A real Gran Turismo beater (Forza Motorsport 2 (Xbox 360))

Member Name: scola_p

Product:	Forza Motorsport 2 (Xbox 360)
Date:	17/09/07 (112 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Graphics & game mechanics

Disadvantages: Like all of these games, it will (eventually) get dull

Let me begin by saying that I am a true Gran Tourismo fan. I have owned and played to death every version of the game on the PS2. Every other racing game I have played I have compared to GT and found lacking. This was one of the factors that was steering me towards a PS3. However, when a friend asked me to look after his Xbox 360 whilst he went on holiday, all this changed.

So, where to begin?

As you would expect from a Next Gen title, the graphics are amazing. And not just a little bit either. The attention to detail if phenomenal. The car models are truly fantastic, and the damage function is implemented really well, with buts flying with every crunch. In addition, the card actually look like they have been pranged, with pain scratched, panels crumpled and smoke pouring out.

In addition, you can see the effects of tuning your car visually. When you lower the suspension, your car sinks down. Change the angle of the tyres? They actually move. It is this loving attention that really makes this game stand out.

The tracks themselves are also detailed. The tracks that exist in real life are very accurately modelled, and even those that are made for the game feel like they could exist. The sun shines of the tarmac when it gets to the right angle, dust flies up when you take a brief trip off-road. It feels like you are there!!

The music in the game is pretty standard driving game fare. To be honest, it is only played on the menu screens, so I do not pay too much attention. The fact that I do not hate it makes it good enough!

When you get into the game however, the sound comes into its own. Tyres screech and engines rev. When you crash (having been in a few real life ones) it actually sounds like it. This is also another area where car tuning makes a difference. In a recent game I added a new exhaust and some engine parts to one of my cars, and the noise whilst driving was noticeably different.

With this attention to detail with the sound and graphics, you would expect the actual dynamics of the game to be excellent as well, and Forza 2 does not disappoint. Even from the outset, the different cars feel very different, and you can really feel the difference between the different drivetrain configurations. The game engine is also has more of a simulation element to it than many other racing games, and reckless and overly aggressive driving is punished.

The cars also feel right when driving them. There is really no other way to put this. They respond the way they should when you throw them around.

The ability to damage the cars really help in this, as a big smash (or several smaller crashes) can really ruin the way your car handles. In my mind, this is the main factor that sets this game head and shoulders above the competition. Too many games allow you to smash around the track with no real consequences, but in Forza 2 you have to pay for your car to be repaired out of your winnings. This can really hurt you pocket when you are in a very expensive car!

And now, we move onto the meat of the game: the choice of cars.

There are an amazing number of cars available to choose from in the game, from lots of countries and from various eras. In addition, some of the really high profile and high performance road cars are available to choose from. Traditionally, the like of Ferrari and Lamborghini have been loath to allow their cars to be licensed to a game with the ability to damage the cars, and it is good to see that they have now been won over.

On top of the vast number of cars, there are an equally amazing number of parts you can add to each car to boost their performance. The upgrades are split into 4 sections: Engine and Power, Performance and Handling, Tyres and Rims and Body and Aero. Within each of these sub sections, there are many, many parts you can chose, with normally three to four versions of each part to choose from.

This gives an incredible amount of customisation possibilities in itself, but when you add the ability to tweak and tune the setting for some parts, it gets crazy. One of the main advantages that Forza 2 has over other games of this type is that the help text on the tuning screens is actually helpful, so you do not have to be a fully experienced race mechanic to get started.

And the final crowning glory of Forza 2 is the on-line element. Even if you do not race online, your race times are uploaded to a central server, allowing you to see how fast you are against everyone in the world, but more specifically, the people on your friends list.

If, however, you do get this game, I cannot stress how much fun it is to actually play on-line. It is easy to either set-up or join a race, and there is even an option to take part in a race that will earn you money in career mode, which is a nice addition.

All in all, Forza 2 is perhaps the best driving game out at the moment. It is so good, it has made me an Xbox 360 convert. Goodbye Sony!!!

Summary: The game that has made me ditch the PS3!!