(andPOP) - The ultimate racing game has long been sought. Recently it has become a two horse race between Microsoft's Forza Motorsport series and Sony's Gran Turismo brand.
I must admit that before I picked up my copy of Forza Motorsport 2, I was a longtime Gran Turismo fan. The previous installment of the Forza series for XBox fell short of the mark in a few very important ways. The game play was not as smooth or realistic as gamers wanted and the customization options were sub-par. Gran Turismo for Playstation 2, on the other hand, was a gamer's dream.
The latest release in the Forza series, Forza Motorsport 2, has taken racing simulation games to the next level. The graphics are smooth and crisp, making even the smallest details, like the reflection of a cloudy sky on a shiny car hood, seem obvious.
The backgrounds, while not as visually stunning as those found in the new Gran Turismo title, are still excellent. The New York City race track is particularly impressive, with world famous Times Square recreated flawlessly.
Don't spend too much time looking around though or you will find yourself staring at a guard rail. The soundtrack and sound effects are amazing as well.
The gameplay is ultra realistic, even on the easiest setting. This is not a game that a casual gamer can pick up and be competitive at; this game requires practice. Unlike its arcade game counterparts, like the Need For Speed series, the cars handle like their real-life counterparts. If you don't let off the accelerator and hit the brakes, you will crash.
There are no shortcuts, weapons or power-ups, just you and 12 other racers competeting for the quickest time. And it couldn't be more fun.
The customization options are virtually endless. Every aspect of your car can be upgraded and tuned to make it one of a kind. Gear ratios, suspension stiffness, tire width - all of these settings can be tailored to whatever your heart desires, or more importantly, what the track demands. Tuning your car properly before a race can be the difference between an easy victory and a crushing defeat. Countless paint colours, rims, window tints and many other options allow you to truly create your fantasy car. Most manufacturers including Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, and Audi; all have cars in the game giving it another dose of reality.
This game won't just take you a long time to finish because of the difficulty - its career mode is jam packed with many different types of races. The requirements to enter each race are different. For example, there is an American muscle car event in which only American cars with 350 hp or more are accepted. This forces everyone to use different cars, which handle differently, to beat the game. You won't finish this one during an all-nighter.
Forza Motorsport 2 is definitely a game racing fans should own.
Graphics: 4.5/5.0
Gameplay: 4.3/5.0
Sound: 4.0/5.0
Replay Value: 5.0/5.0
