Forza 2 dated, detailed

Upcoming ultrarealistic racer for Xbox 360 to roll off assembly line in May; Web site updated with track list, tips, and more.

Next-gen auto enthusiasts are still waiting for the first car-tuning simulation to get out of neutral. With the Gran Turismo series taking a pass on a full release until Gran Turismo 5, the first next-gen hyperdetailed racer is setting up to be Forza Motorsport 2, developed by Microsoft Game Studios.

Car racing photgraphers all deal with bad cases of vertigo.

Provided the game isn't beset with another delay, Forza Motorsport 2 will hit the streets of North America this May, says Microsoft. The game was originally scheduled for a November 2006 release.

"Our schedule right now has us hitting Xbox certification around the middle of April and going gold soon afterwards," says Forza community representative Che Chou. "We want them to put the game on shelves as soon and fast as they can humanly muster. So optimistic estimates have us at retail in the first half of May--obviously the sooner the better, and that's our goal."

Microsoft also revealed the 12 tracks (of which various configurations will total 65 different courses) that will be featured in the game: Mugello Autodromo Internazionale, Suzuka Circuit, Sebring International Raceway, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Tsukuba Circuit, Road Atlanta, Silverstone Circuit, Nürburgring Nordschleife, Maple Valley Raceway, Sunset Peninsula Infield, New York Circuit, and Test Track.

The Forza Motorsport 2 Web site has been updated with driving tips, a breakdown of several tracks with screenshots, and information on the game's multiplayer component. For more information, read GameSpot's previous coverage.

198 Comments

  • hulkmad67

    Posted Feb 24, 2007 5:12 pm PT

    forget the euro trash and jap crap... where are the american muscle cars??... Vettes, Vipers, Camaros, Mustangs, Chargers and Novas??

  • datniccah187

    Posted Feb 15, 2007 2:59 pm PT

    Gone be sick, totally looking forward to it. I've been waiting for Gran Turismo way to long so looks like i'm going to just have to out Forza. Who knows it might end up being better.

  • Kirin_696

    Posted Feb 13, 2007 7:33 pm PT

    YEEEESSS I WILL HAVE IT!

  • Luis612

    Posted Feb 7, 2007 11:06 pm PT

    man i love forza but the cars in those screens dont look to detailed. i know its a pic. but i hope they turn out better.

  • mortzilla3

    Posted Feb 4, 2007 10:06 pm PT

    Forza Motorsport 2 is gonna be sick.

  • Sathiroth

    Posted Jan 31, 2007 4:43 am PT

    Come on guys you all know that FORZA 2 is complete, they just don't want to release it because their waiting to see the problems with GT than their going to make sure that FORZA 2 hasn't got the same problems.

  • Thornorway

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 1:13 pm PT

    I dont mind waiting, thoose who wait for something good cant wait long enough and since this now is scheduled for May i may aswell pick up GTR which is due in March.

  • GrimBee

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 3:56 am PT

    I never thought to try the first game on the original xbox, I only got it because I saw the buzz for this game, lol.

    When I did try it though (I own it now ) I was under the impression that Gran Turismo was THE game for pro-racing. I was completely surprised how much better than GT3 and GT4 that this game is, it has a wonderful selection of cars, music is great, the whole menu mechanic and everything is wonderful.

    The graphics are out of this world on the original xbox version, and with damage similation and all that - makes it a much more fun game to play. It has a nice roster of cars, even more for the second game! But essentially this game is basically Gran Turismo, cleaned up.

    I love Gran Turismo, but when the series continued, it was almost forcing you into those tweaking menus, and all that. And when you finally tweaked your heart out, and raced about 1000 races, it got kind of boring until you got some beast of a car to out-race others.

    Then, all the pinballing and the no damage and stuff like that can be a bit of a bore. I think GT5 will be exactly the same, concentrating on the vast amount of cars, same old tracks and more, but same spinny, slidy, non-crashy experience.

    Overal, I found Forza 1 to be an awesome game, the nifty features it had inside made it more of a game, than a copy of AutoTrader which I felt GT4 was. Forza game me a better feeling of being in a race, with the great AI (its great how they crash into eachother, and avoid things and stuff), and also you have a whole variety of tracks, and race-types.

    Forza 2, if it is twice that of Forza 1 - its onto a winner. Already the driving mechanic is BETTER than Gran Turismo. They have gone a bit more in-depth with the damage, and things like that than Gran Turismo has which make it a more fleshed out package.
    You can't beat the presentation of GT games, but I feel that Forza has its own unique quality, its an AWESOME game, but you don't feel like you are playing Gran Turismo 4.

    I don't know how they did it, but if this game is even better than the first, man its going to be awesome. The original was easy to pick up and play, and also it could dazzle people who were fans of Gran Turismo - especially with the nice AI and the damage physics which can actually effect your car a GREAT deal.

    Go Forza GO!

  • anxiety6

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 1:47 am PT

    i dought this game will be coming out may .... june or july i think its really gonna be released

  • HAMMER261266

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 6:39 pm PT

    Hey guys! FYI...On February 21st at 11 p.m., Speed Channel is going to have a special on Forza 2!

  • rarson

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 6:30 pm PT

    To put it better, the GT series is a great CAR sim. It'll let you drive and modify tons of cars that have never been in other games, and it's a lot of fun to drive them around. Forza is more of a RACING sim, where the actual experience of driving the cars on the track is much more realistic.

  • rarson

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 6:19 pm PT

    "GT still has the reputation for the most realisitc racing sim on the market."

    That's because people don't know any better.

    I remember hearing the accolades of how great GT4's physics were, and they weren't much better than GT3 or GT2. Which is to say, it's a pretty damn unrealistic game.

    Granted, it's hard to convert delicate inputs like a gas pedal into simple button presses that give absolutely no feedback whatsoever, but if you think GT physics are realistic, you have no clue.

    Not to mention, there are a TON of actual racing SIMS (GT isn't really that much of a sim) that have much better physics than GT. Hell, even some OLD games like GT Legends are leagues better than GT when it comes to physics.

  • spartan1308

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 4:55 pm PT

    They aren't taking Road America out, they will have it on the disc and sell the key to unlock it for 200 MSP. This is going to be the game where MS Game Studios rapes the crap out of gamers. I suggest everyone wait about a year before purchasing this so you can find out what all is locked on the disc.

  • sancezz

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 3:34 pm PT

    Is it just me or do those cars, especially the text on them, look a bit meh?

  • Atomisator

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 10:59 am PT

    graphics look nice

  • rossk1996

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 9:31 am PT

    I think people should stop console warring and keep on the topic.

  • ticalmc2k2

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 9:28 am PT

    Good for you Autolycus, GT still has the reputation for the most realisitc racing sim on the market. And still sells more than Forza did. Obviously, Forza2 will sell more than the first, and will probably be a realy good game, but it still will not sell as much as GT5 and most people think GT is more realistic.

  • Autolycus

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 7:44 am PT

    and if GT5(not GTHD) physics are like GT3 and GT4, i laugh at all you wannabe's because you couldn't get further away from realistics physics for racing as you could with GT3 and GT4. I know because i've been on a track(racing) multiple times. I also hold y skip barber open wheel(formula) certification, so dont even bother telling me you know better. Just because you think you can turn your SRT4 around a street corner, doesnt mean you have any clue how to race....

  • Autolycus

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 7:42 am PT

    why it gods name would you take off Road America?! Thats what made forza 1 so fun!!! stupid move

  • Irve

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 5:38 am PT

    MS need to keep this above the curve .. Forza was a far bettter game than GT .. hopefully Forza will raise the bar again and GT will at the very least improve some before it's release on PS3

  • rarson

    Posted Jan 28, 2007 5:48 pm PT

    I'd rather wait and get a kickass game, than have them rush it and let it show that they rushed it.

  • Sathiroth

    Posted Jan 28, 2007 4:25 pm PT

    i think it's really stupid that Microsoft has to delay the best racing game on the 360 at this present time, because they think 'GT HD' is better .........lol i mean come on you guys should all ready now your game is going to be better.

    Ohhhh i also think if you guys keep on doing this people wont even get Forza 2............................ but i will

  • rarson

    Posted Jan 28, 2007 4:10 pm PT

    "GTHD looks better"... yeah right. Compare the screen shot Sony accidentally used of PGR3 to the shot they replaced it with of GTHD... PGR3 already looks better.

  • HAMMER261266

    Posted Jan 28, 2007 3:35 pm PT

    rarson...No, but maybe you can with XNA Game Studio Express.

  • johndoe1893

    Posted Jan 28, 2007 2:33 pm PT

    rodrigo_br
    GT HD graphics look better
    xD

    And GT will have drift...
    GT has more Tracks...
    GT has way more cars...

    GO SONY!!!
    Yeah!



    haha i laugh at you fanboy why? because GTHD was cancelled now go back to your bridge

  • CtEagan

    Posted Jan 28, 2007 1:43 pm PT

    I hope I don't get micro transactioned to death for new tracks and cars......

  • rodrigo_br

    Posted Jan 28, 2007 1:32 pm PT

    GT HD graphics look better
    xD

    And GT will have drift...
    GT has more Tracks...
    GT has way more cars...

    GO SONY!!!
    Yeah!

  • AvIdGaMeR444

    Posted Jan 28, 2007 12:56 pm PT

    We'll see if this game really makes the May date...

  • rarson

    Posted Jan 28, 2007 10:19 am PT

    "...MICRO TRANSACTIONS...You better believe Microsoft is going to nickle and dime you to death for extra content like tracks, cars, skins, mods etc. I heard Sony will be doing something similar with GT HD. Like it or not, it's the direction games are headed."

    If MS can make and add new content like cars, that would lead me to believe some intelligent enterprising individuals might be able to figure a way out to create their own content and transfer it to the game.

    Does anyone know if this has been attempted yet?

  • fahad2mail

    Posted Jan 28, 2007 9:16 am PT

    hope it will be a great racing game.

  • Thorpe89 Site moderator

    Posted Jan 28, 2007 8:53 am PT

    The first looked awesome, I hope this proves to be awesome too.

  • wenbin09

    Posted Jan 28, 2007 8:08 am PT

    i cannot bear the wait.. it's torturing me!!!

  • anamnawshad

    Posted Jan 28, 2007 7:53 am PT

    Sweet!

  • HAMMER261266

    Posted Jan 28, 2007 7:12 am PT

    "Only 12 tracks?"...MICRO TRANSACTIONS...You better believe Microsoft is going to nickle and dime you to death for extra content like tracks, cars, skins, mods etc. I heard Sony will be doing something similar with GT HD. Like it or not, it's the direction games are headed.

  • Riverwolf007

    Posted Jan 28, 2007 5:55 am PT

    I love the big GT vs. Forza thing going on here, and while I respect GT for what it did in its day the lack of online multiplayer puts it firmly in second class race game status. Once you get a well timed block pass on a real person and hear them howling about it as you go by you can never go back to single player. The only other real problem with GT is the next one won't be out until what? late 2008?

  • insane_metalist

    Posted Jan 27, 2007 10:23 pm PT

    im gonna get the game anyways.

  • pheonix8465

    Posted Jan 27, 2007 10:23 pm PT

    the thing is that live can add more tracks and cars...plus this will be commercialized like crazy, you now good year and other company's like Koenig are gonna get in this

  • rarson

    Posted Jan 27, 2007 8:03 pm PT

    ONLY 12 tracks? Come on guys, how many did the original Forza have? I don't even know, the tracks themselves feel pretty long and their will be 65 total different courses... that's a lot of ground!

    The quality of Forza is what impressed me so much. I'm a real-life car junkie and a racing game superfreak, so naturally I do own both GT3 and GT4, but when I finally played Forza on a buddy's Xbox, I started spending a LOT of time at his house. Forza made it feel like the GT developers spent so much time on the graphics and the cars themselves that they didn't have time to figure out how to make you feel like you're really driving all these high-powered cars. And the best line system with the color-changing arrows was brilliant. That game just oozed SO much quality I didn't even care that it had a lot less cars in it (I know a lot of people don't like the "crappy" little econo-boxes that Poloyphony had to include in the GT series, but as I said I'm a car nut and I demanded them).

    Here's hoping there is a few more cars in this one. And honestly, sooner is not better. I'm itching to play Forza 2 as much as anyone here, but I'd much rather wait a couple more months for them to get the game perfect than to rush it to market and have another "We screwed up Halo 2" type comment from the developers. The way I see it, they've really got their work cut out for them to make a better game than the first one, because I'm expecting more than just a graphical overhaul.

  • Xrm150

    Posted Jan 27, 2007 7:05 pm PT

    Well im sure GT5 is going to have more than 12 tracks. And you know if it has 13 there will be people who say "GT5 is WAY better.....it has more tracks!"

  • artanisxvi

    Posted Jan 27, 2007 12:25 pm PT

    hahaha only 12 tracks... kind of sad...

  • flow700

    Posted Jan 27, 2007 10:22 am PT

    What? I thought the launch date was March 2007? I bought my Xbox 360 because of the Wireless Force Feedback Racing Wheel. The wheel is wicked man, but PGR3 is too arcady.
    I know the wheel was designed with Forza 2 in mind and only shipped with PGR3 because of the November delay, but I'm sure you guys said March!
    I'm stuck now. Can't go back to Gran Turismo coz of naff gfx, but there isn't a decent racing game out for the xbox 360 ... (((

  • Dareaver1

    Posted Jan 27, 2007 7:59 am PT

    Riverwolf, say it aint so. Ioved RSC and RSC2. It was one if not the best rally game ever. I mean collin McRae is good, but Rallisport really sucked you in, and made it hard to put down the controller. plus the replays, the audio, the visuals. It was a fantastic game, and i'm still waiting fo RSC2 to become backwards compatible.

  • Piaras007

    Posted Jan 27, 2007 6:42 am PT

    12 tracks?? Give me more please!!

  • N3OIX

    Posted Jan 27, 2007 4:52 am PT

    How about strictly sticking with the topic at hand. Forza 2!! I loved the original Forza, So I can practically promise I will love this one. No console smoking, go somewhere else if you want to talk about the LAME PS3.

    Laughs!

  • Kravyn81

    Posted Jan 26, 2007 11:47 pm PT

    RR7 on PS3 is 1080p, and I think another sports game.

  • Seafury0000

    Posted Jan 26, 2007 10:54 pm PT

    gothicdragon216 :
    I wouldn't say that. I have looked on the back of all the PS3 games out so far, and the largest resolution supported I've seen is 720p. Sony Fanboys fail to mention that none of the games released yet are even in 1080p, so it's the same resolution as 360 games, on a way more expensive TV.

    --------------------------

    Isn't Riiidge racer and Sonic in 1080p for the PS3? I know sonic was 1080p for the 360 and I always assumed it was the same 1080p for the PS3. Crap ass game though.

  • neovota

    Posted Jan 26, 2007 9:04 pm PT

    holy S*** ! i need this game NOW!

  • lilballer9871

    Posted Jan 26, 2007 9:03 pm PT

    Gran Turismo is good, but Forza is muchhh better!!!

  • HAMMER261266

    Posted Jan 26, 2007 8:56 pm PT

    Look at the preview for Gran turismo HD. It says it will support 1080P. This is a flagship title for Sony and the PS3. It'll be tip top i'm sure!

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