Did you miss real races? Do you still remember such titles as Out Run, Lotus Turbo Challenge or Top Gear 2? Aquiris Game Studio has prepared an excellent time machine for you in the form of Horizon Chase, which will debut tomorrow in the Turbo version on the Nintendo Switch console.
The latest title of this Brazilian studio combines all the most important elements of the above-mentioned productions and creates the perfect retro experience, bringing us back to the true golden age of gaming. How does the title originally released on mobile work on the newest Nintendo hardware? Have there been any major changes to justify a quick purchase aside from a strong nostalgia bout? I will try to answer these questions in a moment.
Horizon Chase Turbo is based on truly classic mechanics. Our main task during the game is to constantly hold the gas and properly enter the corners, which determines whether we will be able to catch up with the first opponent at all. The most effective form of driving is to stick to the outer edge of the route so as not to lose speed or run into an obstacle. During the race, we also have to pay attention to the remaining opponents, who at the back of the stakes move much slower than us, which makes them classic obstacles to avoid, special coins that translate into the number of points obtained after completing the race, allowing you to unlock further events and vehicles and fuel that may run out over time.
To complete them, we have to point to the appropriate symbols on the map. They are always located in strictly defined places, so after the first lap we are able to learn their exact location. In later stages, we will be forced to constantly refuel, so the classic automatic fun will quickly become something more.
During the race, we also have a limited number of turbo at our disposal, which often, with the right timing, can drastically increase our position. The general level of difficulty depends, above all, on our skills and repeating a given race in order to get to know the track and the most effective ways to bypass rivals.
Horizon Chase Turbo, apart from the general atmosphere, refers to the mentioned Out Runa or Top Gear 2, among others driver commenting from time to time events on the track, e.g. “I’m feeling it” or exaggerated crashes after going off-track and hitting, among others signs placed at the bends telling us which way to go. Each of these elements adds an arcade charm to the game and was realized in the spirit of the iconic representatives of the genre.
The driving model has been balanced perfectly and quickly avoiding rivals on a straight route is not a problem. The vehicle is responsive and even in unexpected situations, such as a sudden crash of the opponent, it allows you to react appropriately. Taking sharp bends, on the other hand, was created in practically the same way as in other titles of this type, i.e. while driving, we feel this delicate weight of the vehicle and pull us the other way.
And it is thanks to this aspect that we have to make sure that we approach each corner perfectly. If, at full speed, we even slightly miss the beginning of the maneuver, we will run into an obstacle that will slow us down considerably and often make it impossible to win. Horizon Chase Turbo encourages us to perfection at every step. The first rival from the very beginning of the race is at a considerable distance from us, so driving inefficiently will not allow us to catch up with him. And although we don’t need to be perfectionists to unlock the next events, winning the best cup is rewarding and, when needed, encourages you to repeat the event over and over again.
Horizon Chase Turbo, apart from classic races, also offers, among others events where we can win new upgrades for each vehicle. After winning, we get to choose one of the three parts that will affect different vehicle statistics. We do not have a replay of, for example, Top Gear 2, where, due to the structure of the game, the vehicle could only be improved between races and we were deprived of all novelties after the game over screen popped up. In Horizon Chase Turbo, we are gradually becoming faster permanently, so it’s worth returning to the races you have already completed to improve your time, for example.
The creators decided to diversify their production also with a full-fledged championship, Endurance races and a completely new Playground mode, in which we can take part in five time-limited events with different levels of difficulty. This is not an exorbitant number, but the insight into global rankings or friends’ results without going into a separate tab encourages you to compete and return to the game some time after its completion. The racing difficulty level was additionally based on various types of difficulties. We can come across, among others for one in which we will be deprived of the HUD, we will have an unlimited amount of nitro, or we will only be left with a handful of cars to choose from.
Many players will surely be pleased that Horizon Chase Turbo has a local co-op mode. Four people can take part in the races at the same time, so the production offers a full return to couch playing. Turbo, however, does not have a network multiplayer, which is quite a downside. There is no shortage of single-player content in the game (in the main mode, more than 100 races in various locations), but online clashes would significantly extend its life. Especially considering the Playground mode, where there are many interesting ways to adjust the gameplay to your own preferences.
In the case of Horizon Chase Turbo, it is also worth paying attention to the graphics and soundtrack. Visually, the title looks great, even if we take into account static backgrounds, “reading” of the route or angular elements of the environment that give the game character and perfectly reflect the atmosphere of the production text mentioned at the beginning. The whole is perfectly complemented by the rich colors and generally pleasing to the eye style of the graphic design, as you can see on many of the attached screenshots.
The title was also expanded with a variable time of day in some races and different weather conditions. They do not affect the behavior of the vehicle, but they diversify the graphics of the game in an appropriate way. The switch version of Horizon Chase is also much more fun with physical buttons. The more difficult stages on the touch screen could cause a lot of trouble, and here everything goes smoothly and without major problems.
In terms of the soundtrack, the creators perfectly reflected the atmosphere of 16-bit racing. The game is dominated by songs in which the first violin is played by keyboards and electronic sounds, often varied with an infectious beat and occasionally sharper guitars. The 90s are always alive and among many older players, the pieces contained in the game will surely be able to cause a wave of nostalgia. All in all, it is not surprising in this regard, because Barry Leitch is responsible for all the compositions, who created the soundtrack for the Lotus Challenge or Top Gear. The only downside is that after a few races they start to loop, which unfortunately disappoints a bit.
However, Horizon Chase in the Nintendo Switch version is not an ideal port. In several races, we can feel significant drops in liquidity, almost like when playing on a weaker smartphone, and encounter sporadic, sudden cuts, which from recent productions appeared, for example, in Dead Cells. Most likely it’s the engine’s fault and it’s hard to tell if the developers can do anything with them, but luckily they aren’t bothersome and they disappear instantly. In the case of Horizon Chase Turbo, you must first of all consider whether PLN 80 for the Playground mode, local cooperation and playing on physical keys is a good investment.
The switch version of the game, apart from these elements, does not offer major changes, so for many players the premiere price may be much too high. However, if you haven’t had the opportunity to play this title on your smartphone, I think Horizon Chase Turbo should be of interest as soon as possible. Especially fans of the genre and people who miss real races, with challenging gameplay and a unique retro atmosphere.
