First Impressions

My first impressions of Forza Motorsport 2 come down to one phrase: Gran Turismo 4 for the XBOX 360.

The game has much of the same feel (and many of the same tracks) as Gran Turismo 4. However, it is far less complex than GT4 in many aspects, including tuning, which is actually far more accessible than its PS2 counterpart.

The vehicle restrictions early on make for a surprisingly less steep learning curve. By virtue of forcing you to learn how to drive on essentially off-the-lot cars, you form a better appreciation for the capabilities of the later vehicles in the game and are better prepared to "wheel" them. It also gives you a greater sense ofaccomplishment when you unlock the more powerful cars as opposed to PGR3, where you merely have to play through a few of the series to make enough money to get the F50 GT, which can win any race in the game.

Powersliding is not advisible in this game. A technical, tight racing line is the way to go here. You don't get Kudos for driving like you do in PGR3. In some ways this is better, as there is less pressure to try and pull off a slick trick here and there with your F50 GT or Supercar Prototype. Instead, good driving is rewarded by virtue of actually winning the race, which becomes more difficult the higher the difficulty level.

I especially love the depth of the customization available to you from the get-go. The ability to paint your car however you please and put whatever sponsors you want is almost a game in and of itself. It makes the game experience much more immersive.

Speaking of immersiveness: the game's environments are beautiful. I personally think that the graphics, at the very least, equal those of PGR3. The car detail is definately on par. The damage detail, however, is the best part. Try driving your car into a wall on Easy Mode and then free look at the front of your car. Also pay attention to see if anything flew off your car. Then take a lap. Yep...that's your left-front fender you just drove past. The attention to detail is nothing short of astounding.

The game-unique tracks are extremely boring. However, the actual circuits (Suzuka, Laguna Seca, Nurburgring, etc.) are breathtaking and fun to navigate.

These are only first impressions, though. I've got a copy of it until Saturday. I'll write a full review then, in addition to continuing my blog series on the top driving simulations.