Review: Forza Motorsport 2 on Xbox 360

Forza Motorsport was a decent stab at a serious racing game that wasn't quite good enough to dethrone Gran Turismo. But its successor is so good that it comfortably snatches the driving game crown.

Forza Motorsport 2 has everything - amazing graphics; a decent single-player structure, with a nice gentle learning curve, although you can swiftly hurl yourself into hardcore racing if you want; the best in-game soundtrack ever; and incredibly addictive car customization that lets you design your own decals.

Car upgrading, too, is great: clear and understandable, and most of the world's best tracks (and plenty of fictional street circuits) are present and correct. Car handling and performance is deeply realistic and damage is the result of any indiscretions. And when you crank up the difficulty level and unlock things like GT cars, a fearsome level of simulation comes into play - you can feel, for example, the effects of flat-spotting your tyres.

Forza Motorsport 2 is simply a must-buy for Xbox 360 owners.