System: X360
Dev: Turn 10
Pub: Microsoft
Release: May 15, 2007
Players: 1-8
ESRB Rating: Pending
Preview by Leon Hendrix III

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Review Rating Legend
1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid
2.0 - 2.4 = Poor
2.5 - 2.9 = Average
3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
3.5 - 3.9 = Good
4.0 - 4.4 = Great
4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
5.0 = The Best

Forza gets the checkered flag
by Leon Hendrix III

April 6, 2007 - Soft green grass sways underfoot. High overhead, the sun gently wades in a brilliant azure sky. In the distance, a familiar howl slices the serenity. It shifts closer, growing louder with each second until you see it. The unforgettable scent of burning rubber on asphalt perfumes the air. You glance up as one of the most beautiful sights you have ever beheld fills your eyes. And people say you can't love a car.

It may seem a little odd to intro an article about a racing game with descriptive prose, but if you have seen video clips of Turn 10's second endeavor into the racing world, you were probably struck with similar poetic imagery. It's been around three years since the Forza Motorsport was released on the original Xbox, to the shock of a confused public. Project Gotham Racing had already created a solid racing game for fans of the Xbox when the original Forza was released. Gamers soon discovered however, that Forza stood in a category all its own. Forza Motorsport debuted to a great deal of critical and commercial success. It sold over 2 million copies worldwide and garnered excellent scores.

Setting itself apart from Sony's Gran Turismo series and PGR, the original Forza won gamers over with its strict simulation approach. It has been hailed as one of the most realistic racing games on the market. Real world physics caused damages to cars that cost players in realist ways. Bumpers fluttered off, glass cracked and shattered, and paint scratched as players collided with other cars or objects. Interior and exterior modifications allowed cars to be transformed into unique expressions of the owners. Along with a variety of race types, over two hundred cars to choose from and a selection of real world and fantasy tracks Turn 10 had crafted a very well done racing simulation, to say the least.

Naturally, a sequel was in order, and the good folks at Microsoft Game Studios jumped at the chance to oblige. Forza Motorsport 2 was debuted at E3 2006 and since that time has flooded the internet with videos and articles about its new features. This second endeavor into the racing genre has received considerable upgrades since zipping its way onto the Xbox 360. For starters, the game has received a full visual facelift. If pre-release videos are any indication, Forza Motorsport 2 may be one of the most visually stunning racing games ever. From the reflections of the sky and landscape in the windows of a car to the individual treads on its tires, this game looks gorgeous. Of course that was the obvious improvement considering the game went from the Xbox to the Xbox 360's much higher resolution.

That said, let's get down to the good stuff. Reflecting on the warm reception of the gaming public, it seems difficult to improve much upon the original Forza. Logically, Turn 10 decided to give us more of the same. Nearly every aspect of the original Forza has been improved multiplied. This time around over 300 cars will be at your disposal, including the highly anticipated Lamborghini, and 70 real world and fantasy tracks are included.

Online play is another piece of the Forza puzzle that gamers will drool over. Improved online leader boards, 16 player races, tournaments, and online car auctions will all be included. Responding to consumer feedback, Forza 2 focuses on circuit training more than the point to point races from the original game. A new photo mode will allow players to take and post pictures of crashes and cars online.

Customization will return in a big way allowing players to customize 4000 separate layers on a car's exterior. Aspiring car artists will even be able to post and sell their creations online to earn "money" for upgrades. Customization will play a much larger role in this game's strategy, than its predecessor. For instance, a car with forward wheel drive will only go so fast by design no matter what the engine is. Swapping drivetrains may increase horsepower utilization, but will also change the way the car handles. It's just one of the possibilities provided by this improved system. The idea, it seems, is to make customization a strategic necessity, rather than an afterthought.

The much loved physics engine has returned with an innovative approach to the standard rumble feature. Cars will react convincingly to road conditions as you shift, break and accelerate over different surfaces. The inventive "force feedback" system causes steering to autocorrect and shift torque during turns, for instance. Processing over 360 calculations per second, everything from road friction, slippage, and size and weight of a car will add more layers of realism to an already impressive game.

The original Forza has received a lot of accolades in the past, only time will tell if the sequel follows suit, If Forza Motorsport was the pace car, which a generation of racing games has been following, then Forza Motorsport 2 might just take the cup.

By Leon Hendrix III
CCC Freelance Writer

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