he Forza series is classically known as Microsoft’s answer to Sony’s Gran Turismo series. The franchise has certainly filled the sim-racer spot in the publisher’s lineup, but is that all Microsoft wants to accomplish? There are actually some key differences between the two rivals, but if Forza’s not careful, it will follow in Gran Turismo’s tire tracks in a way it shouldn’t.

In my mind, the one key addition to the series is that Forza 2 uses damage. Not just visually, but in a way that impacts your driving. Sometimes you get into a small scrape that creates a slight pull on your steering. Other times you’ll be blocking your opponents all across the track because you’ve lost power after a nasty collision and you’re just trying to hold on until the finish line. It’s been done before in racing games, but it’s nice to see it in a sim title like this – particularly because it’s something that Gran Turismo has been too chicken to do.

Apart from this feature, Forza 2 makes its mark because as a whole it’s an all-around well made title. The graphics and track backgrounds jump out at you as you stream by, there are loads of cars to unlock, and the career progression does a great job of rewarding you and keeping you going. This last point in particular is no small matter, as Forza 2 adheres to the same basic menu-driven career path that we’ve seen before. Given this potentially boring format, it’s nice that you’re continually unlocking new cars and new circuits to race. I particularly like getting manufacturer discounts to encourage me to buy new rides.

Despite the damage capabilities, the wealth of cars available, and the remarkable increase in the number of upgrades and visual customization options in comparison to the first Forza, I feel that this game is a solid racer that still lacks the difference-maker that would bring it to the next level. Unlocking cars is great, but it doesn’t take long before you tire of doing the same routine. Racing, of course, is what it’s all about, but where’s the personality? Where’s the great track selection that doesn’t make you feel bored within a few hours? Where’s the career mode that’s less like flipping through a car catalog and more like participating in an actual career? When is a sim-racer like Forza 2 going to turn track telemetry into something your average racer can understand and use? Hell, even compatriot Project Gotham Racing gives you your own virtual garage – a small feature that connects you to your progress in a very big way. At least this game hits a home run on the online front. Letting players auction off their cars to others is simply awesome.

Now that the Forza series has mastered the foundation of the genre in a way that makes it every bit as good as Gran Turismo, the race is on to see who will pull ahead and who gets left behind.