping the rewards of by breaking modern-day speed limits and driving at over 150mph through the south of France.

Remembering what Ben had said about not arriving last, I suddenly became very competitive, desperately trying to fly past the Pagani Zonda - who eventually pushed me into some bollards and caused me to crash. But I wasn’t frustrated or put off: I was happy.

Not only could I rewind time to fix my mistake and put the Zonda in the position I was in moments ago, but I could also take another moment to appreciate the beauty of the scene and the environment I was driving through. So I altered my path and I was off again, pusing the needle up into the 140mph region again as I swooped around corners.

I eventually made it inland, coming off the coastal road and heading into the rural and rustic environment that is southern France with the setting sun going down beneath the endless rolling hills and infusing everuthing with a warm glow. The song on the radio changed, Gecko by Oliver Heldens begand to play as the night falls, the dark reds and oranges of sunset giving way to the deepest blues and purples of night-time as I turned the final corner onto a long straight towards the Horizon Festival.

This is the iconic moment: the sight of fireworks, hot-air balloons and large ferris wheels dotting the landscape alongside the bright lights just made me tear up. This was the start of a great adventure, one that I would never forget.

As I drove past the hundreds of people taking photos, I finally arrive and meet Ben, who introduced me to the event by describing it as the “perfect mixture of music and machines”. He then on to tell me that for tonight, “Welcome to Horizon”.

A huge montage of the game’s cars and settings is then shown, the flashing strobes of the festival, the crowds, fast camera movements, until finally a wide upward-panning shot looks over the horizon as the sun rises from behind the hills and the game’s logo is finally revealed.

Forza Horizon 2: an opening sequence which I will never, ever forget.

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Oliver McQuitty

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A student with a passion for video games, cats and music-making, Oliver has always adored anything that involves sitting down, relaxing and enjoying good entertainment. He writes about anything from gaming news to opinions on the state of the industry.