- Title: Forza Motorsport 2
- Platform:Xbox 360
- Publisher: Microsoft
- Developer: Turn 10
- ESRB Rating: “E” for Everyone
- Genre: Racing simulation
- Pros: Amazing gameplay; great customization options; online play is excellent; lots of stuff to do; surprisingly accessible
- Cons: Graphics could be better; needs more new stuff; no in-car view
Features
Forza 2 offers up a wider selection of cars and tracks than the first game, but it doesn’t go quite as crazy with the offerings as, say, Gran Turismo 4 did. Rather than a collection of old-timey hunks of junk no one wants to drive, Forza 2 gives you more than 300 of the world’s greatest automobiles from 50 different manufacturers. There are also 12 different tracks split into 47 different configurations, so there is a lot to see and do here. The tracks include real-life favorites such as Laguna Seca, Nürburgring, Sebring, and more along with a few well designed fantasy courses.
My one complaint with the cars and tracks on offer is simply the fact that we have been racing these exact same tracks with a lot of these exact same cars for the last 7-8 years now. All of the Gran Turismo games and now both Forza games are basically the same thing over and over again. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and I have to admit I’m just as addicted as ever, but more new stuff we haven’t done a hundred times already would have been greatly appreciated.
Career Mode
Xbox Live
The online aspects of Forza 2 are easily one of its best features. Leaderboards for each and every career event are easily accessible in career mode with just the press of a button. You can also race in an online career mode, which awards you cash just like the offline career mode. These races are slightly different in that the host of a race determines the lap count, car classes, or driving aids for the race. Once you get into a race, it is a smooth and fun experience as long as your opponent race cleanly. Occasionally you’ll run into people that just want to play a demolition derby, but most people are cool and are actually there to race.My favorite aspect of Forza 2 online, though, is the Auction House, which allows you to buy and sell cars from other people on Xbox Live. This gives you access to gorgeous, amazing, beautiful custom paint jobs from some very skilled people. It also lets you get your hands on a specific car before you unlock it in career, or a fully tuned car you can take right to the track. You also find a fair number of bargains here, and you can occasionally find a really special car for a ridiculously low price. It is also, of course, a nice way to make some extra in-game cash for yourself if you are a halfway decent artist.
You can visit the official Forza Motorsport 2 site to look at leaderboards as well as check your auctions or see pictures you have taken in-game. You can then take those pictures and host them somewhere else so you can share them with your friends.
Gameplay and Tuning
If the game didn’t play exceptionally well, though, none of these features would mean anything. Thankfully, Forza 2 plays pretty much perfectly, and is easily the best racing simulator game available today. Every single car feels realistic as you take it around the track. And every car feels different from one to the next. And every performance part you put on your car slightly changes that feel into something new. You constantly have to adjust and learn and tune and tweak in order to put every single bit of horsepower from your engine down into the road. It is an incredibly satisfying and deep experience that hardcore simulation fans will love.Unlike other racing sims, however, Forza 2 isn’t just fun for hardcore fans. There are a lot of options and assists that will help newcomers love racing sims as well. Traction control, stability management, automatic transmissions, and antilock brakes will keep you from sliding around too much and spinning out. Also, you can use a visual racing line on the track that tells you where to go, when to brake, and when to get back on the gas. Don’t be afraid to use these assists, because they are very helpful and learning how to play the game correctly is worth more than your foolish pride. The tuning aspect of the game also seems a bit overwhelming, but each and every tuning option has a set of instructions that tell you exactly what a change will do, so it is pretty easy to figure things out.
Forza 2 really is like the perfect racing game. It is as hardcore or as accessible as you want, which makes it fun for everyone.
