Forza2 Review on Car & Driver

[alf]

For those itching for some track time on the couch.

http://www.caranddriver.com/features/14349/video-gamin-forza-motorsport-2.html


“As a guy who’s been a huge Gran Turismo fan since the first edition chewed up hundreds of valuable studying hours back in college, I was very, very hesitant to pick up a controller hooked to any other racing game…Thank goodness, then, a little vial of video-game narcotics called Forza Motorsport 2 came across my desk. It’s every bit as fun as any Gran Turismo I’ve played.”
“I actually jumped off the couch and pumped my fist when I won a 1970 Chevelle SS454 (one of the first cars I ever lusted after) in Career mode, laughed in amazement when I heard the exhaust note of a full-race Mustang, and spent 25 minutes trying lap after lap to top my fastest time on a short course through the streets of New York in the Le Mans–winning Audi R8 race car. I told myself “just one more race” about two dozen times. I never saw the sun. When that “Have I really wasted an entire day playing video games?” depression hit, I turned up the volume, and it faded instantly. That Mustang sounds incredible.”
“This is the first video game to provide an honest substitute for the aural treat of standing on the gas and listening to an engine work its magic. You could play “Guess That Car” based on exhaust tones.”
“I get the sense that a person lacking a basic grasp of vehicle dynamics and some video-gaming expertise would be lost in this thing right quick. It’s certainly not a game you can hop into for five minutes, that’s for sure. But who’d want to? With a huge Career mode and a kabillion cars to choose from, the world is your oyster. I spent three hours—three hours!—putting sponsorship decals on my VW GTI.”
“Although I didn’t get much of a chance to hop online and check out all the features there—a press release assures me there are downloadable cars, decal packs, and other stuff—it didn’t even matter. Forza Motorsport 2 is such a blast without all the extra frippery that I can’t recommend it enough. If you have an Xbox 360 and love racing, you owe it to yourself to check out this game.”
“My biggest problem with Forza Motorsport 2, really, is that I just don’t have enough time. This game is hopelessly addictive. I think I feel a sick day coming on.”

[carnutzzz]

I bought it from Target Tuesday night.

Got all settled-in on my big comfy oversized chair in front of my 46 in. Samsung 1080p LCD. Cranked-up the stereo in anticipation of some hot car sounds. 2 twelve inch woofers flanked me.

I tore open the package all giddy like and stared into a blank box. Well, almost blank. There was an AOL CD in there.

Weird, huh? Took it back to Target and they refunded me, but they were out so no replacement.

I had never seen that before.

[alf]

[QUOTE=carnutzzz;3615479]I tore open the package all giddy like and stared into a blank box. Well, almost blank. There was an AOL CD in there.

QUOTE]


You'd think they would put an MSN disk in there. Odd, must have been some Target Employee looking for an early bonus.

[Nostril Cheese]

Is it really that much better than Gran Turismo?

[alf]

Originally Posted by Nostril Cheese

Is it really that much better than Gran Turismo?

Try it for yourself. Plug in your surround sound, mod the 73 911RS, go for a spin and tell me what you think

The C&D review was not done by a gamer but a car guy, should say something.

Forza2, Halo 3 and Call of Duty 4 is rated 'hold my pee, the bathroom could wait' good by alf.

[1fastredsc]

Only complaint i ever had when i owned Forza2 was the class ranking system of cars. Unfortunately there is no way about it, in every class there's always a car that has that ever so slightest edge over the other ones. So if you play online you end up driving one main car for every class as it is the fastest. It would have been nice if the classing system was dynamic, and Turn 10 (creators of the game) could occasionally make tweaks to keep things fun.

[austin552]

My only complaint is that I still cant seem to get the hang of the GT3 on the Nurburgring. Maybe the wheel would help. Well back to the measly 911 Turbo. Is there a way to send the replays to others?
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1122076174803484436&q=forza+2&total=5559&start=0&num=100&so=0&type=search&plindex=23

[MotoSook]

The wife and kids bought me the game so I would allow them to plug the XBOX into the family room TV. I got addicted to the dang thing and was accused of sneaking out of bed one night to play the game. Like the C&D reviewer, I enjoyed modifying the car with suspension and brake bits. I started with a Miata and kept modifying it until I could smoke the competition. Having played around with read modes on cars makes that feature of the game very involving. The results of modifying the cars were pretty obvious. Alas, with a busy schedule I I haven't had a chance to play it in a while. I need to get online and and try the game against the cyber racers, which will guarantee me getting my arse handed to me on a platter.

I don't have a wheel setup for the XBOX, but I may ask for it for Christmas. I just can't get use to the hand controller. I'm not a huge gamer so I need the better control of the wheel and pedals. My steering and braking are too choppy with the controller to be really smooth through the corners. Maybe I just need to waste more time playing the game. Then I'll go Alf hunting in cyberspace

[Hawkney911]

i enjoy it

[austin552]

[Wrecked944]

I've already got a dedicated gaming PC loaded with NFS - Porsche Unleashed, Grand Prix Legends, and Sports Car GT. I also have a 46" TV for a monitor. Do you guys feel that Forza2 is sufficiently advanced to warrant the purchase of an XBOX along with wheel and pedals?

[austin552]

As much as I loved NFS 5 and GP Legends, I would say yes get it. Anyone have the wireless wheel and pedals?

[alf]

Originally Posted by JanusCole

I've already got a dedicated gaming PC loaded with NFS - Porsche Unleashed, Grand Prix Legends, and Sports Car GT. I also have a 46" TV for a monitor. Do you guys feel that Forza2 is sufficiently advanced to warrant the purchase of an XBOX along with wheel and pedals?

Yes. Get it, those games are good but they are old. Unlike 911s games do not get better with age.

[1fastredsc]

Originally Posted by austin552

My only complaint is that I still cant seem to get the hang of the GT3 on the Nurburgring. Maybe the wheel would help. Well back to the measly 911 Turbo. Is there a way to send the replays to others?
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1122076174803484436&q=forza+2&total=5559&start=0&num=100&so=0&type=search&plindex=23

Increase the rear tire pressure a bit, and make sure you use at least a small amount of throttle through the broad corners and the back end shouldn't step out too much. I always had a hard time with the rear engined cars on high speed tracks, but the small, tight cornered ones were a blast.

[HelmetHead]

Go buy GTR2 for PC...its like $9.95 at Bestbuy since its a year or two old..heck for $15.00 you can get GT Legends and GTR2 Bundled....the physics are much more realistic than most of the arcade style racers out there....it truly is a "simulator"

I will say that the new Forza graphics are much nicer looking than the two titles I've listed, but the driving doesn't compare (especially with a gamepad).

The Multiplayer features are great.... If you've already got em...lets race sometime.

Info can be found here -> http://www.gamespot.com/pc/driving/gtr2/index.html

Helmethead