Horizon Chase is a racing video game developed and published by Brazilian company[3] Aquiris Game Studio. It was released on August 20, 2015, for iOS and Android platforms. It is a 3D game inspired by 2D, 16-bit titles like Top Gear. Its soundtrack has Nintendocore influences.[4]
| Horizon Chase | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Aquiris Game Studio |
| Publisher(s) | Aquiris Game Studio[a] |
| Composer(s) | Barry Leitch |
| Series | Horizon Chase |
| Engine | Unity |
| Platform(s) | iOS Android Horizon Chase Turbo Windows Linux PlayStation 4 Nintendo Switch Xbox One PlayStation Vita[a] |
| Release | World Tour August 20, 2015 Turbo Windows, Linux, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
|
| Genre(s) | Racing |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
In 2019, an enhanced version, Horizon Chase Turbo, was released for Windows, Linux, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PlayStation Vita, the latter via a Play-Asia physical release and one of the last of such for the system. A sequel, Horizon Chase 2, launched for Apple Arcade on September 6, 2022, with releases for the Microsoft Windows and the Nintendo Switch in 2023.[5][6]
Gameplay
editIn Horizon Chase, the player has to complete races on tracks located all around the world. The player has to pickup fuel refills on the track, in order to continue playing. The player also has to collect coins, as currency, to unlock new tracks. The player can also use nitro boosts to speed up their car.[7] Like a standard race, the player starts every race at the back, and needs to overtake opponents to win. Different weather effects and track types can affect handling and the difficulty of driving.[7]
In the Senna Forever DLC, which also adds a first-person view, players can race Formula One cars in a campaign inspired by Ayrton Senna's career in the sport, with some Grand Prix venues being adapted to the game.[8]
Development
editThe game's soundtrack was composed by Barry Leitch, who was contacted due to his work on Top Gear, a racing game released in 1992 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.[9] The soundtrack of that game was popular among Brazilian fans, leading to a remix contest.[9] The remixes were later released as part of the soundtrack[10] and a cover of the popular Las Vegas track from Top Gear was included as an Easter Egg.
All versions of Horizon Chase except the PlayStation Vita also has an Ayrton Senna DLC,[11] with profits being donated to the Ayrton Senna Institute.[8]
Easter eggs
editThe game's composer also included a hidden marriage proposal to his longtime girlfriend in the game with the assistance of the development team, which was discovered by fans but kept secret until he was ready to share the story.[12]
Courses
edit
Reception
edit| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | iOS: 88/100[13] Turbo PC: 76/100[14] PS4: 78/100[15] XONE: 78/100[16] Switch: 82/100[17] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| TouchArcade |  [18] |
Horizon Chase received positive reviews, with an aggregate score of 88/100 on Metacritic;[13] Turbo received similarly positive reviews, with the PC scoring 76/100.[14] the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions 78/100, [15][16] and the Nintendo Switch version receiving an 82/100.[17]
Carter Dodson of TouchArcade rated the game 5/5 stars, praising the game's visual style, soundtrack, and controls, and calling it a template for how other developers need to do retro-inspired games.[18] Harry Slater of Pocket Gamer rated the game a 9/10, calling it "a bright and brash arcade racer that looks stunning", while saying that its gameplay is good enough to back up its presentation. He noted that the game got "a little grindy at times", though calling it "the type of grind you're happy to wade through". The site awarded the game the "Gold" award.[7] Tom Christiansen of Gamezebo rated the game 3.5/5 stars, calling the visuals "solid" and praising the soundtrack, but saying he disliked the auto-turn assist system that was impossible to turn off, also calling the AI "impossibly fast" and unlocking new cars overly difficult.[19]
Notes
edit- ^ a b PlayStation Vita version distributed by Play-Asia
References
edit- ^ "Horizon Chase Turbo for Nintendo Switch". Retrieved December 20, 2022.
- ^ "Horizon Chase Turbo [Limited Edition] PLAY EXCLUSIVES". Retrieved December 19, 2022.
- ^ "Aquiris Game Studio".
- ^ K.T (July 16, 2021). "Análise de Horizon Chase Turbo". Garota no Controle (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved October 26, 2022.
- ^ Romano, Sal (August 30, 2022). "Horizon Chase 2 announced for consoles, PC, and Apple Arcade". Gematsu. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
- ^ Romano, Sal (September 14, 2023). "Horizon Chase 2 now available for Nintendo Switch, PC". Gematsu. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ^ a b c Slater, Harry (August 20, 2015). "Horizon Chase - Some of the best racing you're ever likely to see on mobile". Pocket Gamer. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
- ^ a b Craddock, Ryan (September 27, 2021). "Horizon Chase Turbo Honours F1's Ayrton Senna In New 'Senna Forever' Expansion". Nintendo Life. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
- ^ a b Mlynar, Phillip (September 18, 2015). "Behind the Sega-core racing tunes of Horizon Chase". Kill Screen. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
- ^ Dotson, Carter (May 24, 2016). "Barry Leitch's 'Horizon Chase' Soundtrack With Extra Remixes Now Available". TouchArcade. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
- ^ McFerran, Damien (November 1, 2021). "Horizon Chase Turbo's 'Senna Forever' Expansion Is A Fitting Tribute To A Racing Legend". Nintendo Life. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
- ^ Dotson, Carter (November 27, 2015). "There's a Marriage Proposal Hidden in 'Horizon Chase'". TouchArcade. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
- ^ a b "Horizon Chase - World Tour for iPhone/iPad Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
- ^ a b "Horizon Chase Turbo for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
- ^ a b "Horizon Chase Turbo for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
- ^ a b "Horizon Chase Turbo for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
- ^ a b "Horizon Chase Turbo for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
- ^ a b Dotson, Carter (August 26, 2015). "'Horizon Chase' Review – What's Old is New Again". TouchArcade. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
- ^ Christiansen, Tom (August 25, 2015). "Horizon Chase Review: Racing Down Memory Lane". Gamezebo. Archived from the original on October 30, 2021. Retrieved March 20, 2018.