Forza Motorsport 2

Revving up to raise the bar on racing simulations.

Racing games are the closest most will get to racing vintage automobiles on world-class tracks. Luckily for would-be drivers, reality's edge is slipping away with reassuring rapidity. Hell, we might not have to envy the pros at all much longer.

Rolling Thunder

Forza Motorsport 2 cherry-picks over 300 unlockable cars for your virtual garage, avoiding the samey generic sedans that fill out other racing rosters to deliver a wide range of desirable whips: Classic American muscle cars, exotic European sports slabs, and tuner favorites from Asia are all represented in force. You'll pick a region of residence at the start of career mode, but hometown only affects pricing and availability timing, with every last sled eventually becoming available if you make the grade.

Every credit you earn while racing real world circuits like Sebring and Laguna Seca, from the introductory "proving grounds" events through professional series and endurance races, contributes to your driver level. As you gain experience, you'll open up new models for purchase, wrangle enviable discounts, and even score surprise gifts. What's more, each credit simultaneously counts toward your experience with whatever car you're driving, unlocking upgrade discounts and more.

Hot Swaps
Forza Motorsport 2 seems poised to lead the next leg of the next-gen race.

The catalog of available bolt-ons is considerable, giving you a plethora of potential purchases to mull over. Do you go for some cheap added horsepower with a new intake or exhaust system, or swap out the whole engine block? Save up for a new tire compound, slap on a body kit, or install that turbo? Just about anything you'd ever want to tweak is adjustable, from gearing ratios and suspension characteristics to paint jobs and layer upon layer of vinyls.

More important than the laundry list of options is the effect each has when you hit the road, and it's in this department that Forza Motorsport 2 seems ready to define next-generation racing simulation. It's remarkable how much the feel of driving comes through; every turn of the wrench has a tangible impact on performance and handling that's seamless. The cosmetic damage model is currently a bit underwhelming, but collisions convincingly change handling, even if it's just a subtle tug to the right after tagging a guard rail. This emphasis on realism shouldn't scare off newcomers, though, thanks in large part to a line helper that teaches amateurs speed management, and a telemetry overlay that presents a wealth of analysis information.

Spinning Rims

There's no shortage of online functionality on the way, either: Put your masterpiece up for sale in the online auction house, gift it to a friend, or race it in multiplayer tournaments. Download ghost opponents, watch replays of memorable events, or freeze time and upload custom photos to the official website. You can even connect multiple Xbox 360s and televisions to get a wider view of the track, or a permanent big-screen rear-view.

Between its sheer beauty, compelling automotive realism, endless options, and collect-a-thon addictiveness, Forza Motorsport 2 seems poised to lead the next lap of the next-gen race.

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