Still, while news of its delisting is all a bit doom and gloom, I want to pay tribute to this game and its fantastic open-world playground. I still stand by the fact that this is the best Forza Horizon game ever, and that's largely down to its condensed take on the UK. From the historic city of Edinburgh to the quaint lakeside town of Ambleside and everything in between, the FH4 map feels like one of the most unique in the genre. It also helps that this location made for some fantastic courses and driving routes that haven't gotten boring in more than six years since release.
Ever since I realised that some of my cherished childhood holiday spots would be present in this particular game, I've had a soft spot for it - I can't deny it! Yes, the sun-soaked highways of Forza Horizon 3 's Australia were gorgeous, but you just rarely see this side of the UK in video game format; rain, snow and all. London doesn't mind popping up left right and centre in gaming, but Edinburgh? Bamburgh Castle? The Lake District? We were always in for a treat with these locations, and developer Playground Games did an amazing job at realising them.
And, earlier this month — with the game and its delisting firmly on my mind — I decided to go and visit one of these spots and remind myself of how good a job the team did. Ambleside was my closest location geographically, and considering it's one of the best areas of the in-game map, I was only too happy to have a little snoop around and remind myself of how well the town was captured in Forza Horizon 4.
As you enter the town from the south of the map in-game , you'll straight away notice the pier and boat dock area - this is a very recognisable part of Ambleside. So, here's how the area looks both in the real world and in-game - pretty impressive, right?
Image: Ben Kerry / Pure Xbox From here, it only felt right to visit The Wateredge Inn; a cosy hotel and pub that's also represented in-game. Playground didn't go quite as accurate with its rendition here (possibly due to rights issues, etc.), but still, they nailed the overall look - and how the place hugs the top of Lake Windemere.
Image: Ben Kerry / Pure Xbox Heading further into the main town, the St Mary's Church acts as the real centrepiece of Ambleside - and that's true in-game as well as in the real world. Its neo-Gothic style really stands out in the town, and it's instantly recognisable in Forza Horizon 4 as you cruise through this section of the map.
Image: Ben Kerry / Pure Xbox One of the most iconic landmarks in Ambleside is the town's Bridge House; a tiny 17th century building that sits atop a small archway. There's something really captivating about this place in-person, and although I didn't go inside on this visit, I got a good shot of the exterior. Playground really nailed this one in-game as well!
Image: Ben Kerry / Pure Xbox Finally, before heading home after a typically wet and windy day in the Lake District, I had to take a look at the town's water wheel. River Rothay was gushing on this visit, and although the historic water wheel is no longer in use, it looked right at home next to the fast flowing river. Looks a bit rustier in real life, eh?
Image: Ben Kerry / Pure Xbox I took a bunch more shots during my time in Ambleside, which I'm going to throw down at the bottom of this article just to show you how well the place was captured in-game. Forza Horizon 4 fans, you'll probably notice some familiar looking streets in and amongst these shots!
I had hoped to visit some more of the game's famous locations in recent times, and maybe I will at some point in the future, but I really wanted to just pay a little tribute to Forza Horizon 4 as it drops out of digital storefronts this weekend. This is a game I'll always remember, not only for its connection to my real world, but also because of how good a driving and racing experience it is - and always will be.
Images: Ben Kerry / Pure Xbox
