Forza 2 Xbox 360 Review – Simulation Racing on 360
Xbox had a hard time at first convincing gamers that Forza would be a good game. This might be due to the playable demo they released. Let’s be honest, the demo released on the OXM disc looked horrible and had racing fans posting everywhere with doubts. At the time it was released I was actually with Jason and we ran out to get our copies of the game. It looked nothing like the demo or even earlier footage shown at E3. Now I am not going to say MS released a demo that looked and played poorly on purpose, but after popping in the game and playing it for the first 30 minutes, it seems that way. Once racing fans got used to the mechanics of the game, it became a favorite among many who prefer more of a realistic “Sim†racer than an arcade racer. In fact Forza was in a class of its own. While PGR offered a challenge, it was not the deep type of racing that could be found when playing Forza. MS had a hit on their hands. I make mention of the first Forza game since this leads into the very high expectations everyone has for Forza 2. Now the next challenge was the sequel. Could they deliver the same and yet somehow offer even more? Read the full Forza 2 Motorsport Review and find out.
Fans of Forza 2 were surprised a bit to find the hill climbs were a thing of the past. I really enjoyed this class and really missed it at first. I understand they wanted to focus on what racing fans wanted and this was more cars and more tracks to compete on. You’ll also notice tuning is a must especially when racing against others online and in the single-player mode when the class races open up to you. I am still getting asked about certain settings and this is where Forza is unique. What works for you as far as settings, may not work for a friend. This shows that it is a bit deeper and offers more of a challenge right away. Even the arcade mode was beefed up when compared to Forza and shows extra time was taken to deliver a great sequel. Just in case you have not bought the game yet, the goal is to make it through races with every class of car, tune and buy the needed parts, and grab the first place in each of the events and move on. Jason, Jim and I found out that buying parts right away is not needed and in fact can hurt you later on. The game shows some changes right from the start and positive ones.
The game is split into three modes Arcade, Career and online Career. The arcade mode is to unlock cars to buy later in the career mode but also helps you get used to the overall Gameplay. There are over 300+ cars and 50+ manufactures then add the fact no two cars handle alike it begins to scream away from the first game. 12 different tracks with over 40 variations and starting points also show how deep the Gameplay is. Then you have one of the largest customizations ever seen in any racing game made to date. I really like the paint shop but it is something that requires a lot of time and patience. Perhaps the hottest selling point is the fact the game can be set for any level of experience. You will get better and be able to turn off certain assists but at your own time and pace. I also found they adjusted the breaking and made it feel even more realistic. After the first hour of playing, Forza 2 makes a strong impact and shows it is the perfect “Sim Racer†to be on the Xbox 360.
Career mode is where most will find themselves both off and online and it can be a little tricky. You may add a few parts and then find that the car is now in a higher class by only 1 point. You need to read exactly what changes each part will do and weigh your advantages. It’s a learning curve and varies depending on your experience with racing games that allow upgrades. While some may look at this as a frustration, others will welcome it from the upgrades found in other games that just boost the speed and has no real affect on the way the car handles. Early on the PI Racer “AI†as they are known in other games starts off racing aggressively and a little dirty which I enjoyed. There are a few quirks in the game both off and online, but with everything the game has to offer gamers will be too busy enjoying everything done right instead of looking for those little things wrong. Forza 2 is not the type of game you are going to sit down in a few days and beat and then leave it collect dust. Judging it just on the two single-player modes alone justifies the price and is a must for any racing fan.
The learning curve of the basic controls will take 30-90 minutes depending on the skill level. Using the regular Xbox 360 controller players will find it easy to learn where everything is quickly. I would suggest remapping the right analog stick to be the shifter for those wanting to run in manual transmission. For those using either the Xbox 360 wireless wheel or another wheel like Logitech’s, keep in mind that using a wheel takes practice and changes things a bit so add another hour to get used to the wheel when switching. I liked the fact they did allow you to change and remap the buttons on the controller and yes it will save the settings for you. However, learning to tune and learning the in game settings will vary. Just remember you can use the left analog stick to adjust settings as well then use the D-Pad for the minor changes. The same goes for the paint shop. It’s easy but more detailed or layered paint jobs will require more time but I have seen some incredible looking cars online and at the Forza 2 website.
Online Forza 2 continues to be fun for beginners or pros and every host has tons of options at their finger tips. You can race with 8 friends or meet up with 8 players for ranked career races. Rooms are simple to create or find. They even allow gamers to enter in spectator mode to watch races. I could have done without the prompts stating someone has entered the room during a race but it’s something you learn to deal with. One thing about ranked rooms or public rooms, people can take the game a bit too seriously and leave you negative feedback for the slightest bump or knick. It happens in games like this. I also like that the host can lock the car class and avoids someone coming in with the ultimates and blowing everyone away. I enjoy speed as much as the next gamer but to be honest I have more fun with the classic cars and lower class ones. No matter what type of race you want to join, you will find it. The new online auction house is neat but can be a bit confusing at first. It is a good way to get rid of a car you are sure you won’t need and make some extra cash. I am hoping the next game offers weather changes and a few new things, but it’s a solid online mode and a blast to play.
Forza 2 takes a dramatic leap in the graphical department compared to the first game. Every car has a different look as well as each track. You may want to change camera views just to take a look at everything found in the game. The first person mode or in car view is different than in the back view and at times there may be a benefit of changing the view especially in those tracks that have very tight and short turns. You may notice after spending the time to paint a car that after you save it and try and run it online, people may not see the paint job. Simply back out reload the car and everyone will see your hard work.
Spectators look real, the track shows tire wear and depending on the settings you will need to look out for parts laying on the track after an accident. The damage looks very realistic and will affect the cars speed and performance. No complaints with the graphics and even the default paint jobs on each car look great.
They managed to make it possible to hear another car hitting a wall or another vehicle when close enough. They could have added more sounds of real engines and at times seems to sound the same no matter what type of car you’re driving. Then again when racing I am more worried about the course and not the sound of the engine. The in-game music is not my style and I really had to switch to a custom soundtrack. The audio is decent but could have been beefed up for the Next-Gen.
When you throw in all the modes and the new paint shop and auction house, Forza 2 offers plenty of replay value. I have had a blast just online with a few friends and even a few marathon races. I doubt any racing fan can say Forza 2 is lacking on the replay value. Of course if you take the time to learn the tuning and changing the look of the cars as well as the performance, you are going to get more out of it. While it’s a game that pushes competition, it’s one that you can decide the pace you take it.
Overall Score: 9.2 /10 [not an average]
Last year at E3 they showed off a few features that did not make the final build. Even so I still think that Forza 2 showed it can improve on an already great game and there is more to come. It’s great for the beginner or the advanced racer and will adjust to your skill level. I was impressed with the sequel and there is no doubt Forza is now a killer franchise for MS!
Review by XBS Head Writer Rich Reed.
Filed under: Reviews • Xbox 360
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Who doesn’t love classic cars? Seems everybody does and hollywood has jumped on the bandwagon too. You see them in just about every movie and TV show now.