Forza2 is very much Microsoft’s answer to the Playstation’s Gran Turismo series, only they've got the dynamic vehicular damage that elevates the game above a mere polygonal car commercial. Roughing up you ride not only forces you to spend prize money on repairs instead of buying new cars and tuning up parts, but it also dramatically changes performance, affecting your steering and alignment.

Rival cars are also keenly aware of your position, and will brake and swerve to avoid possible collision, instead of staying rigidly affixed to an optimal line (like some other racing games that shall remain nameless.) Oh, and before you mangle your chromed chariot, why not take a picture and share it with the world on Forza 2’s official website? It really does last longer.

With so many damn features like hiring a substitute driver to wheel for you, the absurdly deep decal and paint customization, and a plethora of racing and trading to be had via Xbox Live, anybody with the most remote interest in car culture will lose weeks before they even begin to show signs of boredom. Forza 2 absolutely oozes with all the next-gen prowess you'd expect. All of the 300+ cars suitably resemble their real-world counterparts, and the pitch-perfect rumble that emanates from your controller aptly conveys the proper feel of distinctive torque.

As for the track designs, they don’t pop with the same vibrancy you’ll see in racing games coming on the horizon, (other than the buttload of advertisements) but Forza’s overall goal is to foster an unparalleled relationship between tire and pavement - which it achieves in spades. The environments could occur in a dark, unlit box and the core experience of deftly piloting thousands of dollars worth of cherry metal would emerge unscathed.