Forza Motorsport 2 [X360]

>>Get the Forza Experience: Read Our Buying Guide

Whatever you're looking for in a driving game, Forza Motorsport 2 will serve it up in spades. Microsoft's latest driving game sets the benchmark for next-gen realistic racing, blending an accessible difficulty level with realism that'll satisfy even the most picky car fans. It's great on your own, it's great online, it's packed with vehicles and tracks, and it plays like a dream. In short, Forza Motorsport 2 is everything fans of its outstanding predecessor have been hoping for.

Surprisingly, Forza 2's not going to knock your socks off visually. It aims for smoothness rather than visual pizzazz -- you'll see the difference in the really quick sections where Forza blazes along faster than a fat lass rolling down a hill. Given the choice between a few flash-in-the-pan graphical gimmicks and Forza's creamy smoothness, we'll take the latter every time, even if it means your friends aren't going to be quite as impressed with the game. Besides, if it's uber-realism you're after, the photo mode provides plenty.

You're probably be familiar with the routine of Forza's single player game: Buy a car, race it, win money, upgrade your car, win some more money, buy a new car, repeat. You progressively gain access to higher tier championships as you play, and the progression is sensibly thought out, from broad, open competitions to more specific manufacturer (or even model) centered races. Some impose horsepower limits, making you pore through the upgrade menus to find the perfect combination of mods to get you just under the bar with maximum drivability.

One particular stand-out: Some hours into the game, you'll unlock a new tier of races with high-dollar rewards. The catch is, you're limited to just one model. Suddenly, you must set aside your main ride's 450 horsepower and hop in a Ford Focus. A stock Ford Focus. This makes Forza a dramatically different game. The howl of a high-powered engine in your rear speakers is gone altogether, replaced by a meager, almost embarrassing whine. The switch from high-powered, high-adrenaline racing to trundling around in a grocery-getter is challenging -- not to mention a little humorous.