Forza Motorsport 2 (Xbox 360, 2007)

Forza Motorsport is a racing simulation game the Microsofts answer to Sonys Gran Turismo series. While Forza may not quite live up to this now legendary series it is nonetheless a very decent effort. This sequel to the original game on the original Xbox features a greater number of cars and tracks and as you would expect a graphical update.

Anyone who is already familiar with the original Forza game will be instantly at home here as it features essentially the same career style theme. First you compete in races to win cash prizes and with your money you can buy new cars from real life car manufactures and/or tune up and modify the cars you already own in your garage. As in any good car simulation the game physics are fully realistic and true to life, your cars will steer, brake and corner much like the real thing. Anyone who knows what to expect from this type of game will be impressed by what Forza 2 has to offer. Fans of arcade style racers may find these kinds of simulation a little boring but that is an issue of personal gaming taste.

There are well over three hundred cars in Forza 2 which is a decent number to keep any avid player busy even though it doesn’t come close to the number of cars offered in a typical current generation Gran Turismo title. As you would expect you begin the cheaper basic cars which you can enter for the beginner races and as you advance through the game and begin winning trophies the super cars become available to buy. There is also a learning curve that allows you to gradually progress and increase in skill so you will eventually be able to handle a car that is somewhat more challenging to drive given the the level of realism of the physics engine.

The various races on offer in Forza 2 are against up to seven A.I or human players on Xbox Live. The A.I is actually pretty decent and your opponents cars do actually react to you in such as way as though they are seriously racing against you they’re not just going around a track and minding their own business. Also included in this game is real car damage, though for the most part this tends to be cosmetic but can impair your driving ability to some limited extent. This racing simulation doesn’t go as far as to simulate the damage done in a real car wreck. For that perhaps the Burnout series would perhaps be more for you. You can opt to turn off the damage making your cars essentially invulnerable.

While the driving carrier mode is very similar to that Gran Turismos there are no license tests instead you unlock the access to higher level races and better cars as you progress through the game. Each race can be modified before you begin to make either easier or more of a challenge to win, you can for example increase or decrease the level of skill of you’re A.I opponents or adjust such features as wear to your tires and car damage. Increasing the level of challenge does have a pay off however as it will increase the level of prize money you will receive should you win. If you want to make an easy buck without having to do anything you can even hire a driver to race for you much as in Gran Turismo 5 but you have to give up a percentage your prize money so it’s generally better to race yourself.

There are a good number of tracks on offer featuring many racing courses from real life and these are generally very well designed. It perhaps could have done with a few more courses but more are available as DLC.

Online play is very well implemented for those with Xbox Live Gold accounts, races are generally free from lag and these enable you to win prize money as you would in single player. You can also auction off your cars or buy other people specially customised and re-painted cars people have auctioned with the money which is another very cool feature.

Graphics are impressively realistic for the most part complete with little details such as reflective surfaces and dust, dirt and particle effects which are very nicely done. Environments are vast, expansive and well detailed and the game burns along at good speed with a smooth frame rate. A great deal of care and attention was evidently put into the game visuals.

Audio is pretty decent as well with a full range of realistic race sound effects from the screech of your tires as you brake to the your engine revs as you change gear. Music a techno rock fare and nothing particularly noteworthy, you won’t find the famous Gran Turismo licensed music tracks here but this necessarily that big of deal if it’s the simulation gameplay you’re interested in.

Overall Forza 2 is an excellent racing simulation game and a worthy purchase for your Xbox 360 console, particularly if you‘re interested in an online racing game. Providing you don’t own a PS3 when Gran Turismo 5 (or 6) is your better bet.

Recommend this product? Yes