Horizon Chase 2 Review (Switch) - Runnin’ Down a Dream

Fans of old-school arcade-style racing games from the ‘80s and ‘90s like OutRun, Lotus Turbo Challenge, Cruis’n USA, Hang-On, and Ridge Racer will feel right at home with Horizon Chase 2, a simple but effective pick-up-and-play racer with dozens of tracks and customizable cars. As a sequel to the equally-impressive, globe-trotting Horizon Chase Turbo, it delivers a simpler but arguably more polished experience, making for an addictive and challenging high-octane racing game.

Developer AQUIRIS, recently acquired by Epic Games, initially released Horizon Chase 2 as an exclusive on Apple Arcade in 2022. It was recently ported to Switch and PC, and while playing the game, I initially hadn’t realized or even considered that it might have started life as a mobile game. Only after learning the hard truth did realization set in as to why a few elements in the sequel felt a little off, despite the obvious improvements to the budget and presentation and a reduction in rubber-banding.

Newer and shinier, but at a cost

Let’s get the negatives out of the way. First off, the game feels considerably easier. Rubber-banding has been significantly reduced, but that comes at the expense of any significant PVE challenge. The biggest challenges I faced were hitting obstacles on tight corners and bumping other racers from behind, which happens most often at the start of each race, as you begin at the back of the pack. There are less collectible blue coins in each level, and the mechanic of picking up fuel canisters has been totally removed, which to me was a mistake as it helped balance fast cars and affects the replay value. Braking is less essential to make it around most tight corners, as you can simply ease off the gas most of the time if your Handling stat is high enough. 

Also, there is less content in general. Where Horizon Chase Turbo had over 100 tracks at release, not including the incredible DLC, Horizon Chase 2 only features 55 tracks in the World Tour. There are also far fewer cars to pick from in this sequel, although you can customize your car’s appearance more this time around with decals, and you have more options as far as paint goes.

Control-wise, the game is unchanged. You’ll be accelerating, braking, and using timely Nitro boosts. The difference this time is that steering feels more precise on the analog stick, and less like you’re just moving in digital increments. Don’t get me wrong - you can use the d-pad if you’re old-school like that, but the stick responsiveness is much improved, and old habits die hard.

Musically masterful, meaty multiplayer 

The aspect that received the most attention, without a doubt, is the improved multiplayer. AQUIRIS have done a great job of adding multiplayer options, as every mode now has multiplayer. You can take on the World Tour alongside a friend, or play head-to-head in classic split-screen with up to 4 players. The time trial challenges have a questionable feature where you can only max out your time if you collect time coins that take a second each off of your clock, making these challenges more about memorizing coin placements than min-maxing the track.

Visually and aurally, Horizon Chase 2 improves greatly on its predecessor. Barry Leitch somehow one-ups his excellent electronic soundtrack from the original game, making this one a stone cold classic, one of the best OSTs in recent memory for a racing game. There isn’t a single bad track in the bunch. I do wish the developers would have put a little more effort into the sound effects, as the engine sounds are totally eclipsed by the music.

I found the improved visual clarity not only more aesthetically pleasing, but incredibly helpful, as I could more easily remember where corners, coins, and Nitro boost items were on the track by tracking the visual elements. The tracks also have more verticality in general this time around, which was visually interesting, although I don’t think it affected the physics or the gameplay in any significant way other than hiding blind corners. 

One Lap Forward, Two Laps Back

In all honesty, Horizon Chase 2 is a bit of a mixed bag. The great multiplayer, improved visuals, and incredible soundtrack make up for the relative lack of tracks and simplified challenges, but one can’t shake the feeling that this sequel, which originated on iOS, was made to appeal to casual players rather than the hardcore arcade racer crowd that embraced the original game.

I wonder if Epic Games’ acquisition of AQUIRIS influenced the direction that this sequel went, and whether or not they would consider bringing the focus back to the more precise and punishing racing of the original title. One can only hope so, because there are any number of casual racing games out there, but not enough challenging ones.

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Verdict: 3/5 (Great)

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PROS

• Improved graphics and incredible soundtrack that rivals the original

• Excellent track design

• Multiplayer available in all modes

CONS

• Gameplay is much easier in general, with less challenges and fewer collectible coins

• Less cars and less modes

• Only 55 tracks VS the original’s over 100

What I’ve Played 

• Beat the World Tour

• Played 3 hours of split-screen multiplayer

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