Forza Motorsport 2 - Xbox 360

Forza Motorsport 2 is Microsoft's answer to Sony's much-admired Gran Turismo series and the follow up to the delightfully rendered Xbox original. That game caused more than a few ripples on its release, and is one of the reasons for hanging on to Microsoft's debut console. Well, make room now, get rid of the old and bring in the new with Forza 2. At the time of release, Forza is well ahead of Gran Turismo for PS3 (and yes, that's including the laughable GTHD on PS3 Network) and from what we've seen so far, looks like racing away with the honours regarding race car simulations. With a plethora of racing options available, there's something for everyone, whether playing solo or via system link or online. And the number of cars available is huge. From A to Z (well, Acura to Volvo - no sign of Wartburg Knight or Zil here) and lots in between, some very desirable motors are on offer, including models from Lamborghini, Maserati, Panoz, Porsche, Audi, Shelby, Subaru, Nissan, Pagani and Saleen and many more. And unlike the cars in Gran Turismo, panels get bent out of shape, bumpers get dislodged…so once you've customised you motor with a shiny paint job and fancy decals, take a photograph of it, 'cos it probably won't stay like that for long.

In Arcade mode, there are three sections: Free Run, Time Trials and Exhibition. Free Run is a solo drive around any unlocked track in an unlocked car. Time Trials is where you are charged with setting the fastest lap time on a specific track with a specific car. Each track has a time you have to beat, and when you do, you unlock that car. Exhibition is where you compete wheel-to-wheel against CPU-controlled drivers to unlock new cars and race series. To unlock the next series of cars and races, you must place in the top three in all races in the current series. Which position you cross the finishing line in determines how many cars you unlock, and cars that you unlock in Exhibition mode can be used in Free Run and Time trials too.

Career mode is the heart of Forza 2. You can compete online or offline in a selection of race types to earn money and collect and customise cars. You begin with a small amount of in-game currency to buy and upgrade cars. As you compete in races, you have the chance to earn much more. You can also win cars by finishing first in all races in a Career event. In Career mode, some race types and events are restricted by driver level, which starts at zero. Your level increases as you progress through the game and earn credits. At the highest level, you can unlock new cars to buy and qualify for discounts from manufacturers.

Saving the action you've been part of in Forza 2 is possible with the facility to save replays and take photos of you cars. These are then uploadable to the game's official site - forzamotorsport.net - for other racers to admire.

Go on, put a dent in your wallet and buy this masterpiece of a game. more